Grange aux Dîmes: Tithe Barn

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the Grange aux Dîmes, that is, the Tithe Barn, certainly lives up to its name. From the 13th century onwards, it was used to store the taxes paid by peasants, known as tithes. This tax on agricultural income was levied by the Catholic Church; basically, the Church would get a tenth of your harvest, and you’d get a tenth of its protection in return. This tax was introduced by Charlemagne back in 779 and it was in force up until 1789, when it was abolished. The upper floor of the barn also served as a grain silo, while the ground floor served as a wine cellar. As you can imagine, it was of great importance at the time. It was restored in the 19th century and is now listed as a historical monument, bearing witness to the city’s medieval past.