Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Tower House, located in Cahors in the Occitanie region, is a building dating from the 2nd half of the 13th century. This monument is distinguished by its tower-shaped structure, with a barlong plan and seven levels, although the original medieval building n The current fourth level corresponds to the first medieval level. Its architectural features include gemined windows and painted paint traces imitating a false device on the first floor. Two walls still remain from the original 13th century construction, while the main body, in the form of a tower, is accurately dated from the 4th quarter of the 13th century, thanks to the analysis of a window capital.

The history of the House-Tour is related to Pelegri College, founded in 1365, which owned it. Over the centuries, the building has undergone modifications: a 13th-century wall was reused to build a small house in the 16th or 17th centuries, and a large oven, probably at the origin of the street name (rue du Four-Sainte-Catherine), was added north side in the 17th or 18th century. This imposing oven extends the ground floor and shows an adaptation of uses over time. The Maison-Tour was listed in the Historic Monuments by order of 23 May 1991, thus recognizing its heritage value.

The building illustrates the architectural and functional evolution of medieval urban houses in Occitanie. Its partial preservation, with elements from the thirteenth, sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, makes it a privileged witness to the transformations of the city of Cahors. The traces of painted decorations and the re-use of old structures underline both its historical importance and the successive adaptations to the needs of the occupants. Today, the Tower House remains a remarkable example of the medieval and post-medieval heritage in the Lot.

External links