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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Romanesque house of Saint-Gilles is a Romanesque civil building located in the heart of the city, in the Gard department. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, it is distinguished by its high quality facades, typical of Burgundy Romanesque architecture. A conical hood fireplace, preserved on the second floor, bears witness to its domestic use. Although traditionally presented as the home of Pope Clement IV (1265-1268), this attribution remains without historical evidence.

Identified in 1830 by Prosper Mérimée, the house gained a rapid reputation in archaeological circles. Acquired by the Town Hall in 1855, it was classified as a historic monument in 1862. Today, it houses a stone museum, highlighting carved elements of the region. Its location, Place de la Maison-Romane, near the abbey of Saint-Gilles, highlights its anchoring in the local medieval heritage.

Archaeological studies, such as those of Léon-Honoré Labande (1909) or Pierre Garrigou Grandchamp (1999), have helped document his history. The house illustrates the evolution of civil Romanesque habitat in Languedoc, while asking questions about historical attributions, such as that related to Clement IV. Its early protection reflects its heritage importance as early as the 19th century.

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