Warre

Warre, often spelled Warré, refers primarily to a beekeeping approach and hive design developed by French beekeeper Émile Warré in the 20th century. The Warre hive, sometimes called a hive-within-a-hive, is intended to imitate natural tree cavities by using a stack of boxes placed inside a larger outer cover.

The construction consists of wooden boxes of uniform interior size that are added vertically as the colony expands. Each box is used to hold brood in the lower portion and stores honey above, and the boxes are designed to permit foundationless comb. Beekeepers typically use top bars rather than frames. A crownboard on top and a ventilated bottom board aid humidity and temperature control, while the bees are encouraged to build their comb with minimal interference.

Management philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention and natural beekeeping: little or no artificial foundation, restrained use of feeds or chemicals, and allowing bees to regulate their own temperature, ventilation, and comb building. Harvesting honey, when practiced, aims to preserve brood and is conducted from upper portions or through careful manipulation that minimizes disruption to the colony.

In practice, Warré-style beekeeping is favored by hobbyists seeking a simple, low-intervention hive system that seeks to be closer to a natural colony life. The approach has influenced beekeeping conversations about sustainability, space management, and the balance between human intervention and bee autonomy.

See also: Warré hive; beekeeping; natural beekeeping.