Les Copies

Abandoned Monks' Retreat Made Modern

This Loire Valley farmhouse dates from the 17th century, its rustic overhead timbers evidence of its ancient origins as a site where monks once hand-copied ecclesiastical documents. All straight and stony outside, the charmed home’s structure has been transformed by modern geometry, with sharp concrete finishes merging with old stones and timbers, a nod to Brutalism in its hard-edged, exposed concrete design accents.

The home of an architect, the property’s bedroom boasts a splash-of-pink window, the oversized ancient hearth has been reconfigured with a modern woodstove, and the well-weathered and delightfully chinked timbers and blonde stones are strikingly offset by smooth white walls and satiny grey concrete. Large sliding doors open from the timber-crossed, open-plan living room, and the galley-style kitchen (with dining table and separate dining nook with banco seating) are also brightened by picture window openings cut deeply into the old stone walls. A bedroom for two and sleek white bath under angling trusses complete the space.

Around

Set near the village of Jars, in France’s Cher department, this farmhouse is enclosed by neat hedgerows and overlooks a pastoral country garden. Set in the Sancerre wine region in the eastern part of France’s famed Loire Valley, the property offers a slice of country living deep in France’s heartland. Beyond agriculture and wine production, the region is a favorite of cyclists who can pedal through small villages along vine-flanked country roads, and visit the ramparts of Sancerre, the town’s Notre Dame church from the 17th century, and its Tour des Fiefs. Restaurants and tasting rooms dot the village of Sancerre, and cyclists (and roadtrippers) can also enjoy panoramic viewpoints overlooking the fertile Loire Valley in this area.

Mountain biking is also possible, with gravel tracks, such as the descent to Fontenay, through woodlands, and waterway trails like the Gué de la Fontaine Bidault near the Moulin de Sugy, or the Bannay Lock canal trail for easy family bike outings. The potter’s village of La Borne is a wee mecca for ceramicists, and of course wine tastings and tours of the Sancerre vineyards are not to be missed. Other nearby sights include the town of Apremont-sur-Allier, designated one of France’s “Most Beautiful Villages,” and the pretty flowering village of Aubigny-sur-Nere that holds a special designation for its well-tended French and English gardens. Finally, the chance to visit the region by pleasure boat can be found in Briare, a Loire River town and canal village with a small port and beautiful historic bridge.

Location

Jars, Sancerre, Val de Loire, France. Nearest airports: Paris Orly (160km), Paris CDG (190km).

Best time to visit

April to October