Grenier-fort du Haut-Jura

The fortified granaries of the Haut-Jura: a fire-fighting heritage

In the second half of the 18th century, farmhouses in the Haut-Jura region presented a high risk of fire, with their large wooden chimneys, façades covered in tavaillons and hay piled up in the barns. So, to limit the damage in the event of a fire, the Haut-Jurassiens came up with the idea of building what are known as "greniers forts".

This small building, made of very thick wooden slabs, covered with tavaillons, without windows, with a very thick double door with a very important lock and key, located about forty metres from the dwellings, was used to shelter the most precious belongings.

A cellar was dug under the strong attic to store grain and vegetables.
There are still 190 of these in the Jura Sud region, many of them abandoned.

Would you like to discover a granary? Go to Lajoux!
Information & keys available from the Maison du Parc Naturel du Haut-Jura