An 18th & 20th century, completely renovated manor house
with outbuildings and parkland spanning over 1 hectare in Normandy
with outbuildings and parkland spanning over 1 hectare in Normandy
Mézidon-Canon,
CALVADOS
lower-normandy
14270
FR
Location
In Normandy, in the French department of Calvados, the property is set in a commune in the Pays d'Auge. Dotted with picturesque villages, the region is a land of traditional settlements and rich, deep-green pastures. It is also a land of hedged farmland, concealing numerous manor houses and imposing châteaux. Essential services and food shops are located in the town and in Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives, very close by. Caen is a 30-minute drive away. In only 40 minutes you can go for a swim at the beaches of Cabourg or for a seaside holiday on the Côte Fleurie. Motorway access is just 25 minutes away, allowing you to reach the capital in 1.5 hours.
Description
The property can just be made out from the road, though most of it is hidden from view. Glimpses from outside hint at a grand, elegant house. An elegant midnight-blue gate, with stone pilasters on either side is extended on either side by a low wall topped by railings painted in the same colour. Hedges and rows of trees form a deep green screen. A gravel driveway, surrounded by a wide carpet of lawn and edged with boxwood, leads to the manor house. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these residences were built to consolidate the land and titles acquired by the nascent bourgeoisie. Built at the beginning of the reign of Louis XV, the residence is distinguished by the classical style of its double arched doorway, topped by two graceful keystones. Like many mansions from the period, the building would initially have consisted of a solid central body. The façade is divided horizontally into two spaces by a scalloped arch. A wing was then added on either side, symmetrical to each other and set back from the original building, to provide space for the extended family to visit. The entire building is dotted with rusticated quoins. The central body has three sections. The slightly projecting central section, in line with the entrance door, is topped by a neoclassical triangular pediment. It has an oculus in the centre. The ochre tones of the façade match the old tiled roof. Five chimney stacks top the central section roof and the gables of the side bays. The manor house is three storeys high, the first two of which have wide French-style arched windows, lined with white painted shutters. On the top floor, two roof dormers with slim frames let light in. The building is linked on one side to a more recent building with a single-pitched roof. The rear façade is similar in architectural style as the front, but this time with three roof dormers. Only the upstairs windows have retained their external shutters. For aesthetic reasons, and in accordance with 18th-century practice, the shutters on the garden level were removed so as to decorate the windows from the inside. The entire property has been completely renovated using quality materials. At the back, to the south, a stone path runs along the manor house, widening into a terrace in the centre. To one side, a large semi-enclosed area of tall thujas tucked away behind avenues of shrubs shelters a swimming pool in its centre. Hedgerows dot the landscape. The outbuildings are built after the manor house and close off the grounds to the south, where the verdant parkland stretches out, only divided up by a stream which is a tributary of the River Dives. It runs along the edge of the property and a field and has a small footbridge.
The manor house
The ground floor
The ground floor can be accessed from the north-west of the house. An entrance hall leads to an elaborate staircase with a delicate, curved banister in natural wood, dating back to the time the house was built. The space opens onto a large, south-facing living room. The natural wood doors and panelling have been stained and waxed and carved to a high standard. The floor is travertine and the exposed beams are chalk-coloured. An 18th-century stone fireplace is topped by a Regency-style overmantel. The arched windows and French windows are lined with transoms and open onto the parkland. Espagnolette bolts are visible, as are internal wooden shutters. From the entrance hall, an opening to one of the wings leads to a small study/library. This is followed by a dining room, with a floor made with old stone that has been worn down with age. An imposing rustic stone fireplace is set against one of the walls, possibly predating the current residence. There is a large kitchen with a dining area, with a floor paved with old, waxed hexagonal floor tiles. The ceilings are fitted with built-in spotlights. Like the living room, this room also faces south, towards the parkland. At the exact opposite end of the room, a bright, modern bedroom also opens onto the parkland and has an en suite bathroom. There is also a utility room, toilet and boiler room on this level.
The first floor
A landing with a terracotta tiled floor leads to an old room, which has now been converted into a study, with uninterrupted views over the park. Cupboards and panelled doors have been wood-stained. Another room dating back to the time of the first building, with a Louis XV stone fireplace, has a terracotta tiled floor. This is followed by five other modernised rooms, bathed in light, with traditional wooden floors. They are next to two bathrooms, a wardrobe and a toilet.
The second floor
From the main staircase, a few steps halfway up lead to a landing hidden behind a panelled door. On either side, two old attic bedrooms were probably used by servants in the 19th century. A vast attic that could be converted has parquet flooring and adjoins two attics with old roof frameworks.
The outbuildings
Dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, they are on the property border, The first traditional building is perpendicular to the manor house. The roof has two sides. There are old stables with feeding troughs next to a large, single-storey hay and food storage area. Further on, two shelters brightened up with flower pots provide shade for the horses. There is also a lean-to and a swimming pool.
The parkland
At the front, it is laid out in an orderly fashion, with different areas of lawn edged with boxwood. It is reminiscent of a French-style formal garden. At the back, the grounds are lusher, inspired by English-style parkland. A small stream runs through the plot on this side. A footbridge crosses it. Beyond this, a field unfolds as far as the property boundary. On all sides, the plants and trees flourish due to the water-rich soil. These include lime trees, acacias and white and pink chestnut trees. A ginkgo biloba stands majestically at the back of the parkland. Apple and pear trees produce plenty of fruit, while fig trees subtly perfume the air.
Our opinion
An authentic Norman manor house, a witness to the Age of Enlightenment immersed in a picturesque, rural village. The gallantry of the 18th century shines through with panache and delicacy on the noble neo-classical façades of this completely renovated building, surrounded by gardens and a shimmering stream. The outbuildings and swimming pool blend in naturally with the small manor house, which boasts vast interior volumes, illuminated by large windows, with carefully preserved period décor. The future owners could easily develop a guest house business here, given the region's attractiveness.
1 200 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 515027
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
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.
