The chateau stands in the heart of vast, tree-dotted grounds that cover over eight hectares. This estate is set back from the city of Moulins and is surrounded by meadows. A country lane takes you to the property. A wrought-iron gate framed between two stone pillars leads onto a long driveway that runs through the grounds. The majestic shape of the chateau then comes into view. The edifice is made up of two wings that form an L shape. It looks out southwards at the grounds and northwards at a gravel courtyard edged with brick outbuildings.

The chateau

The chateau displays an eclectic range of successive construction periods, from the 15th century to the 19th century. Yet the whole edifice has kept perfect harmony. Back in the 15th century, the Petitdé family – lords of the estate and financiers for John II Duke of Bourbon – ordered construction of the original dwelling here, as well as a tall tower housing a spiral staircase. Then, in the early 16th century, during the French Renaissance, the facade was embellished with fine floral ornamentation of pale beige limestone, as well as a corbelled turret. The stone-mullioned windows and medallions – representing King Francis I of France and the Constable of France – were crafted during the French Revolution. A classical-style wing was later added, probably in the 18th century, at a right angle on the south-west corner. And during the 19th century, the whole edifice was remodelled and decorated. On the east side, a wing that is lower in height houses storerooms and technical installations rooms. Cellars lie beneath parts of the building, which has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. The elevations display lattice-patterned brickwork of different colours. The roofs are covered with flat tiles and slate tiles. Some of the roofing needs to be renovated.

The ground floor
Four different entrance doors lead into the house, where two hallways – one in each wing – connect to all the rooms, which look out at the grounds eastwards, southwards and westwards. Most of the windows have been given double glazing and oak window frames with old wrought-iron Cremona bolts. From the courtyard, you step into a spacious hallway with a mosaic-patterned tiled floor, wooden dado panelling and exposed ceiling beams. This hall connects to the reception rooms. There is a large, renovated lounge with a 40m² floor area, red tones, wooden dado panelling, oak strip flooring, a wooden fireplace with glazed tiles, and stained-glass windows, which include a representation of Anne of Brittany – Duchess of Brittany and Queen of France – who stayed in the chateau in 1495. A hallway with a mosaic-patterned tiled floor looks out at the grounds and leads to the dining room, which has oak strip flooring, an oak fireplace and a French-style beamed ceiling. A spacious bedroom with a stone fireplace and French-style beamed ceiling and a bathroom with a lavatory complete this wing. In the original section, a corridor connects to a lounge with a Louis XVI style stone fireplace beneath a trumeau panel, stained-glass windows and a terracotta-tiled floor. On one side of the corridor there is an office and on the other side a television lounge. Set back, a boiler room houses an old heating oil boiler from the company Ideal Standard. Beyond it, in the more rustic wing, there is a vast family kitchen with a floor area of around 40m². It has an imposing stone fireplace in working order. Terracotta tiles cover the floor and exposed beams run across the ceiling. Lastly, beside the kitchen, there is a scullery that serves as a utility room and connects to the garage.

The first floor
You reach the first floor via the spiral staircase in the tower. The layout is very similar to that of the ground floor. A broad dual-aspect hallway with a terracotta-tiled floor connects to the corbelled turret, which houses a chapel with a stained-glass window. This hallway connects to four spacious bedrooms, each with a floor area of around 30m². Each of these bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom or shower room with storage spaces. The bedrooms have sumptuous decor and include marble fireplaces, oak strip flooring, alcoves and even stained-glass windows.

The attic
The spiral staircase leads up to the top floor too. This roof space has remained in a raw state with exposed roof beams. Some domestic staff bedrooms have been preserved up here. One of them is richly decorated with a stone-mullioned window and a marble fireplace.

The basement
A vaulted cellar lies beneath the kitchen and houses a water meter. You can reach it from the courtyard. There is another cellar beneath the main section of the house. You can reach it from the tower.