Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Duèze Palace was built at the beginning of the 14th century by the Duèze family, a bourgeois lineage of Cahors having given Pope John XXII and several cardinals. This palace, a symbol of their power, was rebuilt by Pierre Duèze, the pope's brother, to reflect family grandeur. The house was abandoned at the end of the 14th century, then partially demolished in 1405 to repair Bridge Nine, leaving only its square tower, integrated into the urban defences.

The tower, more than 30 metres high, has a rectangular plan (6x7 m) of stone and brick, with five floors and a arch of warheads on the ground floor. It was restored at the end of the 19th century by architect Paul Gout. The palace, divided into multiple properties after its abandonment, saw a 16th-century house rising on its ruins, mixing wooden strips and roofing in hollow tiles.

Ranked a historic monument in 1886, the Duèze Palace embodies the heritage of the Duèze, the lords of Caraman, whose influence declined after their departure from Cahors. Today, the tower, the only major vestige, bears witness to its architectural ambition and its role in local history. Sources, such as Joseph Daymard's (1908) or the regional inventory, document his evolution and heritage protection.

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