Ecrins National Park
Chabottonnes
05260 Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas
France
Gingerbread - Miellerie Challet
Nestled in the heart of the Ispagnac valley, in the Tarn Gorges, this former family cobbler's house was completely renovated in 2015 by Eric and Sylvie Alla.
Transformed into a gite that can accommodate 8 people, it consists of 4 bedrooms, a kitchen, living/dining room and a garden.
"Ispagnac is the garden of Lozere," smiles Sylvie. "Our intention was to make an ecological gite, so it was restored with healthy materials," explains Eric.
We kept the original architecture, rethought the volumes and limited the structural work. The walls have been coated with lime and hemp. The latter diffuses coolness in the summer and is an effective insulator in the winter. For the wood, we favored local species: chestnut, oak and pine. The paints were made from citrus. From the structural work to the interior fittings, we called on local craftsmen. It is a house that breathes, we feel good!
Why did you name the house Mamie Thé ?
In memory of Sylvie's mother. "It was the nickname given by our children. She was a warm woman, happy to welcome".
Interview by Luc Carrascosa - France Bleu Gard Lozère - August 2021
