A manor built in the 1930s to welcome the Parisian jet-set,
with a swimming pool and outbuildings in parkland, in the Chevreuse Valley
with a swimming pool and outbuildings in parkland, in the Chevreuse Valley
Chevreuse,
YVELINES
ile-de-france
78460
FR
Location
This property is located in the heart of the Yvelines area and is part of the preserved landscapes of the Haute-Chevreuse Valley regional natural park, between forests, wet meadows and winding waterways. The manor is situated on the outskirts of a village and enjoys a peaceful environment while remaining close to shops and services in a nearby municipality with a wealth of heritage. It is only 15 kilometres from Versailles, 35 kilometres from Paris and can be easily reached via minor roads. The RER B terminus station is 4 kilometres away and puts the French capital within less than one hour’s reach. The Paris-Orly and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airports can be reached within 45 minutes, while the Massy high-speed TGV train station is 17 minutes away by car.
Description
This landscaped property, tucked away behind its gates on the edge of a heritage-rich village in the Chevreuse Valley, spreads over 2 hectares around a manor built of millstone erected in the 1930s. The estate is made up of two distinct parts: at the front, a vast, open garden includes the drive, parking area and a heated swimming pool, while to the rear, the grounds are wooded and dotted with water features such as a pond and a waterfall, accompanied by paths running alongside a stream. The outbuildings are discretely placed on the edge of the wooded areas, preserving the property’s balance.
The estate has retained the imprints of its long-standing history and was first mentioned in the 17th century, specifically regarding a water mill whose remains can be found in the basement. In the early 20th century, it became the residence of Gustave Quinson, a major figure in Paris theatre circles. Artists, authors and comedians from the Parisian jet-set were welcomed here, including Sacha Guitry, Pierre Fresnay or Mistinguett, which helped the property to gain a lasting place in the region’s cultural heritage.
The five-storey edifice boasts 360 m² of living space over fourteen rooms. Its millstone facades punctuated by windows with a variety of dimensions are adorned, on the northern part of the building, by a continuous balcony overlooking the valley. The steeply sloped roofs dotted with dormers are typical of the inter-war architecture of villas in the Île-de-France region. The interior layout includes several reception rooms that open out onto the grounds, six to eight bedrooms, three bathrooms or shower rooms as well as a lower level devoted to leisure pursuits and technical facilities.
To the rear of the main residence, there are several outbuildings totalling 60 m², including a partially restored guests’ house, a separate pavilion converted into an office and several sheds integrated into the landscape.
The estate has retained the imprints of its long-standing history and was first mentioned in the 17th century, specifically regarding a water mill whose remains can be found in the basement. In the early 20th century, it became the residence of Gustave Quinson, a major figure in Paris theatre circles. Artists, authors and comedians from the Parisian jet-set were welcomed here, including Sacha Guitry, Pierre Fresnay or Mistinguett, which helped the property to gain a lasting place in the region’s cultural heritage.
The five-storey edifice boasts 360 m² of living space over fourteen rooms. Its millstone facades punctuated by windows with a variety of dimensions are adorned, on the northern part of the building, by a continuous balcony overlooking the valley. The steeply sloped roofs dotted with dormers are typical of the inter-war architecture of villas in the Île-de-France region. The interior layout includes several reception rooms that open out onto the grounds, six to eight bedrooms, three bathrooms or shower rooms as well as a lower level devoted to leisure pursuits and technical facilities.
To the rear of the main residence, there are several outbuildings totalling 60 m², including a partially restored guests’ house, a separate pavilion converted into an office and several sheds integrated into the landscape.
The house
This five-storey edifice is typical of large villas built in the inter-war period in the Île-de-France region and boasts approximately 360 m² of living space. The soberly constructed main facade made of millstone is punctuated by large windows looking onto the grounds and graced by a continuous balcony.
From the outside, a large, stone, double staircase leads to the main level. A hall leads to the main reception rooms while a wooden staircase climbs to the upper floors. The interior layout is fluid, with rooms here and there, in an ambiance that remains faithful to the house’s 20th-century origins.
The garden level
The living room possesses wide openings onto the patio that overlooks the grounds. Following on from it, a lounge with a cathedral ceiling boasts a period monumental fireplace and bookshelves, bestowing a unique ambiance upon the room, which is bathed in light through the large doors and windows opening out onto the garden.
Next to it, the kitchen, which is also equipped with bookshelves, leads to a utility room. This level boasts two patios. The first is south-facing and overlooks the pond, while the other faces west, in the shade of the beech trees on the edge of the forest.
The first floor
A landing leads to two inter-connected bedrooms, used as an office, as well as a bathroom with a shower and a separate lavatory. Through the windows, views of the grounds and the surrounding trees can be enjoyed.
The second floor
This level boasts a vast bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and bathroom with a shower. A continuous balcony, which can be reached from the various rooms on this level, offers views of the valley and village to the north.
The third floor
The top level contains three further bedrooms plus a shower room with a lavatory and could be ideal for welcoming friends.
The lower garden level
It can be reached via the northern facade and includes the residence’s technical facilities. Beneath an awning, there is an entrance to a cinema room. An office and a self-contained studio apartment, which are currently used as a fitness room with a sauna and shower room, can also be found on this level.
An oratory, which is situated in a gallery separated from the garden by an openwork wall, was created by the wife of the man who had the house built. It includes a small chapel as well as baptismal fonts. A boiler room, storage space and two cellars also occupy this level.
The grounds
They have a surface of around 2 hectares and are made up of two separate landscaped sections. At the front, an almost 6,000-m² wide open garden plays host to a recently and fully restored 12-metre by 6-metre swimming pool, as well as parking spaces and facilities for equipment storage.
To the rear, the environment is of a wilder nature, with approximately 14,000 m² of woods, clearings and water features. A pond, a waterfall, a cave and several streams punctuate the landscape of bridges and paths. A watercress bed, a functioning beehive, an orchard of fruit trees and a meadow housing a natural source springing from a moon-shaped pond enhance the site’s standing and diversity.
The outbuildings
The property boasts several outbuildings in the immediate vicinity of the manor. A self-contained pavilion currently used as an office stands above a basement level covering the entire floor area and could be used for a professional activity away from the main residence.
A partially restored guests’ house includes a living room, a kitchen area as well as a shower room and possesses potential for use as a self-contained reception area.
An open-sided shed located opposite a water feature could be put to use for various purposes requiring shelter. At the front of the estate, a second roofed shed with a concrete floor provides parking capacity for two vehicles as well as space for a woodstore.
Our opinion
The Écosse Bouton manor, which is a short distance from Paris, combines the ambiance of a large Île-de-France region property with the mark of its unique artistic history. Its volumes, decoration and landscape form a manor whose authenticity has been preserved. The estate boasts several outbuildings as well as exterior features and is ideal for a use as a family residence, a reception activity or an accommodation project. With a few adjustments, its potential can be fully realised, without compromising its spirit.
2 250 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 847172
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha |
| Main building floor area | 360.3 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 6 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 57 m² |
| including refurbished area | 22 m² |
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.
