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A noble retreat, a chapel and outbuildings in the centre of a 42 ha (104 acre) estate
Location
In the Grand Causses Regional Nature Park, near to Millau and its viaduct. 6 hours by road from Paris, 90 minutes from Montpellier and Rodez, with their international airports, or the TGV train station with links to Paris in 210 minutes. The estate stretches over the foothills of the Larzac plateau. In the heart of the Knights Templars and Hospitallers’ territory, it is possible to experience the wealth of a nature that is still both wild and unspoilt: hiking or cycling, hunting, hang-gliding or canyoning in the Hérault or Tarn gorges. Visitors might, however, prefer to savour the gastronomic pleasures of the region and take advantage of its south-west, Massif Central and Midi-Mediterranean influences. In any case, everyone likes to discover, coming out of a bend, immense panoramas on the horizon tinted blue by the Aubrac mountains, the Causse Méjean or the Causse du Larzac.
Description
This vast estate of more than 42 ha (104 acres) is free of any rental agreement or occupation. The grounds are planted with oak and immense Lebanon cedar trees and spread out over the hillsides of the Larzac plateau. After having gone approx. 2 km (1.25 miles) along a private, dirt track, visitors reach the platform, on which stand the south-facing buildings, overlooking the valley and taking advantage of the sun. The original residence (17th century) was destroyed by fire in the first years of the 20th century and was rebuilt in the 1900 style.
This imposing, massive rectangular construction spans two floors over a half-buried basement. The many large windows let copious amounts of light into the rooms. The ground floor features a large, 2nd Empire-style conservatory-veranda, adjoining the east facade. The building is topped with a hip roof and several red brick chimney stacks. The roof features a large opening, under which is a superb wrought iron atrium that provides natural light for the stairwell of the main stairway.
The south facade provides an outstanding panoramic view over the valley. On the west side, beyond the facade, with its regularly-spaced windows and doors, are the service quarters (kitchen, outbuildings, staff rooms and back stairway).
The inside of the house needs to be completely renovated in terms of decoration and home comforts as there are no facilities enabling the house to be lived in according to current day standards. Many rooms have also suffered from the loss of their original fireplaces. They no longer have any architectural or decorative features. Said rooms are, however, spacious and luminous, and are therefore suitable for any type of conversion.
A little way away, on the edge of the entrance driveway, there stands a wonderful stone building, that can be used as a hunting lodge or a caretaker’s cottage. It is flanked by a large shed, outbuildings used for storage purposes, and an aviary.
Positioned on a knoll, immediately opposite the main entrance door to the residence, perches a small chapel, renovated in the neo-gothic style. There are also stables, an old ornamental pool, a stone ice cave and the resurgence of a source that, once works have been carried out to clean its bed, could supply the property with water as it did in the past.
Our opinion
This estate charms its visitors because of its unspoilt setting, its isolation and its lack of any form of nuisance. With its luminous and colourful, lush vegetation, the vast parklands abound in trees of over one hundred years old; the grounds are undulating and conducive to the daydreaming of solitary walkers or to horse riding. The main asset of this property is its potential: everything needs to be invented using sound, spacious buildings, which means that free rein can be given to the imagination: restoring the residence so as to give it back the splendour of constructions from the second Empire or, on the contrary, considering it as an empty framework on which to base a more contemporary decoration, by taking even more advantage of the juxtapositions of style. Beyond the restoration that it merits because of its exceptional setting, it is suitable for a multitude of possible projects: a holiday home for city-dwellers in search of wide, open spaces and fresh air, a luxury hotel, a nursing home, a hotel for the “Relais du Silence” (it has the potential), or even a holiday centre with equestrian sports. In short, a residence with which to make your dreams come true.
760 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.
Reference 3418NL
| Land registry surface area | 42 ha (104 acre) |
| Main building surface area | 600m2 (6,226 sq ft) |
| Outbuilding surface area | 150m2 (1,556 sq ft)+195m2 (2,022 sq ft) |
Regional representative
Nadia Lebettre +33 (0)6 70 46 87 77
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
