Colombages

These medieval houses are found in narrow, cobblestoned streets in the old centres of towns along the Lot, and, I assume in many other places. In Castelmoron a few of them have survived, and in Clairac, down the road a piece, we came across this wonderful example.

There was a plaque explaining that this house was built in the 15th century, constructed over the ruins of en even older house, dating back to the 13 century. It boasts some timbers salvaged from that more ancient structure. Wow!

The style is called colombages or half-timbered, and incorporates small, thin, red bricks placed at angles or in horizontal clusters.