Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The log house of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, dating from the 15th century, is distinguished by its typical medieval architecture. This two-storey building, each overlooking the lower level, rests on carved wooden strips. The sizes of the old sill windows, now missing, are also decorated with worked patterns. This type of construction, with its successive advances (corbellings), illustrates the sophisticated carpentry techniques of the period, while meeting practical needs of space and weather protection.

The corner beams of the house are decorated with figures carved in bas-relief, representing characters and hybrid creatures. On the right, a mutilated naked man – whose degradation seems voluntary – is accompanied by a dog at his feet. In the centre, a human-headed creature sits in a niche formed by the base of the beam. To the left, a woman kneeling in pleated dress completes this symbolic ensemble, while an angel adorns a cul-de-lampe. These sculptures, although partially altered, bear witness to a medieval iconographic language combining religion, morality and folklore.

The façade and roof of the house were protected by a registration order for the Historic Monuments on 20 July 1955, recognizing its heritage value. Located at 94-96 rue de la République, this civilian residence offers a rare example of medieval bourgeois habitation preserved in Gironde. Its state of conservation, though partial, allows us to study construction techniques and artistic codes of the 15th century in the South-West of France. The available data do not specify its original use (housing, trade, etc.), but its ornamentation suggests an easy owner.

The historical context of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande in the 15th century is marked by its role as a bastide founded in the 13th century, prosperous thanks to river trade on the Dordogne. Wood-paned houses, like this one, reflect the economic boom of the region, where English influences ( Guyenne being then under plantage domination) and local traditions are mixed. These buildings often served as houses for merchants or artisans, while affirming their social status by carved decorations. The presence of religious or moralistic motives, such as an angel or a kneeling woman, recalls the Church's influence on daily life.

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