Maison de Monte au Lever

Maison de Monte au Lever is a historic residence in Les Grangettes, perched on a hillside above Lake Saint-Point in France's Doubs department.

Who built the house, and why?

A Lyon-based industrialist named Louis Neyron commissioned the property. Neyron had made his fortune manufacturing knitted fabric for underwear under the Rasurel brand, and he wanted a summer retreat where his whole family could gather away from the city. Construction ran from 1910 to 1913, and the hilltop site was chosen deliberately: it opens onto sweeping views across the lake toward the surrounding Jura hills.

What architectural style does it show?

The design carries two names rarely seen together on a single project: architect Boullu and painter Auguste Morisot. Their collaboration produced a building whose overall massing echoes the region's traditional farmhouses, yet whose details tell a different story. Ironwork accents, brick inlays, and angular window divisions point toward the Arts & Crafts movement, and several observers have noted a resemblance to the work of Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh — an unusual reference point for a house tucked into the French countryside.

What's inside worth knowing about?

A large double-sided fireplace anchors the ground floor, once the natural gathering point for the household. Upstairs, the attic was fitted out as a private family theatre, a feature common to well-off households of the early 1900s, where families staged their own performances for entertainment rather than public shows. Walking through the rooms today gives a fairly direct sense of how an affluent family of that era actually lived.

Is the building officially protected?

It is. Both the main house and its adjoining garage-and-stable outbuilding were listed as French historic monuments on 20 November 2003, meaning conservation rules extend to the full estate rather than just the residence itself.

Can visitors stay there today?

The property now operates as a four-star gîte, part of the Gîtes de France network of self-catering holiday rentals. Guests can sleep inside the historic rooms and take in the same lake views the original family enjoyed. During the annual Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), guided tours are sometimes offered as well, opening the house to visitors who aren't staying overnight.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Maison de Monte au Lever located? It sits on a hilltop in Les Grangettes, in the Doubs department, overlooking Lake Saint-Point.

Who commissioned the original building? Lyon industrialist Louis Neyron, known for the Rasurel knitwear brand, had it built for his family between 1910 and 1913.

Is the house legally protected as a heritage site? Yes — the house and its garage-stable outbuilding have been listed as monuments historiques since 20 November 2003.

Is it possible to book a stay there? Yes, it operates as a four-star gîte within the Gîtes de France network, offering overnight stays with lake views.