Grand entrance (Farm Series #1)

This is the imposing arched entrance to a 17th century ferme en carré in the next village. The white blocks of stone that surround the entrance doors are cut from a local limestone called pierre de Gobertange. These farms traditional to our region were originally fortress-farms built around a central courtyard. The gigantic doors would have been shut at night to keep thieves and invaders out. The little patch of lawn in the centre would have been a steaming manure heap in days gone by. The owners' living quarters would be right in the centre as you entered, flanked by barns for the cows and horses, pig pens, chicken coops, hay lofts, root cellars, storage areas for crops and farm implements - all connected to each other in a continuous square, hence carré.

The majority of these fermes en carré are massive and very beautiful. Some still belong to the original family that built them centuries ago. Others have changed hands many times and been converted into apartments or holiday accommodation. Still others have crumbled through neglect and been demolished.

When we were looking for somewhere to buy 20 years ago, we fell madly in love with a few of these farms. They were going for a song at the time, which we could almost afford. I had ludicrous dreams of throwing endless weekend parties and perhaps running a B&B. Thank goodness we didn't have a hope of affording the renovations or we would have bought one and spent the rest of our lives destitute and freezing.

Plus grande.


Here's the entrance to another farm I blipped in the summer.