Buying / Selling > Traditional farms

Chalets of the Valley of Abondance, both houses and farmes

from Sébastien Lamouille :

 

"In the past, these dwellings that you discover used to accommodate people, animals and their food. Yet, they were only occupied during the winter: during the summer season, people used to reach mountain pasture chalets with their herds.

These vast farms were built from local materials: limestone rocks for the basement and spruce wood for the upper parts, a shingle roof (traditional wooden Savoy tiles) included. In short, a great example of man's adaptation to his environment using the slope to build on so that there is a direct access on each floor.

 

Their main facade usually faces south to make the best of the sunlight, while animals used to live at the back. The family's food used to be stored in the lower level while the barn hoarded the hay in the upper level. The median level features a living accommodation part divided into a succession of adjoining rooms around the kitchen ("outô") and its imposing fireplace ("bourne"): small bedrooms ("chambrons") or bigger ones like the "pèle" - sole heated room - where the "chaudanne" (heated cupboard from the kitchen's hearth) is. From there, a corridor named "puerche" gives access to the courtyard or "cortna".

 

The front facade features finely crafted balconies - here called galleries - with their painted "palines" (vertical wooden part of the balustrade) representing geometrical shapes or vegetables: a local distinguishing feature, but not the only one. Indeed, some farms called double were made up of two semi-attached houses and accommodated two families usually related.

Near the farm, a small building called "grenier" sheltered valuable assets which were protected in case of fire."

 

 

(text from Sébastien Lamouille, Pays d’Art et d’Histoire)

 

 

renovated farms and traditional chalets of the valley

 

A traditional farm in the heart of Valley of Abondance.
Its renovation may be total: everything is renovated and transformed.
Or partial: the barn is not transformed, only the living accommodation level.
Traditional farms lean on the slope with living rooms facing the sun, the stable is at the back directly on the ground and the huge barn is above.
Sometimes double, some farms were so big they could accommodate two families and their animals.

 

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