Medieval market halls
June 9, 2009 by admin
One of the more unusual building types that you will come across in southern France – especially in the medieval and bastide towns of the south-west of the country – is the traditional market hall.
These typically date back up to 700 years, and have long served as permanent ‘covered markets’. Because of this role they are usually found in the centre of towns (eg Villereal, Monpazier, Domme and many others), usually in a large open square.
There are various different versions of the structure, even in the unmodified form.
The biggest difference between them is that some have stone pillars supporting the roof structure while others have ancient timbers – while in some cases the stone has replaced the original timbers as part of later repair work.
Usually the original detailed carpentry work of the roof can be seen clearly from underneath, often with additional grooves and markings that suggest the timbers were originally sourced from even older structures – often ships that had been taken apart at Bordeaux, apparently.
Typically these medieval market halls are square or rectangular in form, and on one level only, as with the one at Monpazier (which interestingly still holds some of the original grain measuring jugs underneath). Occasionally, as in the first two examples pictured here, they follow a different form.
The first picture, taken in Villereal, shows the existence of an additional storey, currently in use as offices. This feature is very unusual. Equally unusual is the round shape of the second example here, taken further south in Auvillar.
The third photo is of the more ‘traditional’ market hall, in this case the one in Monpazier.
Note: medieval washhouses (lavoirs) are often of a similar form, although usually smalller, and may be confused with the market halls. The location will usually make the role apparent, since lavoirs are situated on a stream or river, while the market halls are more central in the town.
Whichever you discover, they are an important historical record of the towns in the Middle Ages and deserve your particular attention when travelling in this region of France.
