Place du Mercadiou

The Mercadiou, the "market place" in Gascony, is laid out on a trapezoidal plan at the hinge of the initial urban core and the slope of the Thuron descending to the first river port. Framing an open space of 1500 m², twin arcades open at the foot of the houses on the "embans", real covered streets lined with shop stalls with "tauliers". Andrones still avoid the terracing between the houses, as prescribed by Roman law. The adoption of this characteristic feature abusively suggested the assimilation of Saint-Macaire to the series of bastides. Nevertheless, the Mercadiou remains the temple of secular life, taking up the image of the cloister.