Close-hovel

The close-hovel , also called court-hovel is a ground surrounded by a planted slope of trees which shelters a farm and a rural dwelling in the Pays of Caux.

The specificity of the Country of Caux is the close-hovel (or court-hovel) which is a space surrounded by quickset hedges being used as curtain windshield. The trees are planted on a slope and are in general Hêtre S or Chêne S or, nowadays, the Peuplier used for its rapid growth. Sheltered by this hedge which creates a microclimate, a complantée court of Pommier S allows the production of the cider and the protection of the young cattle. One finds also the farm buildings and dwelling (firm). The evolution of the lifestyles leads to a pulling up or a lack of maintenance of the hedges, which accelerates the erosion of the grounds. Having a role of windshield, the also planted slopes indeed slow down the water run-off of rain. With the population growth of the 18th century, the course-hovels ended up forming hamlets, themselves surrounded by hedges. The landscape of the country of Caux should not be confused with the Bocage of Basse-Normandie.

See too

External bonds

close-hovels (or course-hovels): an article on a site carried out by the students of the University of Le Havre

Random links: