Buy a Hamlet?

I'm always surprised at the number of Europeans who own summer homes. Often the houses are part of the family heritage, but sometimes people buy into them. It is even conceivable to purchase a whole "hameau" -- hamlet, or small village -- as this article from the magazine l'Express indicates. Six families from Bruges went in together to buy this hamlet in Aveyron , and are now able to drink their apéritif together on the town square.