A Large Piece of History in Alet les Bains

It is difficult to know exactly when this house was built but probably around the end of the religious wars and after the destruction of the Cathedral at the end of the 16th C. It has probably changed very little externally since then although it was modified by the addition of a porch in 1743 to the south west corner. It has more recently been run as a Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast. The house in two sections and on four floors does have some 'habitable' areas and could be lived in whilst the renovations are finished. The ground floor has a large 'dining room' the restaurant, an entrance hall and kitchen. The first floor has a double en suite bedroom over the kitchen and large apartment over the dining room, the next floor has the same layout except the apartment area is unfinished and the same goes for the top floor. A huge amount of renovation work has been carried out in the last few years, new roof, floors, electrics, etc. but there is still a huge amount to do! The elderly owners have resigned themselves to the fact that it is too much for them and have decided to sell. Some history: Géraud COUSSERGUES was the owner of this house in 1626, the "compoix ", also mentions a wine store adjoining the house. Compoix or compoids were in former times the state register used as the basis to assess poll-tax and other taxes. Géraud COUSSERGUES is, according to a deed in LIMOUX in 1613, a qualified merchant of ALET and in 1618 a clothier merchant, a more important title. Whatever, he must have been a very important wholesale merchant since he married his son Jean in 1628 to Françoise de MONTESQUIEU, daughter of the Noble de MONTESQUIEU, Lord of CASTILLON descendent of one of the oldest families in the Languedoc.Jean CAUSSERGUES who inherited the house from his father, died before 1660 leaving it to his widow and his son Géraud. It is probably between this date and 1709 that the house become an Inn since in 1709 the new owner is given the title of "host" one also finds MILET named CAUSSADE, innkeeper (or host). The ownership details do not change in the 1729 compoix, but in 1767, it is Antoine MILLlES who is found in the register; A priest and canon, he does not keep the inn very long, selling it in 1785 to Antoine CARBON innkeeper.Alet les Bains has been populated since prehistoric times and was renowned in the Gallo-Roman times for it's thermal waters it was then called " Pagus Electensis ". The town was named Eleit in 1082 and Alestum in 1099. In 1572 it was Allect, Alet in 1585, Ville et cytté d'Allet in 1594 and back to Electa in 1739 so, many name changes depending on which record you are referring to but mostly around the theme of Alet.A record of religious buildings suggests that an abbey or monastry appeared in the early 9thC "Vicus electus et monasterium sanctae. Mariae. 813 " and again " monasterium Beatae mariae virginis quod vocatur ellectus. " dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1050. The church in Alet, dedicated to the 'Saintly Virgin' and 'Saint Peter' was originally an abbey belonging to the order of Saint Benoît, the Benedictines. Founded around 813, it was granted the status of 'cathedral' in 1318 by the then Pope, John XXII. Following the installation of the new Bishop in that same year, the 'cité' underwent regeneration, but this expansion slowly stopped due to the religious wars and the destruction of the cathedral in 1577, the Bishop, at this time was also given the title 'Count of Alet'.Nostradamus b1503 - d1566, Doctor, Apothecary, Astrologer and Prophet, amongst many other things also lived at one time in the house opposite on the other side of the Square, known as the 'House of the Jew' or the 'House of Nostradamus', but that's enough history for now. Back to our house and the Legend of the 'Main d'Argent' or 'The Silver Hand'. When Cardinal Jules MAZARIN, Premiere Minister and tutor to the young Louis XIV, negotiated the favorable 'Peace of the Pyrenees' at the end of the war with Spain in 1659, a marriage contract between Louis and the Infante Marie-Thérèse, daughter of Philip IV of Spain, was included in the terms. Mazarins envoy, on his way to Spain, stopped over in Alet. Françoise, daughter of the Noble de MONTESQUIEU, offered food and lodging for one night in her home to all the escorts. In the morning, the hostess declined payment. Touched by her grace and her consideration, one of the officers offered her one of his gauntlets and for three centuries, the gauntlet was exhibited in the house. From that time on, the house was called "La Main d'Argent".