Built hundreds of years ago, the longère is a long, rectangle shaped, multi-functional rural property found in northern regions of France.
What is a longère house?
The longère is one of the most charming French house styles of Normandy and Brittany. Built hundreds of years ago the longère is usually a rural farmhouse property built in a long, rectangled shape and positioned with the back of the house facing the most dominant wind direction and front running directly on the road as pictured.
This lack of frontal area between the property and the road is a common feature that distinguishes the longère from other rural properties in France.
How was the longère traditionally used?
Traditionally the longère was a multi-functional property in that it often had additional adjoining buildings which were designed with clearly defined functions in mind such as housing livestock and storing agricultural produce.
The roof space above the main dwelling, usually accessed by an external staircase, was used to store straw and sacks of food which provided necessary insulation during the colder months whilst keeping the items dry and as rodent free as possible.
What is a longère like today?
Today, many remaining outbuildings have been converted into self-contained accommodation and rented out as holiday cottages known as gîtes.
The roof space, above the main dwelling, has normally been converted to create a second floor comprising of two or three beamed bedrooms with dormer style windows.
The external staircase has become redundant in use and an internal staircase added for practicality and ease for modern living.
What does Maison Cherie think about the longère?
We believe the longère has all the makings of a dream French home. With its rustic shutters and outdoor space for desirable alfresco living, its versatile and yet practical open-plan living space and its potential rental income from its gîtes, what is there not to love about this rural French house style?
