Evolution over time
The majority of courtyard farms are the result of historic evolution. They are the result of several building phases. Homogeneous buildings built all in one go are much rarer. Very often, they are relatively recent and only appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Square courtyard farms must serve three functions: accommodation, grain storage and livestock barns. All the buildings fulfilling these elements are distributed around the courtyard.
Today, the majority of these farms are now accommodation, although some have been converted into gîtes or educational farms.
