# What is a Carré Farmhouse?
**A carré farmhouse (also called a courtyard farm or four-sided farm) is a farmstead type in which the dwelling, stables and barns are grouped around an enclosed courtyard, forming a square or rectangular complex.** The name comes from the French word *carré*, meaning ‘square’.
## Features
– **Enclosed courtyard** — the buildings surround a central yard that is accessed through one or more gateways
– **Functional layout** — the dwelling typically forms the front side, with stables and barns on the remaining sides
– **Gatehouse** — the entrance to the courtyard often passes through a large gatehouse with double doors
– **Solid construction** — usually built in brick with tiled roofs
– **Security** — the enclosed layout offered protection from wind, theft and unwanted visitors
## Distribution
The carré farmhouse is found mainly in:
– **South Limburg, Netherlands** — often with half-timbering on the upper floor
– **Belgium** — especially in Wallonia and Flemish Brabant
– **Northern France** — as *ferme en carré*
– **Germany** — in the Rhineland and Eifel region (Vierkanthof)
## Application
Many carré farmhouses are no longer in agricultural use. They are converted into residences, bed-and-breakfasts, event venues or office space. Their monumental character and spacious courtyard make them well suited to adaptive reuse.
## Related Terms
– Farmstead
– Courtyard
– Adaptive reuse
– Longhouse farm
– Half-timbered building
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