This artists’ house sits on the ramparts in the heart of medieval Mirmande, a hilltop village in the Drôme, north of Provence, france.
For the past 35 years the house has been owned by an artist and many of her paintings remain in the house. The house is now owned by two families, consisting of curator, painter, sculptor and writer, who continue the tradition of the arts in Mirmande.
Mirmande house is available for rental, for holiday or residency. further details via airbnb or mirmandehouse@gmail.com
History of the village
Records mention the fortified village of Mirmande as early as 1238. It became a thriving silk centre in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the industry was to suffer a sharp decline when the production of synthetic materials took over. Most of the inhabitants departed and the village declined.
In 1925 Mirmande was rediscovered by cubist painter André Lhote, who immediately realised the artistic potential of the location: the view over the valley with the broad expanse of the Rhône in the distance; the glowing hills in which the village is set; the backdrop of angular mountains and the graphic patterns of land under cultivation and blossoming orchards. The arrival of Lhote and his followers heralded the rebirth of the village, and its reputation quickly grew. Within a few years Mirmande became a major centre of the arts as painters and sculptors bought ruined houses and rebuilt them.
Of note for Australian art enthusiasts, Adelaide born Dorrit Black studied with André Lhote in the 20s and 30s, first visiting Mirmande in 1928. Dorrit Black paintings of Mirmande feature in the public collections of several state galleries in Australia, including the art gallery of new south wales.
Mirmande has been given the prestigious award of one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.”
Samantha Ferris 