L'Huis Perreau used to be a farmstead; the oldest parts date from the 14th century. The building consists of a long farm within which are two separate living accommodations. On the other side of the cour, the central inner court, is a grange, a very old barn. Under the farm and the grange we found impressive cellars. Some of these date back to the days when the farm was a wine-producing estate. The old wine-press still forms part of the inventory. In the middle of the cour stands a century old linden tree.

The farmstead falls under the French laws on monuments, because of the calvaire, an 18th-century crucifix just across the road, which has been qualified as a national monument.
The estate lies on the crossroads of the ancient pilgrimspath from Vézelay to Santiago de Compostella (the Via Lemovicensis) and an old Roman road. It is because of these roads that our small hamlet is named Le Chemin. Some very old details in the building suggest that the farm used to be a stage on both of these roads.

The old buildings are being restored and renovated with loving care. If possible we use traditional building materials and techniques. Therefore we prefer to work with artisans from the region. The name L'Huis Perreau is chosen to honour the family Perreau who have been working here for more than 150 years. Before that the buildings were the manor of the Duc de Choiseuil, a minister of Louis XV.

We are working on a new existence, complementary to an exiting professional life in Holland. Willemien van Sonderen is an artist; she paints. She also has a Yoga-practice and works on the Ayurvedic kitchen. Karel Musch was a boardroom advisor and is moderator of the Comeniuscourse, a course on leadership, developed by the University of Groningen, www.comeniusleergangen.nl.

Le Chemin lies in the middle of an agricultural area, at the end of a farmroad. All visitors notice the silence that reigns at l'Huis Perreau. We want to build a meeting place where people can get bettter acqainted with others and with themselves. We want to realise a place without all the obligations and hassle of modern day life; a place where you can de-hurry.

 

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