Location
Located in the south of the Burgundy wine-growing region, the property is surrounded by a wealth of nature, gastronomy, culture and history. La Roche de Solutré, Cluny abbey, the river Saône and the vineyard slopes form a backdrop for several Michelin-starred restaurants. Over the years the Mâcon area has become a modern transport hub. Lyon is accessible via the A6 motorway or by high-speed train in less than an hour. Paris is a mere 2-hour train journey while Geneva is a 1.5-hour drive via the A40 motorway. European capitals are a short flight away from Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport. For day-to-day life, the property is within the Mâcon urban area (population of eighty thousand), which boasts all services and conveniences.
Description
The house
The three-floor building is perfectly symmetrical with cellars, a main part and two slightly angled wings. Inside, circulation is simple: on each floor, the rooms lead off a landing and corridor. The East-West aspect and numerous windows allow for plenty of light.
The ground floor
From the courtyard, the rooms lead off a long corridor paved with square stones. A white stone half-turn staircase with a wrought-iron bannister leads to the upper floors. The red-hued kitchen boasts professional fittings and is ideal for residential use. To the east, the three linked reception rooms overlook the leafy grounds. The baroque-style music room features wooden panels, romantic painted landscapes and gilded mouldings. The pink marble fireplace sports a mirrored overmantel. Geometrically laid parquet floor and four large windows. The living room takes pride of place in the centre of the house, its two patio doors leading out to a patio overlooking the grounds. Here, the mosaic tiled floor has an all-round frieze and an ornate centrepiece. The Louis XIII-style overmantel above the wooden fireplace features a portrait. Above the double doors, coats of arms indicate the rich past of an old French family. The dining room, ideally located between the living room and the kitchen, also has access to the south-facing patio. Mosaic-tiled floor and half-height wooden panels. The dining room and kitchen are currently rented to two chefs whose cuisine is part of the estate’s tourist attraction.
The first floor
A wide landing leads to two en-suites with chevron parquet flooring. The third door leads to an independent flat where a corridor leads to a large bedroom with dressing room, shower room, living room with parquet floor and a fitted kitchen.
The second floor
The second floor houses guests. The layout is the same as the first floor. The six en-suites have large bedrooms with either bath or shower. Terracotta tiled floors throughout. Most rooms have fireplaces. All rooms are well-lit and double aspect with large windows, some arched.
The attic
The staircase goes from stone to wood between the second floor and the loft. A landing leads to the loft space. There is plenty of room but little potential for conversion to a living area. In bygone days there was a roof terrace on the top of the main building, which linked the two wings. All the roofs have been restored recently.
The cellar
Four vaulted cellars beneath three-quarters of the building’s surface area house the boiler, pool pump etc. as well as maturing the wine collection.
Outbuildings
The property used to include an adjacent vineyard. On the western boundary a building has ground-floor storage, stables and a barn area. An outer staircase leads to a former flat spanning 110m², in need of restoration. Like the house itself, the dwelling boasts eight large arched windows and could be converted to guest accommodation or a private apartment, leaving the main house for commercial use. Further on, a former wine store (120m²) offers more conversion potential.
The grounds
The grounds span just under three hectares and can be accessed via three separate entrances. Half of the area is wooded with 200-year-old trees. Classic oak, linden blossom and beech share the space with more exotic Austrian pine, cedar and gingko biloba. A well, ice house and pond form the estate’s 19th-century cooling places. A large Tuscan-style swimming pool was added a few years ago. An avenue lined with poplars opens out onto a wilder area with fields and the vineyard beyond.
Our opinion
Located between the Oc of the south and the Oil of the north, where flat tiled roofs give way to canal tiles, this sunny estate has opted for a decidedly Mediterranean accent. Savour a work by Alphonse de Lamartine as you sip the wine that bears the name of the château and appreciate the setting that blends local history, wine and literature. Here at the heart of France, of Europe, is your starting point from which to discover new horizons. Already a renowned guest house, the estate asks for nothing more than to continue its journey.
1 680 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 442804
Land registry surface area | 2 ha 83 a 44 ca |
Main building surface area | 850 m2 |
Number of bedrooms | 9 |
Outbuilding surface area | 110 m2 |
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.