Villes et Pays d’art et d’histoire
The keys to the city…
Figeac
Take the keys to the town
The circuit indicated by the key symbols
is an invitation to discover the essential
buildings on a walk through the town of
Figeac.
The signs bearing the keys act as arrows,
pointing out the direction to follow.
The keys, numbered 1 to 30, correspond to
numbers on the plan of the town. The buildings
described, indicated by a purple square on the
plan, can be located with the help of the text.
This circuit does not cover the totality of
Figeac’s architectural heritage. For more
detailed information and an insight into the
history of the town, guided tours presenting
different aspects are organised by the Tourist
Office, led by qualified guides.
The Heritage Centre, situated in the Hôtel
de Ville, provides further information about
the town.
Maison dite de
la Monnaie
Office de Tourisme
Place Vival
Palais Balène
7, rue Balène
At the start of the hundred
years war this urban palace,
home of a noble family, was
one of the largest “hôtel” in
Figeac. The building, which
did not belong to a merchant’s
family, does not have the
ground floor arches typical
of commercial premises.
Its architectural style and
decoration are characteristic
of the Gothic period,
particularly noticeable in the
entrance porch and the upper
windows.
Continue round the corner of rue
Balène ( 3).
Hôtel d’Auglanat
The main façade of this
medieval house is one of those
best preserved in Figeac. The
building is typical of a wealthy
merchant’s “hôtel” : on the
ground floor commercial
premises open onto the street
through wide pointed arches
and on the first floor the
living quarters receive light
through windows composed
of twin arches surmounted
by small round openings.
The abundance of carved
decoration indicates this is the
main reception area.
Walk along rue Ortabadial
( 1) and turn right into rue
Balène ( 2).
1, rue Balène
The elegant entrance porch
of this 14th century “hôtel” is
decorated with oak and ivy
leaves. The building is situated
at the corner of one of the
main streets (today called rue
Gambetta) leading into the
medieval town from a bridge
over the Célé river.
Turn left into rue Gambetta
( 4) ) and continue to the
Place aux Herbes then turn right
( 5).
Église Saint-Sauveur
This, the largest church in
Figeac, is all that remains of
the Benedictine abbey which
initiated the development
of the town in the Middle
Ages. After being damaged
during the Reformation, it
was partially rebuilt in the
17th century. Off the south
transept, the former chapter
house was turned into a
chapel richly decorated with
carved and painted wooden
panels.
From the main entrance to the
church ( 6 ) cross the Place
de la Raison to rue Ferrer ( 7)
and continue towards the Place de
l’Estang. At the far side turn right
into rue du Canal ( 8) .
Maison à pans de bois
2, rue du Canal
Most of the houses in Figeac,
having been modified over the
centuries, have elements dating
from several periods.
This house is an example of
15th and 16th century halftimbered upper floors built
over the medieval ground floor.
Place de l’Estang
Rue du Canal
In order to provide water
to power the mills in the
Middle Ages the abbot had
a canal dug to the east of the
town. The picturesque area
disappeared in the 1950s
when the canal and millpond
were filled in. Several former
tanner’s houses still line rue du
Canal.
Continue along rue du Canal
( 9) and turn right into Place
Gaillardy (just before key
10).
Place Gaillardy
Two timber framed houses in
the unpretentious and intimate
Place Gaillardy represent the
architecture in Figeac during
the 15th and 16th centuries.
After the Hundred Years
war this building technique,
which uses prefabricated
elements, was common in
Figeac. The top floor, an open
loft – “solelho” – was used
for drying and storing fruit,
vegetables and cloth.
Return to rue du Canal.
Hôtel Dumont de
Sournac
2, place Docteur Brugel
This 14th century “hôtel”
of imposing proportions
has retained its mullioned
windows and monumental
corbelled fireplace.
Continue along rue de Clermont
and turn right into rue Gambetta
( 14).
Hôtel médiéval
41-43, rue Gambetta
Turn left into rue Emile Zola
( 11) and walk along to the
second street on the left, rue
Tomfort ( 12). Go down
rue Tomfort and turn left into
rue Roquefort.
Hôtel Galiot de
Genouillac
12, rue Roquefort
Galiot de Genouillac was
Master of Artillery to king
François 1st and bailiff of the
Quercy. His town house in
Figeac, built off the street as
was the fashion of the time
between courtyard and garden,
is one of the few examples of
Renaissance buildings in the
town.
Return to rue Tomfort and then
turn left into rue de Clermont
( 13) stopping in Place Brugel.
This “hôtel” is typical of the
early 14th century Gothic
architecture. The wide
windows on the first floor are
encompassed by archivaults
resting on corbels carved as
human faces.
Place Carnot et
place Champollion
In the very centre of town,
the intersections of the main
streets were the natural sites
for the two main market
places. To this day the former
Corn and Oat markets (Place
du Froment, Place de l’Avoine)
are the centre of Figeac’s
commercial and social activity.
Leaving Place Carnot by the right
( 15), before reaching Place
Champollion turn sharp left into
rue Séguier( 16) then first right
into rue de la Monnaie ( 17).
1 N° des Clefs
Circuit
Place
du Foirail
Rempart
médiéval
23
24
25
27
Rue Sain
t-Th
15
HÔTEL
DU VIGUIER
Place
Champollion
Rue
Bou
leva
Tom
fort
ulié
rd G
.
21
12
30
l-Te
Place
Carnot
one
iewe
20
16
Col
29
Jusk
18
17
u
rd d
nski
19
MUSÉE
CHAMPOLLION
leva
Place des
Ecritures
Bou
ÉGLISE NOTRE-DAMEDU-PUY
ESPACE
PATRIMOINE
26
28
22
s
oma
14
Pla
ce
Ba
rth
al
13
9
5
Place Vival
OFFICE DE
TOURISME
MAISON
DE LA
MONNAIE
1
11
8
6
2
4
PALAIS
BALÈNE
3
Place
de la Raison
r
rre
e
eF
ÉGLISE
SAINTSAUVEUR
Ru
7
Y
E
10
Place
de l'Estang
Place
Gaillardy
a
aréch
du M
e
u
n
Ave
Le Célé
h
l-Foc
Place des Écritures
Meeting point of heritage
and modern art, the Place des
Écritures sums up the essence
of Figeac today. Designed by
the American artist Joseph
Kosuth in 1990 as a tribute to
the decipherer of hieroglyphs,
it consists of an enlarged
reproduction of the Rosetta
stone placed near the house in
which Champollion was born.
Leave the Place des Écritures by the
rue des Frères Champollion on the
right and walk to Place Champollion.
Maison médiévale
5, place Champollion
The façade of this prestigious
14th century building is one of
the most spectacular of those
on Place Champollion. The
first floor windows, vast bays
giving abundant light to the
rooms, proof of a desire for
commodity and well-being,
are decorated with the finest
carvings, showing the fortune of
the household.
Maison du Griffon
4, place Champollion
Built during the second half
of the 12th century, this house
is considered to be the oldest
in Figeac. It is characteristic
of the medieval houses of that
time in Figeac : pointed arches
giving wide openings to the
commercial premises, the two
main floor windows composed
of triple bays decorated
with intricate carvings in the
Romanesque style (human faces,
imaginary beasts, foliage).
Walk past the museum (see
description overleaf) and up rue de
Colomb ( 18) .
Hôtel de Colomb
Hôtel de Ville
Espace Patrimoine
5, rue de Colomb
The Town Hall is situated
in this 17th century “hôtel”.
It houses the permanent
exhibition “Portrait of a town
– Figeac” in the Heritage
Centre on the first floor.
Leaving the Heritage Centre via
the gardens ( 19) walk down
the steps back to the Place des
Écritures. From there return to
Place Champollion and cross over
to rue Émile-Zola ( 20). Turn
left into rue Delzhens ( 21).
Hôtel du Viguier
50-52, rue Émile-Zola et
3, rue Delzhens
It is said that in the 14th century
a house situated at the corner
was occupied by the Viguier,
who represented royal authority.
The principle element remaining
of that building is the tower in
rue Delzhens.
The present day hotel has
brought together three distinct
medieval buildings : the 14th
century tower, a 12th century
house at the corner of rue
Émile-Zola and rue Delzhens
and a 13th century house n° 52
rue Émile-Zola.
Walk up rue Delzhens to the main
entrance of the church NotreDame-du Puy.
Église Notre-Damedu-Puy
Although the church
building retains elements of
its medieval origin, it was
turned into a fortress during
the Protestant occupation
of the town and was largely
rebuilt in the 17th century at
the instigation of the Catholic
Reformation. The monumental
altar screen dedicated to the
Virgin Mary was installed
at that time and several
interesting works
of art.
Coming out of the church walk
down rue Saint-Jacques opposite
the main porch ( 22). Turn left
into rue de Colomb ( 23) then
right into rue Maleville ( 24).
Hôtel de Laporte
4, rue Maleville
The street runs under the
porch of this house situated
in the picturesque Montferrier
district.
Continue along rue Montferrier
and turn left to walk down the
steps rue Saint-Thomas ( 25).
Rue Saint-Thomas continues to
the right ( 26) from there turn
left into rue de Crussol ( 27).
Hôtel de Crussol
3-5, rue de Crussol
The Renaissance style staircase
and loggia opening onto
the courtyard indicate the
persistence of the style still
appreciated at the turn of the
17th century.
Walk down rue du Crussol and
turn left into rue d’Aujou ( 28).
Turn right into Place Carnot
( 29).
Keep to the right of the market
place in Place Carnot then turn
right into rue Caviale ( 30)
continuing until Place Barthal.
Maison à tourelle
d’angle
Hôtel médiéval
18, place Carnot
Now chemist’s
30, rue Caviale
The tall cornet turret is
a remarkable feature of
this house which retains
a medieval ground floor
supporting a 17th century
façade.
The only building in Figeac
dating from the 15th century
built entirely of stone. The
mullioned windows which
punctuate the façade are
typical of this period.
Hôtel de Salgues
Sous-préfecture
22, rue Caviale
Built between courtyard and
garden, this “hôtel” is one of
the most elegant examples of
buildings constructed in the
18th century in Figeac.
The essential visit
Champollion Museum
Writing throughout the world
Birthplace of Jean-François Champollion, the
house is now a museum. Behind the “façade of
a thousand signs” the collections illustrate the
history of writing throughout the world.
Heritage centre
A permanent exhibition
Portrait of a town, Figeac
What was the origin of the town? What
products did the medieval merchants deal in?
What is behind the façades of the houses? The
Heritage and Architecture Interpretation Centre
provides the background to satisfy your curiosity
with a detailed exploration of the town.
The exhibition covers the main stages of Figeac’s
history, illustrated by plans and scale models,
showing the evolution of the town century after
century. The town’s former inhabitants - the
monks, the authorities, the craftsmen and the
merchant bankers invite you to discover their
dwellings, humble workshops or urban palaces.
Specific aspects of the town’s history and
transformations brought to its buildings are
highlighted in temporary exhibitions in the
Heritage Centre.
Around the work of the famous decipherer of
Egyptian hieroglyphs, new collections recount
the fabulous adventure of writing, taking the
visitor on a journey around the world to the
visit civilisations from Mexico to China, by way
of the Mediterranean. The collections present
objects on which brush, pen and quill have
left their mark, telling a story which began five
thousand three hundred years ago.
Where does writing come from? Who invented
it? Are there any scripts still to be deciphered
today? How do scripts migrate and evolve?
How did Champollion go about deciphering the
hieroglyphics? An answer to such questions can
be found in the objects, explanatory texts, video
films and multi-media activities which explore
the evolution of writing from its beginning via
the invention of the alphabet and the history of
books up to the digital era.
A brief history of the town
In the 9th century an abbey was founded in a
place called Figeac. A town gradually grew up
around the abbey, its inhabitants drawn by the
rights granted by the abbot to the settlers and
the activity provided by the community.
The increasing economic development of the
town brought prosperity from the 12th century
onwards. The business community developed
regular trade with towns all over France then in
the 13th century they ventured further abroad to
trade with Europe and the Mediterranean. That
the merchants amassed great wealth can be seen
from the architecture and decoration of their
homes. Those still standing today are a reminder
that Figeac was, until the crisis of the Hundred
Years war, one of the most prosperous cities in
the south of France.
The end of the Middle Ages and the beginning
of the Modern Era were troubled times. The
Hundred Years war put an end to international
trade and the religious wars during the
Renaissance brought hardship to the town.
However the innovations of the architectural
style of the Renaissance can be seen in some of
the buildings in Figeac dating from the 15th and
16th centuries.
The 17th century saw a return of more peaceful
times and Figeac bears witness to the strong
position of the Catholics with the reconstruction
of the churches. The local aristocracy who held
royal administrative tenures built their mansions
alongside the medieval buildings.
Modernisation was undertaken by the town
authorities during the 18th and 19th centuries in
view of better hygiene and comfort.
The real change came at the end of the 20th
century when the value of the architectural
heritage was recognised. Today the result of
several decades of renovation in the town centre
offers a varied yet harmonious panorama of
the evolution of architecture in France from the
medieval times to today.
Figeac is part of a national network of heritage towns “Villes et Pays d’art
et d’histoire”
“Towns and Districts of Art and History” is a term granted by the Ministry of Culture and
Communication, in charge of architecture and heritage, when local authorities are committed to
promoting the historic environment of a town. It ensures the competence of the guides and the
curator of architecture and heritage and the quality of their action. In 153 towns and districts across
France, the historic environment, from Antiquity to the 21st century, is explained thanks to the
specific knowledge of qualified staff.
Figeac’s Heritage department,
supervising the initiatives taken in the town, has designed this document. A programme of activities
is devised year round to present different aspects of the town’s historic environment in an original
and attractive way.
In Midi Pyrénées region
Other sites in the region which are also in the heritage network : Cahors, the Dordogne valley in the
Lot department, the bastides of the Rouergue, Millau, Montauban, Auch, the Cathare Pyrénées and
the Aure and Louron valleys.
Heritage departement
Hôtel de ville
5, rue de Colomb – BP 205 – 46106 Figeac cedex
Tél. : 05 65 50 05 40 – Fax : 05 65 50 02 33
Courriel : [email protected]
www.ville-figeac.fr
Tourist Office
Hôtel de la Monnaie
Place Vival – 46100 Figeac
Tél. : 05 65 34 06 25 – Fax : 05 65 50 04 58
Courriel : [email protected]
www.tourisme-figeac.com
Photographies : Nelly Blaya, Gilles Tordjeman, service Patrimoine © Mairie de Figeac ; Céline Rondier © Pays de Figeac ;
façade du musée Champollion : P. di Sciullo, 2007, photo N. Blaya-CG 46, architecte Moatti & Rivière.
Document édité en 2012.
Price : 0,30e
Design : www.agence-signatures.com
Renseignements
Impression : Techniprint
This leaflet was realised by the Figeac District Association, the Figeac’s Heritage department and the
Tourist Office of Figeac District.