Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex
Monument
Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex, located in Samoëns (Département 74), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Samoëns, Département 74, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 46.1018, 6.7008
- Mérimée Reference
- PA74000010
An authentic example of Savoyard vernacular architecture, the Clos Parchet farmhouse reveals the sophistication of a 19th-century mountain dwelling, with its double circulation and original bread oven.
History
Nestling in the Samoëns valley, in the heart of the Giffre massif in Haute-Savoie, the Clos Parchet farmhouse in Cessonnex is one of those rural buildings that, without ostentation, condense centuries of mountain know-how. Listed as a Historic Monument since 2007, it illustrates with rare clarity the way in which Alpine communities were able to adapt their architecture to the constraints of a demanding territory, fashioning buildings that were functional, solid and deeply rooted in their landscape. What immediately distinguishes the Clos Parchet from an ordinary barn is the sophistication of its internal organisation. The building displays a remarkably coherent tripartite spatial logic: cellars at the base, living quarters for the men and animals at the intermediate level, hayloft at the top. This vertical superposition, typical of the large rural houses of the Faucignarde region, enabled all domestic and agricultural activities to be concentrated under a single roof, reducing travel outside during the long Alpine winters to a minimum. The farmhouse is also notable for its dual circulation system, inside and out, which provides level access to each level from the natural terrain, thanks to the site's gradient. This particularly ingenious principle allowed hay to be loaded directly into the hayloft from the slope, without the need for lifting equipment. The bread oven, a feature still present in the buildings, is a reminder of the self-sufficiency of these mountain farms, where each family produced and processed its own food. The roof structure, some of which predates the 1815 reconstruction, deserves particular attention. Assembled using techniques handed down from generation to generation, it bears witness to the dialogue between tradition and renewal that is typical of vernacular architecture. The walls of the hayloft, made of carefully assembled wood, play both a structural and climatic role, allowing the stored hay to ventilate naturally. Today, Clos Parchet is a living document of Savoie's agropastoral civilisation. Visiting it - even from the outside - is an invitation to reflect on the intelligence of traditional buildings, on the relationship between architectural form and the uses that justify it, and on the permanence of a cultural landscape that resists, despite everything, the fading of time.
Architecture
The Clos Parchet farmhouse belongs to the large family of Saucignard Alpine-style block houses, where all the functions - living quarters, stable, hayloft, cellar - are grouped together under a single large roof. The building, constructed in 1815 on a slightly sloping site, takes advantage of the topography to provide level access to each of its three main levels: the cellars at the base, the living quarters for people and animals on the middle level, and the hayloft at the top. This tripartite organisation, combined with a double circulation system inside and out, is the building's most remarkable architectural signature. The materials used reflect the local resources of the Giffre massif. Wood, which is omnipresent, structures the framework and forms the openwork walls of the hayloft, providing the natural ventilation that is essential for conserving fodder. Stone masonry, probably limestone rubble or granite depending on the resources of the local subsoil, forms the base and load-bearing walls of the lower levels. The roof, which slopes steeply to shed snow, was originally covered with spruce "ancelles" - wooden shingles split along the grain of the wood - and Morzine slates, before being replaced by sheet metal in 1980. A stone bread oven, built against or adjoining the main building, completes the ensemble and testifies to the self-sufficiency sought by the farmers.
Related Figures
Familles paysannes de Cessonnex (propriétaires et bâtisseurs de 1815)Charpentiers savoyards du début du XIXe siècle (constructeurs anonymes de la charpente)Propriétaires du XIXe siècle (exploitants agropastoraux du Faucigny)Artisans du bois de Morzine (fournisseurs des ardoises et ancelles d'origine)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex located?
Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex is located in Samoëns, Département 74 department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France.
When was Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex built?
Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex open to visitors?
Ferme du Clos Parchet, à Cessonnex is currently closed to visitors.