Rieux-Volvestre : The Tourasse

The Tourasse refers, in Gascon, to a large ancient tower in ruins or in poor condition. In 1517, the community of Rieux bought this building from the Baroness of Marquefave to use it as its consistory. The building serves as a common house until the revolution. From 1795 until the end of the 19th century, the Tourasse became a remand center. In 1923, the Philharmonic Society established a theater there, which was then replaced by a cinema until the Second World War. This rectangular building consists of two floors. The gable walls end to the west with a fireplace and in the east with a bell tower. Originally, the structure had several gaman windows and was surmounted by a floor of galetas with Souleilho type openings. This medieval architecture was modified in the 17th or 18th century with the addition, on the ground floor, a gate with curved pediments and brick pilasters, and on the first floor, four openings with brick frames and Galfonières stones. A document of 1742 mentions that the ground floor housed a barn, while the first floor was used for the common room and a room dedicated to the community and diocese archives. Adaptations have been made to accommodate the Italian style theater.