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Location
In the centre of the Poitou region, 263 miles from Paris (250 of which are on motorway), less than 63 miles from the Poitiers-Biard airport with flights to London and other European capitals and 63 miles or so from La Rochelle and the Atlantic Ocean.
In the Sèvre valley, between the plains and the Gâtine area, in an undulating pastoral setting, alternating small fields bordered by wooded hedges with broadleaved forests.
On a hill dominating the village, the Roman tile roofs of which can be seen from afar.
Description
This 30 acre estate is accessed by a small road leading upwards out of the village. A mile and a quarter further on, a wild hedge-lined avenue makes its way between the meadows and leads to an esplanade.
The vast courtyard surrounded by all the buildings then opens up:
The castle:
This asymmetrical, U-shaped building open to the north, floating in the midst of its moats, is linked to dry land by two stone bridges: a short, solidly-built one leading to the courtyard of honour, and a second footbridge leading to the garden.
Dating originally from the 12th century, the castle was transformed in the middle of the 17th century. Perfectly laid out, large windows were put into the south facade, flanked by its two corner pavilions. It has French MH classification for its exteriors and also for certain of its internal features. Its current owners bought it in an all but dilapidated state. Over several years, with approval from the “Bâtiments de France” and the assistance of companies with “restauration du patrimoine ancien” qualifications, all the exteriors have been checked over and redone. The inside has not been neglected: floors and parquet flooring have been cleaned or replaced using wood from trees in the estate that fell down during the hurricane, insulation, electrical wiring, and plumbing have been replaced, central heating, plastering, etc.
Numerous period features still remain: stone fireplaces, floors covered with Burgundian stone or terra-cotta tiles, stone stairways (one box stairway and one spiral stairway topped with wooden balusters), a “fourneau potager” (secondary hearth where soups were cooked on embers), entrance door with a Greek pediment supported by two pilasters, etc.
6,243 sq ft of living space: central through entrance with the foot of the box stairway. On either side: large lounge, library, music and television room, large dining room, small dining room, kitchen and pantry, linen room, spiral stairway, a bedroom and en suite bathroom. Upstairs: five large bedrooms including one double and five bathrooms.
The outbuildings:
Guest house created in 2005/2006 in the former stables: 1,615 sq ft of living space. Seven adjoining buildings (forming an “L”) remain in their original condition. Barn opening on to the swimming pool: 1,399 sq ft in use as a pool-house and summer reception room; three other barns (total of 3,229 sq ft), former stables (1,238 sq ft) and wood shed (506 sq ft).
Heated swimming pool to one side, close to the open barn.
The garden around the buildings has received its owners’ full attention. Genuine “castle gardeners”, they have laid out all forms: aquatic in the moats with lotus and water lilies, medieval-style in front of the castle, a rose garden planted with 100 old varieties to the west of the moats, a herb garden and a vegetable garden; and a meadow, quite simply forming a vast green carpet to the south in front of the castle, the centre of which is decorated with French patterned parterres containing a mixture of flowers and a variety of plants.
Our opinion
This property combines the essential criteria of the most “difficult” buyers who contact us on a daily basis that we might find their “perfect” property:
main building in a good state of repair and immediately habitable, Historic Monument preservation, surroundings completely nuisance-free in a region that has a most pleasant climate, the sea less than 63 miles away, guest house or caretaker’s cottage, extensive outbuildings, some of which await conversion or completion of their restoration, “water” in the form of the moats and the swimming pool.
We liked it straightaway as will, we are sure, the enthusiasts that we intend to show around.
Price
1 955 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price. Reference
1821EL
Representative
Eric Leveilley
Telephone
06 19 67 16 41
contact
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.
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