Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

La Ferme de Giez is a medieval estate located in a forested clearing near Santenay, in Loir-et-Cher. Isolated from the village, it consists of a house at the back of a courtyard and three farm buildings arranged in U, dating from the late 13th and early 14th century. This site, received in alms around 1127, belonged to the Cistercian abbey of Fontaines-les-Blanches until its sale as a national good during the Revolution. Its spatial organization reflects a typical seigneurial home, combining residential and agricultural functions.

The house, whose construction is dated by dendrochronology between 1288 and 1305, retains its original medieval structure: raised ground floor to the east, half floor and basement, with a single split wall separating two rooms per level. The 17th century leases mention fire chambers, wardrobes, an oven, a barn and a stable, confirming its mixed use. Granted as a shareholding in an indefinite period, the farm illustrates the architectural heritage of religious establishments in Touraine, where several similar areas remain.

Analysis of the site reveals a characteristic composition of seigneurial dwellings: central courtyard, adjacent operating buildings, and a simple plan with modest dimensions. The house, registered with the Historical Monuments in 1999, bears witness to medieval rural life, with independent levels served by a wooden courier. Its history also reflects land transformations, from a monastic heritage to private exploitation after the Revolution.

External links