For centuries, farms in the « Pays Fort » (meaning “Strong Country”) boasted pyramidal barns. Their mysterious presence tower above the hamlets of this small region: they appear now as an emblematic heritage of this territory proud of its strong identity, situated in between the Sologne and Sancerre counties in the Berry province.
The contemporary art course Allons voir! aims at bringing a new life to these typical buildings from the North of the Cher department in France.
From July 4th to September 6th, the second edition of Allons voir! invites contemporary artists to create pieces as a dialogue with this remarkable rural architectures that reveal the dayly life of the Pays Fort inhabitants. The visitors will then discover / rediscover them under a new light
The artistic direction of the 2020 edition of the event has been entrusted to Lucile Encrevé, art critic.
The event will take place at the following places :
Assigny, at the Joliveau farm owned since the 16th century by the Lelièvre family. The pyramidal barn was built in 1505 and is surrounded by several other buildings (housing, stables, workshop) around an old paved yard.
Barlieu, at the Badineau silo site: there one can see a modern rural architecture, as a pendent to the historical pyramidal barns.
Concressault, at the Moulin Riche one enjoys a water-mill, a pyramidal barn (registered as a historical monument), a sheep barn, a bread oven, and housings in a bucolic surroundings planted with century old trees.
Jars, at the Chenuets farm, runned by two young organic farmers, Sabine and Stéphane, and crowed with many animals such as hens, ducks, gooses, goats, sheep, cats and dogs. Parts of their pyramidal barn have been restored by the Heritage Foundation.
In Vailly-sur-Sauldre, an old pyramidal barn coming from the neighboring village of Thou has been rebuilt at the entrance of the village, and hosts now the Tourism office and a rural museum.
Allons voir! is supported by :
French Ministry of Culture / Regional Direction for Cultural Affairs (DRAC) Center – Loire Valley
Center – Loire Valley Region
Cher Department Council (CD18)
Sancerre-Pays Fort-Val de Loire town council community
The city council of Vailly-sur-Sauldre
It benefits from the collaboration of :
Bourges National Superior School of Art (ENSA Bourges)
FRAC (Regional Fund for Contemporary Art) Center – Loire Valley
Cher Department Tourism Office (Ad2T-Berry Province)
Sancerre-Pays Fort-Val de Loire Tourisme Office
Barlieu city council
Concressault city council