A 16th-century seigniorial château that is said to have housed King Henri IV’s mistress,
only 35 minutes from Paris, between Essonne and Seine-et-Marne, on the banks of the Seine
Coudray-Montceaux, ESSONNE ile-de-france 91830 FR

Location

Just 35 minutes from Paris, between Fontainebleau and Barbizon, the property is set in a former seigniorial village on the edge of Essonne and Seine-et-Marne. Bathed in sunlight and bordered to the north by the Seine and the Rougeau regional forest, it is set in an unspoilt natural environment. The village has preserved its heritage, with its stone houses and exposed façades. Local shops — a bakery, grocery, greengrocer, tobacconist, supermarket, restaurants and doctor's surgery — are within walking distance. Located just 240 m from the property, the train station provides access to Paris-Gare de Lyon via Corbeil-Essonnes and Melun in 1 hour to 1.5 jours (Transilien direct from Melun in 27 to 32 min). Porte d'Italie is 38 km away and 35 minutes away by car, and the centre of the capital is 45 km away. Set on a non-flood-prone site on the south bank of the Seine, the residence enjoys an intimate relationship with its surroundings. The north and east façades open directly onto the river, providing a view that changes with the time of day. The towpaths, sailing club, wildlife and vast woodland give you the opportunity to take part in a multitude of activities: kayaking, mountain biking, walking or cycling.

Description

The manor house dates back to 1578, when it was owned by the Seigneury of Coudray. A local legend with royal overtones lends the house charm: Gabrielle d'Estrées, a mistress of King Henri IV, is said to have stayed here. Hidden behind a small pedestrian gate and a high wrought iron gate framed by stone columns, the house can be seen from an old village street. Set back from this, separated by a vast courtyard planted with trees and a raised terrace, it has a panoramic view of the changing reflections of the setting sky that play on the surface of the water. The façade on the Seine side has nine windows with classical modelling: harp-shaped quoins, stringcourses and Ionic cornices. The building is crowned by a hipped roof with local tiles, with eight arched dormer windows. It has 20 rooms spread out over four floors, including around 10 bedrooms, two kitchens, two bathrooms and three shower rooms. To the west, a discreet caretaker's cottage sits on the property boundary. While some of the features that have stood the test of time or been altered by past works now require restoration work, such as a new boiler, the authentic character of the house remains intact. This is evidenced by the succession of rooms, the delicate mouldings, the old woodwork, the espagnolette, mouton and gueule-de-loup windows with their internal shutters, the oak framework on the upper floors, the porch, the pond and the well. Partially restored by its occupants, the château has been carefully maintained. More than two-thirds of the windows have been replaced. From each of them, you can take in contrasting landscapes: to the north, the tranquil banks of the Seine; to the south, the estate's wooded parkland. It is as if you have different paintings that come alive with the different seasons.

The château

With around 700 m² of living space, it is four storeys' high, the last of which is under the roof eaves. The tiled roof has four slopes. On the Seine side, the property's imposing dimensions and architecture are largely in keeping with classical aesthetics: it has nine windows with eight gabled dormers with round-headed pediments. The façade has keyed quoins surrounding the windows and corner quoins in the wall. A double stone staircase with a balustrade leads up to the garden entrance and down to the vast lawn.


The garden-level floor
On the parkland side, the main entrance is via a central vestibule that leads to all of the reception rooms. On one side, a vast dining room of around 50 m², with balanced proportions and a square shape, opens out around a wood-burning stove. Opposite, there is an almost 70 m² lounge, whose walls have panelling on them. Herringbone oak parquet floors add to the distinction of the spaces. They are also present in the library on the lower floor, which is accessible from the living room via a travertine staircase that also provides access to the upper floors. Opposite the entrance hall, the landing leads to a kitchen and the staircase that also leads to the upper floors. The reception rooms are open-plan, with the north-facing windows providing panoramic views over the Seine, while the south-facing windows open directly onto the parkland.
The first floor
The winding staircase, with its wrought iron banister, leads to a light-filled landing that leads to all the rooms. All are illuminated by large windows facing the Seine. On one side, a master bedroom measuring around 30 m², with light from three sides, enjoys the soft light of sunrise and sunset over the river waters. It has plenty of built-in wardrobes and an en suite bathroom, whose 1930’s bath adds a touch of retro elegance. At the opposite end of the hall there are two further bedrooms, a study and a sitting room. The oak floor with its herringbone pattern adds to the aesthetic appeal of the reception rooms.
The second floor
Partly under the eaves, it has remarkable potential. Some rooms already benefit from double height cathedral ceilings, which could be extended to the entire first floor with a few adjustments. The oak roof structure, visible in three bedrooms, lends the space plenty of character. Two bathrooms have been soberly decorated. At the west end, a through room stands out for its generous volumes under the roof structure.
The river level
Semi-underground, it is accessible from the front courtyard or from the main staircase. It provides access to a landing and a corridor with Burgundy stone flooring that leads to a through flat with a kitchen, dining room, three bedrooms, shower room and separate toilet. The succession of rooms leads to a library, accessible from the garden level lounge via a travertine staircase.

The parkland

It covers more than 8 000 m² and completely surrounds the château. At the front, a planted courtyard has been created with parking spaces. To the east of the property, in the shade of a tree and set against the stone boundary wall, a terrace overlooks the Seine providing a panoramic view of the river banks. At the front, a working well is coupled with a pump to collect water for the garden or pond at the back of the house. To the west, a caretaker's cottage measuring approximately 30 m² awaits complete restoration. It was once attached to the estate's orangery. A row of trees leads to the back of the parkland, where a railway line which is still in use today, was opened in 1897. As you stroll through the planted areas, you may come across garden huts, one of which takes the form of a fortified castle with a drawbridge. Further on, there is a pond in line with the Gabrielle d'Estrées staircase which is still visible from the rear of the grounds. It was here that the king's mistress waited for him to cross the Seine on his hunting trips.

Our opinion

A residence on the banks of the Seine, steeped in history and mystery. Built at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, it was initially a summer manor before becoming a real château in the 19th century. Away from the hustle and bustle, it offered its owners — the king's financiers, Parisian goldsmiths and theatrical figures — an ornamental haven between the river banks, the Renaissance garden and noble architecture. But perhaps it is its legend that makes it so special: Gabrielle d'Estrées, Henri IV's mistress, is said to have frequented the premises or, at the very least, inspired their name. In 1775, a "King's room" was mentioned. The staircase – now owned by the town council – still bears his name. Is it a historical fact or a myth? It doesn’t really matter at the end of the day! It is still charming. Just 40 km from Paris, Château du Bas-Coudray combines grace and elegance in a timeless setting.

1 300 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense


See the fee rates

Reference 117846

Land registry surface area 8000 m2
Main building surface area 670 m2
Number of bedrooms 10
Outbuilding surface area 30 m2

Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr

Consultant

Camille Bozek +33 1 42 84 80 85

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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.

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