L'Arbresle, Rhône 69210

A former abbey deanery converted into dwellings in a medieval village, 30 minutes from Lyon. Saint-Martin abbey was built in the year 819 by Benedictine monks. It brought together different edifices on walled plots. They stood around a central church. Some buildings were designed for monastic activities, others for the monks' everyday life. The buildings dedicated to religious activities were partly destroyed after 1797. Yet some vestiges of the complex remain today, including the so-called Teylan Deanery, where the dean lived. This house concerned the abbey's organisation. The property has two entrances: one for vehicles via the main gate beside the old heart of the village and one for pedestrians from a footpath that leads to the market square. On the walled grounds covering 3,881m², there are two edifices linked via a barn. The three buildings, which are today renovated, stand between two grassy expanses dotted with trees. The main house has a rectangular shape. On its south side, you can see the remains of the former enclosing wall. The house leads out to its private garden and to the court that leads to the different buildings. The secondary house, which is also rectangular, is a self-contained dwelling. Like the main house, it also has a private garden. Stonework forms the elevations, most of which are golden, showcasing the window frames, some of which have insulating glazing. The roofs are covered with interlocking tiles.