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A fortified village nestled high in the hills of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is up for sale after more than four decades of renovation by its Flemish owners. The group of 20 Flemish families
purchased Le Vieux Bras d'Asse in 1979, gradually bringing the abandoned medieval site back to life, working together each summer on repairs and construction. At first, their efforts
were met with scepticism from locals. “They thought we were crazy,” recalled architect Marc Jonckers, 84, who manages the site. “We were planting trees, building walls, bringing back life.”
Le Vieux Bras stands 150 metres above the Asse river, around 30km south-west of Digne-les-Bains and about 90 minutes by car from Marseille. Despite its remote setting, the village is well
connected: it has mains electricity, its own water reservoir and pump house, a swimming pool, and links to a local wastewater treatment system. Legend has it the settlement was founded by
the Roman general Braccius in 25BC. By the 13th Century, the village had become a barony with more than 500 residents. Its decline began in the 19th Century when a bridge was built across
the river, prompting villagers to relocate to the valley below. The last full-time resident left in 1913, and over the next six decades, the houses were gradually stripped for stone. “When
we arrived in 1979, they had already started pulling buildings apart to reuse the roof tiles,” said Mr Jonckers. “The cornerstones from the church had gone.” The group funded the project
entirely themselves. “We never got a single subsidy. We didn’t own the property individually – only shares of it,” he said. “It was an experiment. We learned so much and worked so hard.” The
families spent year after year visiting the site, overcoming the innumerable problems the project presented - so much so that Mr Joncker's sons also went on to become architects.
Today, the partially restored castle includes 19 studios, including tower rooms, with a large communal kitchen and dining hall. The rebuilt church now hosts exhibitions, concerts and events.
[embedded content] Three houses have been constructed, and 10 other buildings are partly restored and ready for completion. Planning permission was also granted for 32 additional homes to
be built around the original ramparts. The site spans nearly 10 hectares, with the historic village covering around 1.5 hectares and the remainder comprising olive groves, forest and
farmland. “There’s huge potential,” said Mr Jonckers. “The land is beautiful – from the village you can see all the way to Vaux, 40km away.” He confirmed that at least two or three parties
had expressed serious interest in buying the site. “It could become a holiday village, or something more sustainable. It’s a unique place.” No sale price has been made public. The owners say
they are open to offers. Property in the local area sells at an average of €2,300 per m2, however Mr Jonckers suggested the restored village would sell for “much less” than that rate. A
figure of €1.3million has been suggested online Though most of the original shareholders are now elderly or no longer involved, their legacy remains. “We had always planned for the issue of
inheritance but never thought we’d get this far,” said Mr Jonckers. “We worked like Romans.” This year, Le Vieux Bras will mark its 1,000th anniversary as a recognised village, with
celebrations planned for September. More information and contact details can be found at Bras d'Asse Le Vieux.