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Origin and history

The chalet Meiner is a Swiss chalet-style house built in the second half of the 19th century in Appenans, Doubs department. This type of architecture, popular at the time, reflects the influence of alpine models in France. The building, registered as a historic monument since 2002, is distinguished by its assembly of prefabricated wooden parts, imported from Interlaken (Switzerland), and its base made of cut stone.

The chalet was commissioned in 1872 by Louis Meiner, manager of the Japy factory, on the plans of the Swiss entrepreneur Buhler, based in Basel. Work began in 1873, with a first phase including the preparation of the land and the construction of the main body. In 1877, a guard house was added to the entrance to the property, followed by an extension of the cottage in 1879. The site, located on the edge of the 29th departmental road between L-Isle-sur-le-Doubs and Appenans, is integrated into a landscaped park.

The building is characterized by a rectangular plan and a varied decoration according to the facades: denticle friezes, lamprequin balconies with lyre railings, and openwork arcade galleries evoking oriental motifs. Inside, the original layout is preserved, with wooden parquet floors, box ceilings and panelling. These elements illustrate the regionalist movement of the time, mixing Swiss influences and exotic touches.

The Meiner chalet embodies an unusual architectural heritage in Franche-Comté, linked to local industrialisation and cultural exchanges with Switzerland. Its inscription in 2002 underlines its historical and aesthetic value, while preserving a witness to the eclectic tastes of the 19th century industrial bourgeoisie.

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