In the past , people working in the vineyard came from afar and there was no easy way of transportation to bring them back home each evening .
They simply ate and slept on the spot , and these shelters were built to accommodate them ;
Some are very elaborate constructions , built in the 19 th century 
, with all the comfort of the time : real windows , fireplace , roof windows and to say it shortly , a dignified architecture... others are very primitive buildings , rather some kind of shacks .
In the Valencay wine region , wich is one of the Appellations of Loire Valley wines , Loges de vignes are a common feature when you visit the place .
Some have been restored by their owners , some with the help of the state , through the regional administrative body .
Long neglected , the best architectural remains of the life in the vineyard in the 19 th century is now displayed as an asset both for the wine producers and the regional tourism industry .
I don't know a lot of these shelters , but here are a few pictures , all taken in the Valencay region .
I also took pics of very ordinary vineyard shacks , as , who knows , maybe they will be also considered soon as remnants of a more recent era .
When the Valencay wines are commemorated next september 4-5 2004 for their new Appellation status (Valencay is an AOC since march 2004) , there will be festivities not only in Valencay but also on the vineyards , with tours to see the grapes , the vines and the particular Valencay soil . Some of these Loges de Vigne will be central to the visits organized , with buses bringing visitors to explain the particularities of the Valencay grape varieties and working culture .
Stumbling upon some of these cute little houses in the middle of nowhere with vineyards all around is very strange . They look like miniature houses .
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