castles / chateaux for sale close to nancy - in the area around vittel

This manor house stands facing the church in a traditional rural village. One facade is on the road side whilst the main facade faces parklands backing on to a hill. It was constructed at the beginning of the 19th century, probably in 1805, on the ruins of a stronghold house. It has all the architectural characteristics typical of the era’s large middle-class homes; its balanced, tasteful decoration is both sober and elegant inside and out.
The property includes several outbuildings such as a square tower and a large building, constructed in a more rural style. They once provided the estate with all the areas that were required by the way of life in times gone by, notably for housing carriages and horses. They are currently used for storing wood and equipment for maintaining the parklands.
A spring feeds a hillside, underground fountain and is used for watering the flowering beds.
A bed & breakfast and function activity has been developed over recent years which could be continued with, perhaps, some conversion works.

The manor house

This manor house spans three levels, one of which is an attic floor. It is set out in accordance with a strict rectangle, parallel to the main village street and only one low annex building, adjoining its left side, was not part of the original layout. All the openings are framed with sandstone surrounds. Those on the first level feature semi-circular arches, topped with a keystone, whilst those on the second level are rectangular, although they are the same height and also have stone keystones. Two stone string courses, one wide one and another somewhat narrower one below it, separate the two different styles. The ends of the facade are marked with quoins. Three large, rectangular attic roof dormers, as opposed to the five windows on the lower floors, are set in the slate, Mansard style, hip roof. The asymmetry created by a reduced number of windows on the attic floor successfully makes the building look taller. And lastly, an elegant, rounded, glass and wrought iron canopy, protecting the front door on the parklands side, adds a decorative feature to this facade.
Two small protruding balconies and their wrought iron railings enhance the first floor windows on the facade of the manor house facing the roadside entrance and the courtyard, turned towards the outbuilding.
A square tower, spanning two levels, stands on one side of the parklands, to the right of the manor house. It features three large, brick and stone framed windows upstairs and large semi-circular arched carriage doors on the ground floor.
A large outbuilding has been constructed on the edge of the property, at the end of a courtyard, on the left-hand side of the street entrance. Featuring three successive gables, each with a 2-sloped roof, it is quite dilapidated.
The white rendering covering all the walls of the manor house is in a very satisfactory state of repair.

Ground floor
A small porch way, on the side of the manor house set at right angles to the street, provides access to a wide corridor leading to all the ground floor rooms. Once inside the front door, cement floor tiles with alternate geometric motifs overprinted with tracery, grey on a light background, create a superb effect. Immediately on the left-hand side is a large lounge, spanning approx. 32 m², superbly illuminated via four tall semi-circular arched windows on either side of a marble fireplace. The room is reflected in a mirror which covers two-thirds of the height of the wall facing the door to the corridor. It has a moulded wooden frame and is supported on a wall-mounted pier table, made of the same material. Decorative herringbone parquet flooring provides this room with added warmth.
Large, double doors facing the lounge fireplace open into a dining room, spanning more than 50 m². This highly attractive room, with its very original parquet flooring, has stained glass windows and a moulded ceiling with corner stucco decoration, featuring allegorical motifs.
A large kitchen, reached from the dining room and via the central corridor, is in line with professional standards. It is adjoined by a laundry room.
Continuing on from the dining room, it is possible to access bathroom and toilet facilities as well as a large area, spanning approx. 70 m², laid out in the low building adjoining the manor house. This area, currently in use as a garage and a workshop, could be transformed into a function room, if so required.
And lastly, on the right-hand side of the entrance hall, the ground floor comprises a 15 m² study which also has a stained glass window.

First floor
After the study, on the right-hand side of the ground floor corridor, a superb wooden stairway, with wrought iron railings and a wooden handrail, is illuminated by an atrium ceiling. It goes upstairs to a landing which provides access to all the first floor rooms.
Amongst the four bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms, two span a floor surface area of approx. 32 m² and two 17 m². The biggest two, made extremely bright by their large windows, overlook the parklands. Their decorative features include parquet flooring and marble fireplaces. One of them has stained glass windows.
A door, on the far right-hand side of the landing, provides access to the attic above the low building adjoining the manor house. This large area, spanning approx. 80 m², is completely independent from the rest of the residence. It has been converted into an open-plan flat comprising a lounge, sleeping areas, a kitchen section and a shower room.

Attic
The attic space spans a floor surface area comparable to that of the two other levels of the manor house. It has been transformed into six large bedrooms. Three have their own bathroom. The other three share a vast shower room.
Cellar
Spanning the full floor surface area of the manor house are large vaulted cellars which house a boiler room and could also include an area for laying wine down under perfect conditions.
Outbuilding
This building was originally a stable downstairs and a hayloft upstairs. It is currently used for storing wood.
The parklands
The parklands, spanning a surface area of more than a hectare, are laid out over the hillside facing the manor house. A section, laid to lawn, in front of the manor house is followed on the slope by an area planted with miscellaneous species of deciduous trees, resembling a natural wood. Behind the square tower, an escarpment is home to several highly productive fruit trees.
A rocky grotto at the foot of the wooden section of the parklands houses a fountain which feeds a half-moon shaped pond.