I’m guessing this was the French equivalent to an English folly, probably built by a wealthy vine-grower in the region so he could survey his estate. The date-stone puts it at 1900 which fits time-line-wise as many follies where built in England during Victorian times. It now lies on a small back-road outside the village of Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude, empty and neglected. Wished I’d realised it was on the road, having tramped through the mud across the field to it! It has two rooms; one at ground level and one floor up. There’s also a roof area which was inaccessible. It’s got some nice decorative touches and had a sundial on one wall. Can’t really say much more about it than that so on with the pictures.
img4325 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4326 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One broken door!
img4328 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Here’s the date stone:
img4327 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A small balcony, now gone:
img4330 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4331 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The ground floor is trashed:
img4332 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The stairs up to the first floor:
img4333 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4334 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4337 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Sweeping views over the fields:
img4338 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4336 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One broken door!
Here’s the date stone:
A small balcony, now gone:
The ground floor is trashed:
The stairs up to the first floor:
Sweeping views over the fields: