In the heart of a peaceful village, this property is discreetly set on the edge of a local road. An imposing wrought-iron gate framed by two stone pillars provides access to the courtyard, where there is an outbuilding. The grounds, partially enclosed by stone walls, extend over 5 000 m² to the north of the buildings. It was built in the 1760s on the site of an earlier property by Claude-Ignace Dunod de Charnage, King's Councillor at the Franche-Comté Parliament. A country residence that is the counterpart to a town house in Biel, it retains all the attributes of a noble house with a farm and vineyard. Its history is well documented in numerous archives, and its architectural and historical quality was recently recognised by its inclusion on the Monuments Historiques list in its entirety (main building, outbuildings and grounds), making it possible to access support for its restoration and conservation.

The residence

It is built of stone, with a garden level used for services and outbuildings, a first floor and an attic floor topped by a high, flat-tiled roof. On its east side, an old tower, probably dating back to the 16th century, looks over the building and houses a spiral staircase leading to all floors.

The garden-level floor
It is divided lengthways into two sections. To the north, a deep vaulted stone cellar was used for wine production on the property, and can be accessed from the courtyard or the house. To the south, a remarkable stone spiral staircase with a wrought iron banister leads up to the first floor. There is a former kitchen with a monumental stone fireplace and integrated wood-burning stove, covered in Burgundy stone tiles, next door. It leads to the house's current kitchen, which was refitted in 1820 and which opens directly onto the east garden.
The upstairs
Accessed from the main stone staircase, a central corridor leads to an 18th-century noble apartment with adjoining reception rooms on the grounds side and bedrooms refurbished in the 19th century on the village side. A remarkable ceremonial salon has preserved its original decor, decorated with stucco with musical and rural motifs, probably created by the Marca family (stucco workers from Piedmont who settled in Franche-Comté in the 18th century) and covered with polychrome decoration typical of the Franche-Comté region. The original doorframes still have their blown-glass windows with internal shutters, where traces of the seals affixed during the French Revolution are still visible. The floor is covered with herringbone oak parquet highlighted by trompe l'oeil skirting boards echoing the colours of the imposing Sampans stone fireplace. A study with herringbone parquet flooring, a stone fireplace and stretched canvases leads off to the living room. The succession of rooms leads to the master bedroom, with its finely carved alcove and high-painted panelling. To the south, a bathroom with a toilet was fitted in the 1960s. Two bedrooms with parquet floors and fireplaces complete the first floor.
The attic
Accessed via the stone spiral staircase in the tower, it is lit by four imposing stone-framed dormer windows. Half of the area, which was formerly utility rooms, have been converted into four bedrooms. The other half covers the entire under-roof space and could still be converted.