Ever wondered where the church got its grain? This is the Grange aux Dîmes. It is an authentic 13th-century building. The Grange aux Dîmes was a place to store the tenth of the harvest. Peasants of Wissous paid this tax. This tax was for the clergy. Part of it helped finish the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris.
The Grange aux Dîmes is located in Wissous. It sits within the old seigniorial farm. The farm belonged to the Bishop of Paris. It dates back to the 13th century. The Grange aux Dîmes served as the collection point. Here the “dîme” was gathered. The “dîme” was a tax. Peasants paid it to the clergy. They paid it in goods.
This farm was the largest in the region. It even had a dovecote. They tore down the dovecote in 1895. This made way for a street. The street connected the church and the farm.
Let’s talk more about the history of the Grange aux Dîmes. It was part of a monastic farm. This farm was the seat of the village’s Chatellerie. Abbot Suger fortified it. From here, they managed the lands for the Abbey of Saint-Denis.
They rebuilt the Grange aux Dîmes in the 13th century. They renovated it in the 15th and 18th centuries. It served to receive the “dîme.” This was six percent of the local grain harvest. Monks collected this tax. They collected it in sheaves of wheat.
The Grange aux Dîmes is quite large. It is even bigger than the Saint-Médard church nearby. A porch precedes it. A tower flanks the porch. The tower has loopholes. These show the abbey’s concern for protecting its income.
Inside the Grange aux Dîmes, you will find magnificent beams. They are made of driftwood. The wood came from the Morvan. It traveled via the Cure, Yonne, and Seine rivers. They needed bicentennial oaks. This was to get beams of this size.
The Grange aux Dîmes boasts a height of 12 meters under the ceiling. It is a charming and unique place. A large fireplace burns almost all year. It creates a very romantic setting.
Today, the Grange aux Dîmes houses a gourmet restaurant. The restaurant has a signature dish. It is Angus tomahawks from Ireland. They cook the steaks in a Brasero. Upon request, they baste them with sizzling fatback. They serve them with homemade fries and sauce. The chef creates tasty and gourmet dishes throughout the seasons.
Note the facade of the Grange aux Dîmes. It has three entrances. An imposing buttress supports it. It resembles the church’s buttress. Legend says a tunnel runs from the Grange to the church.
The main entrance has a high Gothic arch. Swallows often nest in the entrance. The interior is vast. It is almost twelve meters high. The framework has eight pillars. They are sixty centimeters wide. They come from bicentennial trees from Morvan. A massive fireplace stands in the center. However, neither the fireplace nor the paving are original. A decorator made these changes in 1991. This was for the building’s conversion. The new kitchen occupies the right side of the building.
The farmyard paving was redone in 2003. They reused the original paving stones. In 2017, the Grange aux Dîmes even served as a set. It was for the show “L’amour est dans le pré.” The Grange aux Dîmes continues to stand. It has witnessed centuries of history. From its origins as a place of tax collection to its current role as a restaurant. It offers a glimpse into the past. The Grange aux Dîmes is more than just a building. It is a story etched in stone and timber.