House of the Seneschal

The mysterious House of the Seneschal is believed to be the oldest civilian residence in Agen. For a closer look, head down Rue Puits du Saumon and stop at number 17. While its construction dates back to the 14th century, there's still a great mystery surrounding its origins and how it got its name. Even though it's called the Seneschal's house, no document has ever been found to prove that any residence belonging to the king's administrative and judicial representative in the city, known as the Seneschal. Besides, these representatives didn't have official housing provided for them. So who could this beautiful building with its four arcades in flamboyant Gothic style have belonged to? We're stumped, because the truth is, no one really knows. While this case has remained unsolved, other sources have led us to believe this might have been a chamber of commerce, or a synagogue, given how close it is to Rue des Juifs, the old Jewish quarter. Listed as a historic monument in 1913, the House of the Seneschal now belongs to the city and serves as an annex to the Museum of Fine Arts.