Location

A little over 187 miles from Paris, 175 of which are on the A10 motorway. 28 miles from Tours (its TGV train station puts Paris only 60 minutes away and its airport has 4 flights per week to London with daily flights during the summer).
On the borders of the Anjou, Touraine and Poitou regions, between vineyards and forests (including that of Chinon with its 12,355,000 acres), between the Vienne and Loire rivers, in a region glorified by François Rabelais who cast his famous characters there: Pantagruel, Gargantua and others such as Gargamelle, etc.
Close to a village, on the forest boundary, dominating plains planted with vines and cereal crops.

Description

A small estate of just over an acre.
On the south side: a wooded courtyard, secured by two gates, one carriage and one pedestrian, each topped with an arched stone lintel. On the north side: the former vegetable garden, and a small meadow.
The property is enclosed and protected from onlookers by a high rubble stone wall, containing oval loopholes for firearms every so often as well as an aiming slit, used for surveying the entrance.
The manor house, in the centre, faces south and the valley. On its left, a large barn, on its right, the ruins of the former outbuildings (bread ovens, hen house, etc.). A large square dovecote stands in the south west corner of the courtyard. To the north, an impressive series of cellars converted from the former freestone quarries. The only drawback is the former farm, this traditional farmhouse whose rear blind wall no longer belongs to the property.
The manor house: the main building dating from the 16th century was subsequently extended with a right angle wing (18th century?). The outside is in a good state of repair despite various transformations, and the building still has much character: in the corner a polygonal tower houses the stone spiral stairway which leads to the first floor and the attic, the entrance door and its straight lintel has S-shaped mouldings at the keystone topped with a large panel where the sculptures have unfortunately been chipped off, a large mullioned window has been closed up but it can easily be reopened, and a large stone casement window lets light into the attic.
The inside is in need of renovating. Home comforts are antiquated and improvements are necessary even though part of the dwelling can be lived in.
Approx. 3,014 sq ft of living space: entrance in the tower, dining room, lounge, former kitchen extended by a pantry, kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor; four bedrooms, three bathrooms (two awaiting renovation), toilet and storeroom upstairs. An attic with a floor surface area of 1,292 sq ft, divided into three rooms, can easily be converted, increasing the living space to 4,305 sq ft. The outbuildings:
. Barn with a floor surface area of 1,076 sq ft. . Square dovecote with a floor surface area of 248 sq ft: a ground floor which was used as stables and an upstairs housing the dove-holes.
. Several small buildings in ruins merit restoration: the bakery with several bread ovens, hen house, etc.
. Vast cellars under the garden. Converted from a former white freestone quarry, they house the wine-press, the crushing vats and numerous burial vaults. A ground study carried out in 2005 with a view to installing a swimming pool, concluded “a good, overall stability”.

Our opinion

An attractive building that has existed down through the centuries without the outside being damaged. However, this is not the case inside where it is still possible to make out the period features. There is more than enough to occupy its future owners who cannot restore its lost authenticity but who can use old materials and give it back the style it merits.
The presence of the vast cellars makes it possible to envisage a wine or function-based business.
There is also the lucrative opportunity to purchase additional land that includes a little less than an acre of old AOC Chinon vines.

Price: 500 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.

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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.