Immeuble du 14e siècle
MonumentHidden Treasure
Immeuble du 14e siècle, located in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (Département 46), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Département 46, Occitanie
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.4648, 1.6711
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00095228
In the heart of France's most beautiful village, this 14th-century medieval house with its mullioned windows and square dovecote tower was once home to the post-impressionist painter Henri Martin.
History
Nestling in the narrow streets of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, this jewel of medieval civil architecture is the quintessential example of Gothic Lot architecture. Built in the 14th century on a rock overlooking the Lot valley, the house is distinguished by an elegant sobriety that contrasts with the decorative exuberance of later centuries: here, it is the stone itself that tells the story, with an economy of means and a mastery of volumes that command respect. What makes this building truly unique is the coexistence of two perfectly harmonised architectural styles: the blond limestone rubble walls, typical of Quercy vernacular construction, are enlivened on the main facade by two carefully-crafted mullioned windows, whose ashlar surrounds bear witness to the care taken to represent the social status of those who commissioned them. A square dovecote tower rises above the roof in the south-east corner, giving the silhouette of the house an almost castral-like verticality. From the medieval alleyway that runs alongside the building, the visitor's experience is one of suspended time. Visitors immediately understand why artists of Henri Martin's calibre chose this place as their home and studio: the light from the Lot, filtered through the limestone mullions, has a unique pictorial quality, somewhere between southern softness and northern depth. Set against the exceptional backdrop of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie - listed as one of France's Most Beautiful Villages and regularly voted France's favourite village - this medieval house is one of the few authentically preserved examples of 14th-century architecture. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1923, it protects an irreplaceable fragment of the Lot's civil heritage.
Architecture
The building is part of the Quercy region's medieval civil architecture, characterised by its construction using carefully assembled local limestone rubble, an economical but robust technique that has enabled the house to survive seven centuries without any major structural alterations. The door and window surrounds, executed in ashlar, contrast with the rougher texture of the walls and lend a geometric rigour to the main façade. The façade is pierced by two mullioned windows, a characteristic feature of 14th and 15th century Gothic civil architecture. These windows, whose vertical mullion divides the opening into two bays, combine functionality - allowing light in while ensuring the solidity of the wall - and stylistic statement. Their moulded profile, typical of the Languedoc Gothic style that had such a strong influence on architecture in the Quercy region, gives the façade a sober, controlled elegance. The most spectacular element of the composition is undoubtedly the square dovecote tower that rises above the roof level in the south-east corner. This vertical addition, common on farmhouses and middle-class houses in the Quercy region, gives the building an instantly recognisable silhouette in the Saint-Cirq-Lapopie landscape. It bears witness to an architectural approach that incorporates verticality as a distinctive feature and meets the practical requirements (dovecote) as well as the representative ambitions of those who commissioned it.
Related Figures
Henri Martin — peintre post-impressionniste (1860-1943), propriétaire de la maison et figure artistique majeure qui contribua au rayonnement de Saint-Cirq-LapopieCommanditaire anonyme du XIVe siècle — probable bourgeois ou marchand lotois qui fit ériger la demeure avec ses fenêtres à meneaux soignéesAndré Breton — surréaliste qui vécut à Saint-Cirq-Lapopie et contribua à la notoriété artistique du village dans les années 1950-1960Propriétaires successifs médiévaux — familles bourgeoises du bourg qui perpétuèrent le droit de colombier attaché à la tour pigeonnier
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Immeuble du 14e siècle located?
Immeuble du 14e siècle is located in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Département 46 department, Occitanie region, France.
When was Immeuble du 14e siècle built?
Immeuble du 14e siècle dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Immeuble du 14e siècle open to visitors?
Immeuble du 14e siècle is currently closed to visitors.
