15th century building in Sainte-Enimie, Medieval house in Sainte-Enimie, France

The maison basse in Sainte-Enimie is a two-storey limestone house known locally as the "low house", its main front pierced by pointed-arch windows and carved stone mouldings. The lower level opens onto the lane with a squat doorway, while the upper floor sits above a stone corbel course. Blocks of local limestone, laid in regular courses, form the whole facade.

Sainte-Enimie grew around the hermitage of Enimia, a Merovingian princess, and by the 15th century the village on the Tarn held a monastery and a hospital for pilgrims. This stone house dates from that period, when the community lay on routes crossing the Causses. It is listed as a monument historique inscrit.

The residence reveals how prosperous families lived and built their homes in this Gorges du Tarn region during the Middle Ages. The stonework and craftsmanship reflect the pride local inhabitants took in their dwellings.

You will find the building in the village center, accessed by narrow cobblestone lanes that are typical of this medieval settlement. Comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes are advisable since the pathways can be uneven and steep.

The house is known locally as the "maison basse", the low house, a name that points to its modest height compared with the taller village houses around it. Look for the carved stone details on the main front, which mark it out from its neighbours in the lane.