Burons

Burons are traditional shepherds’ huts found in the rural landscapes of the Massif Central in France, particularly in the Auvergne region and in the departments of Cantal, Puy-de-Dôme, and Haute-Loire. They were built to shelter flocks during grazing and transhumance, and in some cases to house simple dairy operations for producing or aging cheese during the pastoral season.

Construction and form: Burons are small, usually single-room structures built of local stone with thick walls and either conical or shed-type thatched roofs. Many are dry-stone constructions; the roofing materials range from thatch to turf or wooden shingles. The interiors are plain, with minimal furnishings, sometimes a bench along the wall, a small table, and a space used for cheese processing or storage. Some examples include a separate dairy or loft.

Historical role: The buron tradition developed in the Middle Ages and expanded in the pastoral belt of the Massif Central, peaking in the 18th–19th centuries. They served as mobile or semi-permanent shelter for shepherds during the grazing season and as places to process and store dairy produce, including cheeses known as fromage de buron.

Modern status: With changes in farming and land use, many burons were abandoned or repurposed in the 20th century. Today, surviving burons are valued as rural heritage. Some have been restored and adapted as tourist accommodations, gîtes, or restaurants, and they appear on hiking trails and cultural routes that highlight regional identity.