Purchase by the municipality 1982 (≈ 1982)
Future conversion into a museum.
1984
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 1984 (≈ 1984)
Protection of facades and roofs.
1992
Opening of the museum
Opening of the museum 1992 (≈ 1992)
Transformation into a cultural space.
1994
End of farm
End of farm 1994 (≈ 1994)
Departure of the last farmers.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Famille Sicart - Viguiers de Cerdagne
Royal French power for 100 years.
Mateu Riu - Merchant barcelonais
Repurchase and renovation in 1810.
Jacques et Marie Bragulat - Latest farmers
Assets up to 1994.
Origin and history
The Cal Mateu farm, built in the early eighteenth century in Sainte-Leocadie (Pyrénées-Orientales), is an emblematic example of Cerdanian agricultural architecture. His history was marked by the establishment of the French-Spanish border in 1659, then by his political role under the Sicart family, viguier de Cerdagne for four generations from 1689. For a century, the house embodied the French royal power before becoming a farm again after the Revolution.
In 1810, during the Napoleonic wars, the farm was burned down and then bought by the Barcelona merchant Mateu Riu, who made it his summer residence. Renamed Cal Mateu ("At Mathieu" in Catalan), it was equipped with protective decorative elements such as braided espantes (ceramic masks against witches) in 1826. Agricultural activity continued until 1994, when Jacques and Marie Bragulat, the last farmers, retired.
Acquired by the commune in 1982, the farm was transformed into a museum in 1992 to preserve this heritage. Its facades, roofs and traffic galleries were listed as historical monuments in 1984. Today, the Cerdagne Museum tells local history, combining agriculture, border power and Catalan traditions.
