La maison du cochon : One of the last remaining houses with a stone roof (toit en lave).
The word « lave » derives from the French word « levé » pronounced lave in the local dialect, a word used by stonemasons.To construct the roof one must lift the flat limestone (laver la pierre) and split it lengthwise with a skillfull blow of a hammer to produce the roof tiles. They could produce roof loads up to 300kg/m2 . This explains the need for the magnificent oak roof structures constructed at 45º angles.
In a few houses small stone roofs have been preserved, as here in the « rue du Château »
The name originates from a “homeless person”, who lived in the house nearby for many years. The new owner will completely renovate the house, hoping to conserve the stone roof.
We must not forget the church !