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Heritage classified

Origin and history

La Cazelle du Mas de L'Artillou, also known as gariotte, is a rural building located in the municipality of Espedalillac, in the Lot department in Occitanie region. This type of dry stone construction, characteristic of agricultural areas in southwestern France, served as a temporary shelter for farmers or shepherds. Its circular architecture, with thick 80 cm walls and a corbelled vault, illustrates traditional construction techniques adapted to local resources.

The Cazelle du Mas de L'Artillo was erected in the early 14th century, according to available sources. It is distinguished by its internal diameter of about five meters and a rectangular opening sommital. The walls, composed of limestones bound by a mortar, show a technique of progressive construction: the lower seats are vertical, while the upper levels are slightly protruding to form a stable vault. A central stone acts as a vault key, ensuring the cohesion of the structure.

Classified as historical monuments on 8 June 1978, this gariotte bears witness to the occitan vernacular heritage. Although its precise dating is sometimes discussed – some similar shelters having been built until the Revolution – its official inscription confirms its heritage importance. The paved ground and the two openings suggest a practical use, probably linked to agricultural or pastoral activities of the medieval and modern era.

The Mas de L'Artillou is part of a rural landscape marked by utilitarian constructions, reflecting the way of life of peasant communities. These cazelles, scattered in the Lot countryside, served as shelter against the weather or as storage places. Their preservation makes it possible today to understand the construction techniques and social organization of the Occitan countryside before industrialization.

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