Historic Eco-Farm/House for Sale in La Joux, Fribourg, Switzerland

A Unique Historic Eco-Farm/House in the Beautiful Gruyère!

The Location:

In a small village (850 meters of altitude) of 300 inhabitants with a direct access to the road that bring you in 5 minutes to small shops, 10 to supermarket, 20 to Montreux and the Geneva's lake. Close to Charmey with its hiking track, ski station and recently built thermal bath. The lake of Gruyère where you can enjoy wild scenery is also 10 minutes far from the house...
Different ski stati
This ever green region is located in the centre of the “Romandie” with one hour drive to Geneva airport, 30 minutes to Lausanne and again 30 minutes to reach the canton of “Valais”.
In winter a cross country ski track (classic style) start just next to the door and bring you to the next village near a natural reserve across pasture and forest.
In summer, beautiful forest and alp’s tracks are available in the region (Gruyère, Glâne and surrounding) to enjoy visiting alps’ chalets and their traditional handmade produced food specialities. If horse ridding is also one of your passion you will certainly enjoy the high potential of horse tracks. The lake of Gruyère (10 minutes) is one of the most peaceful and wildest lakes in Switzerland where you can enjoy swimming and the scenery of mountains behind it.
If you play Golf a playground is available (10 minutes) with an amazing vue on the surrounding mountain and lake.

THE FARM:

A bit of history

This old traditional “Fribourgeoise” farm has been built during the end of the 18th century principally with wood and in a fewer range in stones. The last person who was living there was a Cartwright and had few livestock as mean of subsistence and as a side income.

The building

The house is composed of a 150m2 apartment (when totally rebuilt). In prolongation of it there is a small stall where few livestock or 3 horses can stay and a traditional barn all in good condition. Of course these annexes can be converted to other purposes.

The renovation that has been done

The project is not finish and will be sold as is. Our wish was to rebuild this farm in a sustainable way with all natural products, with old traditional techniques and to keep the natural character of this type of building. Inside walls (for isolation) where made in hemp or straw and coated with lime and natural pigment. These materials provide a high degree of isolation while letting the house to breathe and control the humidity. Ground is also isolated with hemp. When wood were used only old one hand cutted was installed to stick to the traditional character. For the cave a completely new skeleton in wood was built and we made the choice to use moon cuted wood to avoid insect attack and reduce the deformation. The installation of this skeleton and floor was also done according to the moon.
Remark: All of these materials are accepted by the fire inspection. A well compressed and lime coated straw or hemp wall can almost not burn.
The kitchen, living room, 1 bed room and the main corridor are finished. The second floor, a part of the ground floor and the roof need to be isolated, however, the roof skeleton is in good shape.




The water supply

A private water source is supplying the amount of water needed even in dry season. All tubes were changed from the sources to the house (200 meters) and a brand new installation of water supply has been made including water tank (1500 lt.), filters, automatic refilling during the night, automatic water pressure pump etc.
Inside the house new copper tubes are installed to distribute the water.
The hot water can be heaten by electricity or wood when the central wood heater system is used.

The heater system

A complete central automatic wood heater system with a reserve of 1000 lt. was installed.
It is actually working in rooms that are already finished. When nobody are at home during winter the heating system can run on electricity to keep the house out of freezing or to heat or temperate it.

Electricity

The electricity installation is completely new and calculated even for future extension. Nothing is apparent; all tubes are inside walls and ground.

The land and neighbours

A 3000 m2 garden/pasture planted with old varieties of fruit trees compatible with an organic management is going with the house. A small river is delimiting the land on the right side and a small road on the left side. No direct neighbours are around a part one house hidden behind the barn.

Annual taxes:

The annual taxes including: village taxes, used water and fire insurance are around 550.- CHF per year for 2 person.

Another 120'000-150'00' Swf. should be spend to completely finish the house.I can arrange contact,translation and facilitation (free of cost)with competent enterprise on natural building if desire.

If you have other questions on this unique eco-farm project in the region don’t hesitate to contact me.