In short: Gîte du Cruet is a renovated Savoyard barn in the hamlet of Le Cruet, Saint-Eustache, 30 minutes from Annecy. The original timber frame has been kept above a large cathedral-ceilinged living room; insulation, underfloor heating and a modern kitchen bring the comfort. The barn sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms.
A hamlet barn above the lake
In the mountain villages of Haute-Savoie, the barn was used to store hay and harvests above the cowshed. The one at Le Cruet overlooks the hamlet at 752 m, on the slopes rising from Saint-Jorioz towards the Col de Leschaux. Around it lie meadows, forest and the Roc des Bœufs; below, Lake Annecy.
Saint-Eustache has kept its village character: a church built in 1864, a town hall and school from 1880, and a few scattered hamlets, including Le Cruet, Le Puget and La Bauche. This is the setting we wanted to preserve.
What we kept
The original timber frame is still exposed. It gives the living room its cathedral height and warm atmosphere, especially in the evening when the light plays on the wood. Savoyard stone and wood dominate, and large windows frame the mountains.
What we added
A barn is not built to be lived in: it had to be insulated, heated and fitted out. Today, the barn is a cosy retreat:
- Underfloor heating throughout, comfortable even in midwinter
- 4 quiet bedrooms with high-quality bedding and blackout curtains
- 2 bathrooms with XL showers, 2 separate toilets
- A modern kitchen fully equipped for 8
- 200 Mbps wifi, smart TV, covered parking
We also wanted a low-impact renovation: energy- and water-saving measures, waste sorting, and local produce for meals thanks to the neighbouring cheese dairy.
Living in the barn through the seasons
In summer, the thick walls keep the rooms cool. Breakfast in the garden, the lake 10 minutes away, and dinner facing the peaks. In autumn, the Bauges forests change colour and the trails empty out: the best season for hiking. In winter, the barn becomes a refuge: skiing at Le Semnoz by day, raclette from the Fromagerie de la Cochette by night, under the beams. In spring, the pastures turn green again and the lake gets its colours back.
Who is it for?
The barn sleeps up to 8 people: families, groups of friends, yoga retreats or small teams on a seminar. It is rented as a whole, with cleaning, bed linen and towels included.
Want to see the interior room by room? Take the full tour of the gîte, then check availability.
