Ferme Filly

About this place

Sometimes you get lucky. And then you stumble upon a ^19th-century neglected barn in an Ardennes hamlet, in the middle of a quiet area. With a truss so impressive that it leaves you speechless. Even if you have to look past the clutter. No one succeeded in doing so, except for the Hermans-Hofkens family. They immediately saw the potential and fell head over heels for this rugged barn. It was the beginning of a renovation saga in which all the authentic elements were carefully restored. Once a storage room full of junk, a hangar where the tractor was parked, now a unique vacation home: Ferme Filly. And the trusses remained proudly intact.

Materials from the past and present have been cleverly combined, from clay to polished concrete, with the occasional old sink that has been carefully preserved. Ferme Filly consists of two parts, which can be rented together or separately. The robust main building, La Grange, can accommodate 15 people, while the annex, Le Fournil, the former bakery and stable, can accommodate 6 people. Both houses share a garden with enough terraces to catch some sun at any time of the day. One moment you are looking out over a handful of listed farms, the next you are enjoying the rolling hills stretching out before you, whether from the hot tub or elsewhere. The barn and the annex were built many years ago on a slope, which means they extend over several floors and offer a surprising amount of space.

La Grange, for example, boasts a sauna, a pink mezzanine where you can exchange secrets, and a basement bar with billiards, foosball, and a La Chouffe refrigerator. There are also two seating areas, one with and one without a TV. We bet you'll end up hanging out on one of the café chairs at the long table. This is the heart of Ferme Filly. And if you look closely, you'll spot the owners of yesteryear. Their original portraits were discovered during the renovation and given a place of honor. It's a way of letting them enjoy the happiness this place brings, after all their hard work.

We ❤️ that cathedral of a truss