A 17th-century manor, with a dovecote, outbuildings, pond and moats,
on an event estate of nearly five hectares, ten minutes from Saumur
on an event estate of nearly five hectares, ten minutes from Saumur
Saumur,
MAINE-ET-LOIRE
pays-de-loire
49400
FR
Location
In the Maine-et-Loire department, within the greater Pays de la Loire region, the property is located in a town of approximately 3,000 people, nestled between the verdant Authion valley and the Breille-les-Pins forest, while, ten minutes away on foot, the town’s downtown area includes a number of local shops and services.
In addition, Saumur, a ten-minute car drive away, has been recognised as a “City of art and history” with its iconic chateau, lively quays and weekly green market, whereas, the property is also immediately accessible from the A85 motorway, which makes it possible to reach Angers in 40 minutes and Tours in less than an hour. Last, but not least, Paris can be reached in two hours by train and three hours and fifteen minutes via automobile.
Description
From the town’s outskirts, a gravel lane leads to an impressive wrought-iron gate, flanked by two horse chestnut trees and framed by two rusticated stone pilasters, topped with Medici flowerpots. Rectangular in shape, the three-storey former manor house was built out of tuffeau stone, crowned with a slate roof and features exteriors cadenced by a number of windows topped with a variety of different arches: semi-circular, basket handle or lintel, while dormers, with either triangular or hipped roofs, punctuate both sides of the roof.
In addition, an ashlar stone dovecote, placed at a right angle to the west, is flanked on either side by two ironwork conservatories and boasts a hipped roof, bull’s-eye windows as well as a small, openwork lantern-turret, whereas, to the north, two barns close off the courtyard, including one which is currently used to hold receptions.
With the original noble dwelling located to the south, another edifice, slightly set back to the northwest, contains two holiday accommodations and two garages, while the grounds, structured by moats, are laid out around a pond and an orchard to the north, as well as a formal yew garden, which is, in turn, extended by a tennis court to the southwest.
In addition, an ashlar stone dovecote, placed at a right angle to the west, is flanked on either side by two ironwork conservatories and boasts a hipped roof, bull’s-eye windows as well as a small, openwork lantern-turret, whereas, to the north, two barns close off the courtyard, including one which is currently used to hold receptions.
With the original noble dwelling located to the south, another edifice, slightly set back to the northwest, contains two holiday accommodations and two garages, while the grounds, structured by moats, are laid out around a pond and an orchard to the north, as well as a formal yew garden, which is, in turn, extended by a tennis court to the southwest.
History
The former fiefdom with its noble dwelling, mentioned as of 1440, once belonged to Jean Nicolas, René of Anjou’s master goldsmith, as well as his wife, Jeanne de Laval, while several generations of the Maupassant family also lived here, including Léon Nau de Maupassant, who was mayor of Saumur in the 19th century.
The Manor House
The ground floor
The dwelling’s entrance hall provides access, on one side, to a kitchen with a flat stone sink and a tuffeau stone fireplace, which has been fitted with a wood-fired cook stove. This room abuts a pantry and a storeroom, while, on the other side of the entrance hall, a dining room gives on to the living room. These two dual-aspect rooms, with pointed stone walls, visible ceiling beams and terracotta floor tiles, provide access to the courtyard to the north as well as the garden to the south, whereas the living room is heated with a wood-burning stove installed within its fireplace.
Extending on from the latter is a study, a bedroom with a shower room, as well as a lavatory, while the first floor is accessible from either a service staircase, located next to the study, or a straight tuffeau stone staircase with slate steps, which can be found in the entrance hall.
The first floor
An interior walkway, running alongside the garden-facing side of the manor, provides access to all the rooms on this floor, such as an initial dual-aspect bedroom with a Louis XIV-style fireplace and a bathroom, followed by a bedroom with a shower room and lavatory, as well as a dual-aspect sitting room, giving on to a balcony, located directly opposite the property’s main entrance gate and facing the courtyard.
In addition, another bedroom, with a shower room and lavatory, abuts an immense wardrobe, whereas, lastly, a study with a shower room communicates with a self-contained space featuring a contemporary design, visible wooden rafters as well as a kitchen and a wood-burning stove.
The second floor
Two bedrooms, with sloping ceilings, one of which comes with a shower room, are accessible from a landing with a lavatory, while the attic space is located on either side of the manor.
The Dovecote
With its 496 pigeonholes, this edifice acts as an open passageway between the two conservatories on either side, one of which contains an indoor swimming pool, behind which a shower room, a lavatory and a machine room are located.
The building also gives on to a relaxing space, with a spa and a sauna, while, from the other conservatory, a spiral stone staircase leads to an immense bedroom, with sloping ceilings and a bathroom.
The Reception Hall
Accessible from the property as well as a separate and secure entrance, which opens on to a car park, it is located in a renovated former barn. With over 150 m² of floor area and nearly seven metres up to the roof ridge, it features tiled floors, pointed stone walls, wood-panelled timber framing as well as a giant fireplace, while a professional kitchen, a coatroom and a lavatory can also be found within this space dedicated to events.
The Outbuildings
Extending on from the manor and accessible via a separate entrance from the courtyard, an initial holiday cottage includes a living room with a fireplace, a kitchen, a bedroom as well as a shower room with lavatory. Next door, a summer kitchen communicates with a cellar, while a dining room, located in the former stables, gives on to a utility room.
In addition, a former bakehouse, with a working bread oven, as well as a pathway, provide easy access to the garden from the courtyard, whereas, not far from the reception hall, a second holiday cottage includes two flats. The first features a living room, kitchen and bedroom with a shower room, the second has two bedrooms, while following on from here is an immense garage topped with solar panels.
The Grounds
Extending to the north, west and south, over more than four hectares, the grounds include, to the north, a pond of approximately 1,900 m², which is located next to a young orchard, planted with apples, pears, peaches, apricots and walnuts. As for the yew garden, landscaped with a typically formal French structure, it is located to the southwest, with a Finnish kota at its centre, whereas a vegetable garden can be found on the grounds’ northeast end. Featuring a tennis court and planted with limes, cedars, white and red horse-chestnuts as well as a sequoia, the grounds also include water-filled moats, which create a natural transition between the property’s different spaces, while three wells are also scattered throughout the estate.
Our opinion
This stately Loire manor and its 15th-century former fiefdom, which have been meticulously restored and maintained, boast sizeable proportions and quality materials – tuffeau stone, slate, terracotta – that exude a warm and cosy ambiance, while the methodical organisation of the noble dwelling, the presence of a converted dovecote and the balanced layout of its outbuildings create a comprehensible and functional architectural composition.
Designed to welcome visitors, without compromising the manor’s innate privacy, the reception hall lends itself to multiple uses, whereas the grounds and their moats, alternating between water, orchards and gardens, firmly anchors the property within a manicured landscaped tradition, characteristic of the French way of living.
1 690 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 352208
| Land registry surface area | 4 ha 78 a 17 ca |
| Main building floor area | 410 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 12 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 900 m² |
| including refurbished area | 680 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.
