A chateau from the Napoleon III period with over two hectares of grounds,
nestled on a Burgundy wine trail in France’s Saône-et-Loire department
nestled on a Burgundy wine trail in France’s Saône-et-Loire department
Chalon-sur-Saône,
SAONE-ET-LOIRE
burgundy
71100
FR
Location
The Chateau Saint-Michel stands on high ground in the village of Rully, near the town of Beaune and the emblematic villages of the Burgundy wine trail “La Route des Grands Crus”. It lies in a calm neighbourhood with many gems of built heritage. On foot, you can quickly reach the centre of this village, which has around 1,800 inhabitants. From here, you can gaze out at vineyards in the surroundings. From the village’s train station, you can easily reach the cities of Dijon and Chalon-sur-Saône by rail. Paris is 2 hours and 30 minutes away by rail and Geneva is less than 3 hours away by road.
Description
The chateau was built in 1869. It stands in two hectares of grounds from where you can admire the Burgundy countryside in all its beauty. The edifice’s design is neat and even. Its windows, dormers and tall chimney stacks are arranged in symmetry. The chateau stands upon a vast raised terrace. A small glazed tower rises up from the slate roof, making the chateau unique. This tower houses a wooden spiral staircase that leads up to a viewpoint, which offers a spectacular vista of the surrounding landscape. Lower down, the grounds extend the property’s majestic layout, underlining the status of this Burgundian edifice. An inner courtyard leads to the main entrance of the chateau and to the chapel and dovecote. It forms a car park where several vehicles can be parked. The interior layout of the chateau is well structured and easy to understand. Each floor corresponds to a distinct use.
The chateau
The ground floor
The hallway sets the tone. It has a floor of white stone tiles laid with black square inserts. Wooden dado panelling with mouldings runs around the room. And a grand staircase of stone steps and balusters leads upwards. A richly decorated archway displays ornamentation that is characteristic of 19th-century homes. This entrance hall connects to the reception spaces and the main rooms on the ground floor: a private dining room, a restaurant room leading straight out into the garden, and domestic staff rooms, including the kitchen and several bedrooms with a private shower room.
The first floor
On the first floor there is a series of connecting reception rooms that are ideal for guest meals or special events. They have kept authentic decor that is typical of 19th-century homes, including floor-to-ceiling wooden panelling, coffered ceilings with mouldings, chevron parquet and monumental fireplaces. Tall windows gaze out at the landscape and bring out the true spaciousness of the rooms, which are bathed in an abundance of natural light. The whole first floor bears witness to a unique exploration in decorative arts where the art of interior design and decor combines with the know-how and skill of expert craftspeople.
The second floor
The second floor has six bedrooms that were recently renovated in the same spirit as the chateau. Each one has its own en-suite bathroom. The marble fireplaces, which stand out for the variety of their motifs, have been preserved. And the chevron parquet has been restored.
The third floor
The third floor has been entirely renovated. It has 11 bedrooms, which have been given a more modern style. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. The wall mouldings have been preserved. They maintain the original style while underpinning the fine balance between old and new.
The fourth floor
The fourth floor lies in the roof space. You reach it via the staircase that connects to the whole chateau. This roof space is tall enough for you to stand up inside it. It is filled with natural light.
The basement
A series of vaulted cellars with a total floor area of around 800m² extends beneath the entire edifice. The basement’s stone character is brought to the fore: there are stone vaulted ceilings, walls of exposed rubble stonework and temperate conditions down here that are perfect for storing bottles of wine. A gravel floor underlines the authentic spirit of the cellars and evokes the world of Burgundy wine.
The outbuildings
The practical outbuildings are divided into two categories. First, there are gems of built heritage: a dovecote and a fully restored, listed chapel. The chapel is neo-Gothic in style. Its richly ornamented interior includes ribbed vaults and polychromatic stained-glass windows. Second, there is another group of buildings. These buildings need to finish being renovated, yet they reveal generously sized interiors and an architectural style in line with that of the chateau.
The grounds
The grounds cover more than two hectares and are dotted with trees. This enchanting outdoor space is landscaped. A vast terrace looks down at a French formal garden with evenly designed spaces. This neat garden contrasts with a wilder backdrop lower down, where lawns, groves and tall trees form a bucolic environment that extends the property out into an area with an ornamental parkland atmosphere. The whole estate is a lush haven. Around the chateau, the grounds are more structured. In the parkland beyond, they are more scenic.
Our opinion
This remarkable Burgundian estate with its splendid chateau, practical outhouses and landscaped grounds dotted with trees is a unique property neighbouring France’s most prestigious vineyards. Standing in a village in the heart of Burgundy’s enchanting countryside, the chateau is conveniently close to several major roads that quickly take you to the cities of Dijon and Paris and to the charming local town of Beaune. The elegantly understated architecture of both the main edifice and its outhouses and the sumptuous design of the chateau’s spacious rooms underline a gem of noble heritage without useless ostentation. Once freshened up, this fine property would offer huge potential for exciting projects. Indeed, its many spaces could be converted to create a magnificent hotel or an impressive events venue. The place is wating for you to write the next chapter in its long story.
1 400 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 691765
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 16 a |
| Main building floor area | 1700 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 20 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 350 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
