The Shutter
For anyone who has visited, travelled around or lived in France (and many other European countries), you will know that most houses have shutters. In France they are called ‘les volets’. For me they are a beautiful addition to any house and come in all shapes and sizes, colours and ages, some wooden, some metal, solid and louvered, some pristine, others weathered with many a tale to tell. You may have passed through towns and villages wondering if anyone lived there, as often, depending on the time of day and the season, houses can be shuttered up completely, with no visible signs of life. In many cases this utterly belies the reality, with daily life continuing behind shuttered doors and windows.
So if we are so wrong with the assumption that a place is deserted, why is everywhere closed up? Before we look at this, let us start with a little bit of shutter history. Shutters are said to have originated in Ancient Greece, then made from marble, louvered to allow ventilation and light. Over the centuries, marble was replaced with wood or metal. Windows were much smaller in the 1500s and shutters were often on the inside, but with the invention of glass and windows becoming larger, so too did shutters, often folding back into the recess next to the window. Exterior shutters first began to appear in the mid-18th century and were known as ‘contravents’, literally ‘against the wind’ and usually painted white. There are stories that Louis XIV played a part in the popularity of shutters, but perhaps the practicality of continuing a centuries old tradition of being able to control light, heat and ventilation is a more important reason.
Back to their purpose and the reason places often look abandoned or empty as we pass through. In winter shutters act as an extra layer of insulation, keeping the cold out and the warmth in. On a sunny day in winter shutters may stay open all day, but when the cold winter wind blows, shutters are pulled back in to keep the worst of the chill out. In summer the same applies but in reverse. Early in the morning shutters are opened to let the cool air in, air the rooms and enjoy the early morning sunshine. By mid-morning when the day begins to warm up, windows and shutters are closed against the heat, only to be opened again in the evening when the air begins to cool. It is amazing how effective this is, helped too by the fact our home is built with stone. It can be a joy to walk into the house and feel the cool air and relish the subdued light when it is so bright outside. It may seem odd that we would want to live in the half-light but believe me, when it is hot outside it is fabulous. Shutters also add security to a home, as well as affording some privacy from neighbours and passers-by in built-up areas. They can help keep insects out (in theory). I say in theory as our shutters are old, with many a gap awaiting repair, so some intrepid explorers do make their way in!
Shutters have a routine all of their own, a rhythm to their days, just as we do. I have come to love the shutter dance we move through each day, each time for a reason, whether due to heat, cold, day or night. We have a lot of windows in our house, each with its own shutter or shutters – 72 shutters in total, all different shapes, sizes and ages. I have to confess that we don’t always open all of them but when we do, the light in the house is magical. Visitors often comment on the time it takes to open and close the shutters. For us it is part of our day, an essential part of our routine, morning and evening and part of the pleasure of living in our house. We welcome in the day and say goodnight in the evening. The views, skies, stars and weather all form part of this routine, helping us to embrace each day with all its twists and turns, which you may have read about in some of our posts. Never a dull moment!
I love the vast array of shutters, never tiring of the colours, structures, often wondering what stories they could tell. A fascinating but practical addition to a house. I hope you enjoy them too.
A bientôt
Ali xx
