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Knights Templar barns in the Saint-Seine region
Location
In the Châtillonnais area, 3 hours from Paris, 2½ hours by French TGV train (Montbard station), 50 km (31 miles) from Dijon. A6/A31 motorway network.
The Knights Templar barns are situated in the heart of a village with 150 inhabitants, and an unobstructed view over the Coquille valley; the Coquille being a small tributary of the Seine. A town several miles away has the majority of local shops and medial care.
Description
The Knights Templar barns were originally part of the outbuildings of a house belonging to the Temple situated nearby.
This house was controlled by that of Bure-les-Templiers, one of the most important of the Knights Templar commanderies in the region, founded between 1120 and 1133.
At the beginning of the 14th century, Philippe Le Bel, aware of the spiritual and temporal power of the Knights Templars, eradicated the order.
But although this order disappeared, the buildings in which it performed its duties were not destroyed.
The house to which the barns in question were attached was not as lucky as the Bure commandery, it (or what was left of it) was destroyed in 1930 so that another house could be built.
However, the barns have continued as a farm including a cowshed, a stable and a former dwelling. The property is completed by adjoining pigsties and a building which has a roofing framework but is open to the outside. There is also an old sawbench. The property has a facade facing a courtyard that is closed by two gateways (one of which is in the process of being restored). All set in grounds of approx. 5,000 m² (1.24 acres).
The main building is the oldest and the most interesting. Its architecture is typical of the Middle Ages. The building itself is built of quarry stone. Dove-holes can still be seen in the facades and notably the one facing the courtyard.
This facade features a central, basket handle, carriage entranceway with two entrance doors on either side, providing access to a cowshed and a former stable.
Above, is the large opening for the hayloft.
The rear facade includes a large window that was no doubt created in the 17th or 18th century as well as smaller sized ogee windows, some of which have been sealed up. These windows are those that were put in when the building was built, prior to the 14th century.
A bread oven can be seen at the back with a lava stone roof. It, too, is built of quarry stone with several hewn corner stones.
The gable wall featuring the access to a former dwelling (two very basic rooms), also has ogee windows, two of which have been sealed up. There are also remnants of old rendering on the wall.
The inside of this barn is divided into 5 parts, one of which was lived in.
The ridge is approx. 10 m (32.8 ft) high; a height which is cut about a third of the way up by an intermediate floor on which the hay used for the cattle (former hayloft) was stored.
The floor is made of concrete, apart from the part that was once inhabited where it is tiled.
The roofing framework has been modified to accommodate modern day tiles but it was originally designed to take a lava stone roof.
Our opinion
A superb building which could be transformed into a house or attic-style flats.
The ridge is extremely high and would make two floors of living space possible. The building is authentic with few major changes. Its windows, notably the ogee windows, could be opened up again.
The carriage entranceway could be restored to its former glory, predominantly by removing the large door that covers up a beautiful semicircular archway.
The walls, like the roofing framework, are in a good state of repair.
The restoration of the property would be a great challenge for an architect, or a lover of old stonework.
185 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.
Reference 3087CB
| Land registry surface area | 5,000 m² (1.24 acres) |
| Main building surface area | 167m2 (1,797 sq ft) |
Regional representative
Céline Berrette +33 (0)6 98 65 18 07
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
