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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dizonanche Farm is a medieval architectural complex located in Sagnes-et-Goudoulet, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Dating from the second half of the 15th century, it illustrates the monastic architecture of the late Middle Ages, with a house distinct from the agricultural buildings, characteristic of the properties of the Chartreux of Bonnefoy. This site, culminating at more than 1,200 metres above sea level, marked a historic boundary between the possessions of Bonnefoy and those of the Abbey of Aiguebelle, in an isolated territory called the desert.

The place is mentioned as early as 1179 in the archives of Bonnefoy, founded in 1156 by Guillaume de Fay, seigneur of Mézenc. In the 15th century, after territorial exchanges and epidemics (including the plague of Aiguebelle), the land was ceded to lay farmers. The farm, originally dedicated to herbalism for the Chartreuse, suffered two major fires: the first during the Wars of Religion (16th century), the second in 1653, ending the monarchy presence. The Chartreux, forced to rebuild by the bishop of Viviers, left traces like the monumental chimney of 1642.

The typology of the farm reflects its monastic origin: a house on three levels (with a living room on the ground floor and a basalt fireplace) and a barn-window of 30 × 10 m, initially covered with lauzes of Mount Gerbier. The frame, reinforced by pillars and crossbows, bears mounting marks and an engraved date (1860). A small reserve building, enlarged after the Napoleonic cadastre, completes the whole. After the Revolution, the farm passed into the hands of farmers' families until 1990.

The site, classified as a Historic Monument in 2018, retains defensive elements like a stern above the door, reflecting past tensions. Its recent history includes a tragic episode in 2007, when 27 sheep of the herd were killed by wolves, recalling the contemporary challenges of mountain breeding. The farm thus embodies nearly nine centuries of history, between Chartreuse spirituality, religious conflicts and ardèche rural life.

Local materials, such as the Gerbier lauze or the Coux sugar stones, highlight the geographical anchoring of the site. The Chartreux exploited these resources for their constructions, while the farm served as a landmark in medieval territorial disputes. Despite its monastic abandonment in the seventeenth century, the place remains a rare testimony of medieval utilitarian architecture, preserved until today.

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