Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Ferme Neuve, located in Rémalard en Perche, is an agricultural farm designed in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century for the breeding of the percheron horse, an emblematic breed of the region. Its spatial organization follows a U-shaped plan open to the south, with buildings arranged around a central courtyard. The west wing houses stables (standards, pulleys, working horses) and communicates with six paddocks equipped with boxes. The wing is, on the other hand, dedicated to a barn-table-pressor, while the housing and outbuildings (remises, cider cellar) border the road.

The farm's architecture is part of the Percheron tradition, with chalk-stone walls covered with an ocre crepi, frames of harpy limestone bays, and a flat tile roof of the Home-Chamondot. This choice of local materials reflects the resources available in the 19th century Perch. The whole, including paddocks, was listed in the Historic Monuments by order of March 31, 2006, recognizing its heritage value related to equine breeding and rural architecture.

The farm illustrates the economic importance of the percheron horse in the area, used both for agricultural work and as a trait animal. Its functional organization, with separate spaces for each activity (breeding, storage, habitat), bears witness to the rationalization of farms in the 19th century. Localization near the valley meadows favoured breeding, while proximity to the road facilitated trade and transportation.

Protected elements include facades and roofs of all buildings, as well as paddocks, highlighting the heritage interest of the whole. The farm, still located in the department of Orne (region Normandy), remains a preserved example of the specialized agricultural architecture of Perche. Its state of conservation and location (noted 8/10 in precision) make it a remarkable site for the study of Norman rural history.

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