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Former stronghold house between vines, woods and grasslands, 30 minutes from Geneva
Location
This group of buildings is in a dominant position in a peaceful setting on the southern, sunny, vine-growing slopes of the Usses Valley, 30 minutes from Annecy, on the outskirts of a pleasant village.
A French TGV train station (lines to Paris, Geneva and Lyon) is 15 minutes away, Geneva international airport is 35 minutes away and the A40 motorway access is 10 minutes away.
Description
Probably originating from the middle of the 17th century, this property was built by a family of solicitors. Set in approx. 6,000 m² (4.5 acres) of land, it comprises a main building, a genuine stronghold house, with a quadrangular tower that was once a dovecote, a wood shed and a former bread oven.
It is currently classified as a French historic monument.
The main house
This east/west facing stronghold house spans a floor surface area of approx. 275 m² (2,960 sq ft) and is built on the hillside.
Its loopholes and buttresses bear witness to a massive, sober architecture. It is predominantly laid out over three floors but has several rooms on intermediate floors.
Under an attic floor awaiting conversion of approx. 220 m² (2,368 sq ft), the noble or first floor of the house is level with the local road.
It comprises a large kitchen, a lounge, five vast bedrooms, a bathroom, storerooms and a small annex fruit store. In some of the bedrooms, in addition to the French ceilings, there are some astonishing murals that have recently been uncovered. They have been dated as coming from the 18th century and are attributed to travelling nomads paying for their keep.
Illustrating life scenes on land and on sea, there are evidently more of these illustrations to be discovered.
The garden level is accessed by means of a superb indoor spiral stairway that leads to a vast, high-ceilinged, vaulted cellar spanning approx. 50 m² (538 sq ft) and leading to three other wonderfully large rooms of between 20 and 35 m² (215-377 sq ft), once used as a wine press and stables.
With the addition of an independent room of approx. 20 m² (215 sq ft), this level is directly accessed from the garden.
The outbuildings
The dovecote, a quadrangular tower with a floor surface area of approx. 45 m² (484 sq ft), is on the west side of the stronghold house and spans three floors that await conversion.
Its loopholes and its windows with their strong, round bars bring an old gatehouse to mind, although over the centuries, it was most certainly used more for welcoming travelling nomads or day workers bound to the estate. There is a covered garage near to the local road.
The former wood shed and bread oven are on the north side of the main building.
Spanning a floor surface area of approx. 40 m² (430 sq ft), these buildings currently in use as garages and for parking are bordered by a gravelled courtyard featuring a former wash house, still with its water supply.
The garden, running along the south side of the building and reinforced by a supporting wall, overlooks the entire Alpine mountain range. It comprises an open terrace section, followed by slightly sloping land planted with fruit trees and a vineyard with the corresponding harvesting rights.
These countrified surroundings exude peace and quiet.
Our opinion
Une propriété attractive puisqu’à proximité de Genève dans un environnement très campagnard. L’ensemble du bâti, quoique méritant certains travaux de rénovation et d’amélioration, offre un potentiel habitable de plus de 800 m2.
Les peintures murales du 18ème, récemment mises à jour, sont étonnantes d’authenticité et donnent à cette propriété un caractère très exceptionnel lorsque l’on imagine que d’autres trésors de la même teneur restent certainement à découvrir.
Exclusive sale
1 280 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.
Reference 3328TB
| Land registry surface area | 6,000 m² (4.5 acres) |
| Main building surface area | 275 m² (2,960 sq ft) |
Regional representative
Thierry Besse +33 (0)6 19 67 16 80
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.
