Residents' Houses

Accommodation for artists, gardeners, researchers and professionals in residence is one of the primary objectives of the Quartier des Artistes, in order to ensure the smooth running of the Fondation Les Arts Florissants - William Christie's activities in Thiré.  

That's why the acquisition and renovation of several houses in the village center was one of the Foundation's very first projects, back in 2012.

Developing an international artistic campus in a rural area such as Thiré is an ambitious challenge. To achieve this, housing quickly became a crucial issue for the Foundation, in order to make the Quartier des Artistes a place open to all - especially to people from all over the world coming for residencies. 

In addition to its practical necessity, the rehabilitation of rural buildings has helped to raise the profile of the Vendée region and its heritage on the international stage, by giving residents the opportunity to experience this traditional habitat.

Over the last fifteen years or so, we've been bringing new life to a group of traditional dwellings at the epicenter of the village. (...) Over the years, we've seen how these old houses have regained their coherence and raison d'être. The simple, intimate comfort of rural living is better suited to the needs of artists who come alone or in small groups, than more recent purpose-built buildings. Without having to alter the village, this area - which we have renamed the Quartier des Artistes - offers musicians and residents a context that is particularly conducive to their creativity, but also to the conviviality required for collective work. Here's a model of a living, inhabited heritage, with a role to play in today's world!

William Christie

Several fully renovated houses:

La Maison de Florence

La Maison des Anglais

La Maison des Artistes

L'Ancien Café

La Maison Loizelet

These projects would not be possible without the generous support of our patrons. We thank them for their presence and support, which play an essential role in the success of the Fondation Les Arts Florissants and its past and future projects. Thanks to them, we can continue to foster and nurture a love of Baroque culture and music, gardens and heritage in a spirit of transmission.