Formerly a hub of luxury shoemaking, the medieval town of Romans-sur-Isère is turning its empty shops into stylish self-catering stays
Photograph: Jane KnightPhotograph: Jane Knightt’s certainly an eye-catching shop window, full of interesting artefacts – an old sewing machine stands poised over a sheet of leather, with an oil lamp on one side, ancient shoe moulds on the other. There’s more leather hanging above, with footsteps cut into it. I step into the Tannerie, then lock the door behind me.
Old shutters or wooden crates double as shelves; sinks might be made from a traditional iron washing basin They’re all beautifully decorated. It helps that Francois-Xavier’s wife, Cynthia, is an interior designer. “I try to give a soul to each one and reflect it subtly in the interior,” she says. Using a mix of upcycled charity shop finds, donations and some serious creativity, she has worked her magic in the apartments, incorporating original features such as exposed stone, vaulted ceilings and archways.
With its 11 centuries of history, Romans is a town to be proud of, and makes a great base for exploring the surrounding villages and the town of Valence, seven minutes away by train. Exploring the compact centre on foot won’t wear out too much shoe leather. Some alleyways are so narrow I can see the indent worn by carriage wheels in the walls, and specialist shops include a luxury fan artisan and a violin maker in Rue Pêcherie.
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