Gîte Le Poulailler de Marcel

The building hosting the today gîte was originally built in 1952 by Marcel, Didier's grandfather, after having cumulated several jobs after the second world war. This was when Marcel helped by his spouse grandma Aurélie started to raise chickens! The poultries were destinated to be sold in local restaurants, on the famous Mulhouse "canal couvert" market as well as sometime even on the more famous market "les Halles de Paris"! To be noted that both of them where familiar with the capital city since they leaved and met there.. since Marcel left his Sundgau at age 14 hoping to make fortune in Paris and Auréllie left his mining familly in Hénin-Liétard (North) to enter a serving position in a wealthy family. The chicken house was realised with the help of their 2 sons, Daniel and Michel. Some of the village craftsmen and friends have as well assisted in the building. Once the construction finished, and for a few years, over a thousands of chicken were raised! Few year later with Marcel's retirement, and in order to secure a small additional revenue, the building was used as a skelter for happy dogs that were spending few days or weeks holidays here.... Later on, after Marcel passed (1973) and until we moved here in 1991 the chicken house was occupied by one of the village association, the Zittvertrieber (litteraly « those who make time pass »…) as their hub. How many barbecues in what was at the time an orchard? In 2002, returning from a 2 years stay in California, Isabelle got the idea of tranforming the chicken house in a gîte.. the orchard becomes a garden… en the building is completly emptied.. then, after 3 years of research, planning, designing of pre projects; we decide to launch the renovation in 2009 and turn the building in the gîte as it is since April 2010 . The decoration has entirely been realised by Isabelle with help and suggestions of some of our friends. We have more ideas to optimise the decoration and the garden...and hope to soon be able to implement th