Maison Finette

An exceptional figure of the Logis-étable (house-barn) in Haute-Maurienne and witness to Eugenie Goldstern's visit in 1913

General Inventory of Cultural Heritage

Rhône-Alpes, Savoie

Traditional House Known as the "Maison Finette" in Bessans

File References

File Number: IA73005255
Date of Initial Survey: 2023
Date(s) of Documentation: 2023
Study Framework: One-time operation
Level of Study: Recorded

Designation

Name: House
Non-studied Constituent Parts: Barn, stable

Additional Location Information

Environment: Village setting
Cadastral References: 2022

Historical Background

The traditional house known as "Maison Finette" was already documented on the Mappe Sarde of 1733. This house, with a semi-underground level corresponding to a dwelling-stable, is located in the heart of the village, in the Chaudannes district. It remains a remarkable example of traditional Bessanais housing, likely predating the 18th century (for example, the Saint-Antoine Chapel, classified as a Historic Monument in 1897, already existed in the mid-15th century). The house has been uninhabited since the 1960s.

History of the House's Inhabitants (Based on Marie Pernolet's Memories, 84 years old)

(See the full interview transcript in the appendix)

The Maison Finette (a nickname for one of the Clappier families in Bessans) belonged to the maternal grandparents of Marie Pernolet, Séraphin and Delphine Clappier. Marie, born in 1939, lived there during her early childhood until 1943, when she moved to the Paris region due to the war. Her parents were among the many Bessanais who emigrated to Levallois-Perret, where her father worked as a taxi driver.

Marie spent every summer in Bessans until 1957, staying with her grandmother Delphine and her aunt Marianne, whom she remembers with great affection. They were the last residents of this house. Marie's cousins also frequented the home.

Delphine Clappier, née Falco, managed the house after her husband passed away in 1926. She is the earliest recorded owner in the property deed attached to the 2013 auction sale.

Main Construction Period: 18th century.

Description

Architectural and Structural Overview

(Description based on a report by architect consultant Catherine Salomon-Pelen)

This is a brief architectural and constructional description. The presented drawings are schematic (see illustration) and were made without precise measurements, leaving several uncertainties.

The house is built on a nearly square trapezoidal plan, with a semi-underground cellar level, a raised ground floor, and an attic. The entire structure is covered by a two-slope roof with lauze stone, with extended eaves protecting a balcony that runs along the south and east facades.

Two annexes border the courtyard to the south, which is entirely enclosed by a high wall featuring a notable depressed-arch porch serving as the main entrance from the street.

The structure consists of stone masonry with a roof supported by transverse beams running from wall to wall, with a central post beneath the ridge beam. The lauze roof covers the structure.

The lower level (semi-underground), accessible via a few descending steps from the courtyard, contains:

A central hallway leading to the kitchen with a fireplace,
A small and a large bedroom,
A small and a large stable,
A cellar adjacent to the kitchen.

At the end of the hallway, a narrow stone staircase leads to the upper level (elevated ground floor), which includes:

A large barn opening directly onto the street,
One large and one small bedroom on the south side.

The attic level consists of a partial floor above the barn and bedrooms and is accessible via a ladder from the barn. The staircase and ladder are arranged so that all movements between the three levels converge near the barn entrance.

A door opens onto the gallery-balcony extending along the south, southeast, and east facades, with a level shift to accommodate the barn door.

Current Condition

Externally, the structure is in fair condition. However, the floors, walls, and ceilings show significant damage due to humidity, particularly in the lower and upper levels. The roof leaks have also affected the wooden framework.

Descriptive Elements

Main Construction Material: Stone
Roofing Material: Stone slabs, basalt covering
Number of Stories: 2
Roof Type: Two-slope roof
Staircases: Built-in straight staircase

Typologies and Conservation Status

Condition: Poor

Status, Interest, and Protection

Exceptional Traditional Bessanais House
Cultural Significance: Noteworthy
Ownership Status: Private property

Interview/Visit of the House by Marie Pernolet

The visit to the Des Finette house, located on Rue des Sculpteurs Clappier in Bessans, was conducted by Véronique Pernolet and her mother, Marie Pernolet (84 years old), who lived in this house as a child. The visit's details were noted by Monique Clappier and Daniel Personnaz, co-president and board member of the BJA association.

Marie, born in 1939, lived in the house during her early years. In 1943, due to the war, she moved to the Paris region with her parents, part of the large Bessanais migration to Levallois-Perret. Her father was a taxi driver.

She spent every summer in Bessans until 1957, staying with her grandmother Delphine and her aunt Marianne, who were the last to live in the house. Her cousins also frequented the home.

Delphine Clappier, née Falco, maintained the house after her husband's death in 1926. She is the earliest documented owner in the property records from the 2013 auction sale.

Visit of the House

In the courtyard, overgrown weeds partially obstruct access. There was no vegetable garden—only an outhouse and a small stable (érhablot). The owners kept their garden elsewhere in the village, a common practice in Bessans.

To the left, in the back, stood an outhouse (kazèto),
Along the downhill wall, a small stable (érhablot) with a collapsed roof,
Opposite the courtyard entrance, an attached building, originally a shop (selling butter, cheese, and sometimes meat), later converted into a bedroom. Marie recalls Italian occupants of the village buying homemade butter and cheese.

Inside the house:

The first level is semi-underground.
The first room on the left houses a large fireplace and served as a summer kitchen (fôgonié), but Marie never lived there.
At the back left, a small, cool underground room was used for food storage (lô péliô).
The first room on the right was a small bedroom (chambrette), unusual for this type of Bessanais home.
At the end of the hallway, the main dwelling-stable area housed three beds above the sheep pen, separated by a low wooden partition (poèé).
The stable was divided into two sections, accommodating six or seven cows, a mule, and calves.
Near the stable entrance, a hand pump drew water from a well.
A steep stone staircase led to the barn and two upstairs bedrooms used in summer.
A very steep ladder provided access to the attic (grenier), used to store rye, barley, and straw.

Delphine Clappier passed away in 1965, and her daughter Marianne spent winters in Levallois-Perret from 1968 until her death in 1989. She returned to the house every May.

This visit marked Marie Pernolet's first time back in over 20 years, a rare occasion granted to the BJA association, represented by trusted individuals.