La maison romane ou Hôtel de Fenasse
(XIIe siècle)
Ce bel hôtel de la seconde moitié du XIIe siècle fait partie des quelques édifices civils romans de la région Midi-Pyrénées.
Il appartenait, à l’origine, à une riche famille albigeoise, les Fenasse. Vers 1300, Guillaum Fenasse fut condamnéé pour catharisme et son hôtel confisqué, devint propriété d’un frère de l’évéque, Béraud de Fargues. Il passa ensuite aux mains du sénéchal de Toulouse avant de devenir propriété d’Etienne Lacombe, riche négociant albigeois.
Bien que remaniée en briques au cour des siècles, cette demeure témoigne de l’utilisation de la pierre calcaire durant la période romane en Albigeois, pour des édifices de qualité: portail roman en plein cintre, encadrée de colonnes à chapiteaux. Le rez-de-chaussée porte la trace de grandes arcades qui abritaient des boutiques ouvertes sur la rue.
[English]
The Romanesque house or “Hotel de Fenasse” (12th century)
This beautiful private mansion dates back to the 12th century, and is one of several existing Romanesque buildings in the Midi-Pyrenees region that was originally for private use.
The residence initially belonged to the Fenasses, a wealthy Albi family. Around 1300, Guillaumn Fenasse was condemned for Catharism (considered a form of heresy) and his mansion passed into the hands of a brother of bishop Beraud de Farques. It then became the property of the Seneschal of Toulouse, before changing owners yet again, this time passing to Etienne Lacombe, a wealthy Albi businessman.
Although it was remodeled in brick over the centuries, the residence is still a good example of the high-quality limestone buildings constructed during the Romanesque period in Albi. There remains a Romanesque gate and an opening with a semi-circular arch surrounded by capital columns. On the ground floor, it is still possible to see traces of the large arcades which sheltered shops looking out onto the street.
[Spanish translation not transcribed.]
(Notable Buildings) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.