Pays de la Loire Longeres - Traditional Architecture

Longeres are typical properties from Brittany, and Pays de la Loire has inherited this fine house type. Pays de la Loire traditional Longere houses are a most charming and incredibly sought-after type of house found in France. Buying such a house is possible and still affordable.

The longère is one of the most typical French property types. It is predominantly a rural home found in all departments of Pays de la Loire. It is traditionally built in a rectangular shape. The name itself means rectangular shape in French. Traditionally each longere was given a local name when it was built.

• The longere is traditionally oriented with the back of the house facing the dominant wind direction. Similarily to other traditional properties in France, regional materials were often used to build a Longere. Granite is thus typically used in the construction of Longeres throughout the Pays de la Loire region of France.
• Many longères only offer single storey accommodation. Often the attic is converted into a first floor room/ bedroom to increase the total living area available. Originally, the stairs used to access that attic were located outside the main part of the Longere house.
• Longere houses are not only common in Pays de la Loire but also found in Normandy, Aquitaine, and obviously in Brittany.
• The “maison longère” or longère is definitely typical of the Pays de Loire rural architecture. In most cases a longere is a rural house or dwelling and is a common sight across the regional countryside.
• Pays de la Loire Longeres often have thatched or slated roofs.

A typical Longere property

• As you can see from the photos, the particularity of Longères is that all the outbuildings are laid out in a row. Thus there is no real farmyard or courtyard area in front of the house. This a common feature that distinguishes the Longere from most other rural farm dwellings found in France. In the French region many houses not being a Longere also use this system of lengthwise, simple house.