The High Jura farm

The traditional High Jura farm housed hay, wood provisions, animals and people, all under the same roof, with the latter benefitting from the heat provided by the former. Insulation was provided by the hay stored away for the winter, with the principle of the high barn. However, water supply problems were more difficult due to the karstic nature of the widely cracked underground, and water sources were often lacking.
Works were therefore launched, starting with the cistern. They continued with the assembly of the “column” framework which would make up the house’s skeleton. The roof was then built with wooden shingles (small spruce tiles). The gutters on the roof served to collect water to fill the cistern. Lastly, fat lime mortar could then be made to build up the walls.