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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Franque market in Avignon is a historical monument located in the city of Avignon, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Built in the 18th century, it consists of several buildings aligned along Rue du Vieux-Sextier, whose facades and roofs were partially protected by successive decrees between 1989 and 1992. These buildings, typical of the civil architecture of the period, illustrate the urban evolution of Avignon under the Old Regime, a period marked by a commercial and artisanal boom in the region.

The protected elements include the facades and roofs of numbers 20, 22, 22ter and 29 of Rue du Vieux-Sextier. These inscriptions as Historic Monuments highlight the heritage value of these buildings, although their precise location is considered "passable" according to the criteria of the Merimée Base. The market derives its name from Jean-Baptiste Franque, the contractor identified as responsible for its construction, although the sources do not specify its exact role in the design of the premises.

In the 18th century, Avignon, then under pontifical influence, was an economic and cultural crossroads in Provence. Markets, such as Franque's, played a central role in everyday life, serving as a place of exchange for local products and goods transiting through the Rhône. These spaces also reflected social hierarchies, with traders, artisans and peasants coexisting in a changing urban environment. The architecture of buildings, sober and functional, met the practical needs of a growing population, while integrating aesthetic elements characteristic of the period.

The successive protections of the facades between 1989 and 1992 reflect a late realization of the heritage value of these buildings. Today, the Franque market remains a representative example of the Avignon civil building of the 18th century, although its current use (visit, rental, etc.) is not specified in the available sources. Its state of conservation and accessibility appear to vary, as evidenced by the "passible" notation of its location in the Merimée base.

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