Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole
MonumentHidden Treasure
Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole, located in Carsac-Aillac (Dordogne), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Carsac-Aillac, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8658, 1.2756
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083088
A jewel of Périgord vernacular architecture, this 6x6 metre dry-stone hut with its pyramidal lauze roof is the most accomplished expression of the ancestral skills of Dordogne builders.
History
In the heart of the Périgord Noir, nestling in a landscape marked by the ancient vineyards of Carsac-Aillac, the Peyremole hut stands out as one of the most remarkable dry-stone constructions in the entire region. Built without a drop of mortar, it bears witness to a mastery of technique handed down from generation to generation by peasant builders whose names are now lost in the silence of the fields. What strikes you straight away is the insolent perfection of its proportions. At 6 metres on each side, the hut far exceeds the usual dimensions of its Périgord counterparts - simple temporary shelters for grape-pickers or shepherds. Its pyramid-shaped lauze roof, covering all four sides with almost mathematical regularity, creates a silhouette that is instantly recognisable in the surrounding scrubland. Three of the slopes are pierced by an outeau, small triangular openings that ventilate the attic and remind us that this building was also a work and storage space. The interior reveals a sophisticated layout: a joisted floor separates the living space from the attic, while the corbelled roof structure supports the roof without any main timbers. This feat of construction, in which the stones abut each other to form a stable vault, is a perfect illustration of the structural intelligence of vernacular architecture. To the west, a chimney stump bears witness to the fact that the hut was inhabited, at least on a seasonal basis. To visit Peyremole is to experience architecture at a human level, seemingly humble but genuinely complex. The surrounding ruins - the probable farm complex of which it was the central building - reinforce the feeling of entering a vanished world, that of the Périgord winegrowers of the 19th century. Photographers will appreciate the late afternoon golden light on the slate roofs, and lovers of vernacular architecture will find it a lesson in construction that is as sober as it is eloquent.
Architecture
The Peyremole hut has a square floor plan measuring 6 metres on each side, making it an outstanding example of the Perigordian family of dry stone buildings, which rarely exceed 3 to 4 metres in size. The walls are made of local limestone, carefully bedded without mortar, and are based on the "contre-butée" principle: each stone is laid with a slight inward slope, so that the whole structure consolidates under its own weight. The four-sided pyramidal roof, covered with limestone slate laid in superimposed scales, completes this rigorous geometry with a pointed ridge reminiscent of the roofs of Périgord pigeon lofts. Each slope of the roof, with the exception of the west side, is pierced by an outeau - a small triangular dormer recessed into the roofing - providing ventilation for the attic. The west facade, the only one without a dormer window, has a chimney stump, concrete evidence of organised interior life. The south facade has a small window, and the east facade has an entrance door whose jambs are made of large vertical slabs typical of the Périgord style. The interior reveals the building's structural sophistication: a chestnut joist floor divides the volume into two levels. The lower level was the living and working space, while the upper attic was used to store grain or tools. The corbelled structure supporting the roof - where the stone courses gradually project inwards to meet at the top without any keystones - represents the most advanced form of dry stone construction, comparable to the tholos of the Mediterranean or the clochans of Ireland.
Related Figures
Artisans vignerons périgordins anonymes (bâtisseurs présumés, XIXe siècle)Inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit l'inscription de 1991Propriétaires terriens de Carsac-Aillac (commanditaires probables de la construction)
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole located?
Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole is located in Carsac-Aillac, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole built?
Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole open to visitors?
Cabane en pierre sèche de Peyremole is currently closed to visitors.