A restored manor house and Historical Monument, surrounded by a
walled garden, nestled in the rolling landscape of the Orne department’s Perche region
walled garden, nestled in the rolling landscape of the Orne department’s Perche region
Mortagne-au-Perche,
ORNE
lower-normandy
61400
FR
Location
In the Perche region, dotted with many manor houses, the property, nestled within a valley of hillsides planted with multi-century beeches and oaks, is not far from Mortagne-au-Perche, Rémalard en Perche and Bellême, as well as all essential shops and services for daily life. In addition, Paris, 160 kilometres away, is accessible via the N12 A road or the A11 motorway, while the TER train line, providing rail service to Paris’s Montparnasse train station, is only 20 kilometres away.
Description
Within walking distance from the village, halfway up a hillside and at the end of a small lane, the property, enclosed by tall walls, which are, in turn, cadenced by round towers, is accessible via an immense gate, topped with crenulations. As for its tall walls, they surround a large U-shaped interior garden, the latter of which, facing westward towards the surrounding countryside below its enclosure wall, has been meticulously landscaped and deftly blends together the differences in its sloping topography.
Standing out thanks to its soaring tile gable roof, which is highlighted with a cornice, the manor is extended by a second, adjacent dwelling, while the other buildings, used as holiday accommodations, a caretaker’s cottage and various outbuildings, respectively, round out the edifices in the enclosure. Lastly, behind the dwelling and accessible via the walled garden, a two-hectare orchard overlooks the countryside.
Standing out thanks to its soaring tile gable roof, which is highlighted with a cornice, the manor is extended by a second, adjacent dwelling, while the other buildings, used as holiday accommodations, a caretaker’s cottage and various outbuildings, respectively, round out the edifices in the enclosure. Lastly, behind the dwelling and accessible via the walled garden, a two-hectare orchard overlooks the countryside.
`The Main Dwelling
Built in the early 16th century, the two-storey dwelling, topped with an attic level and constructed over vaulted cellars, is accessible via a wooden staircase located in one of the round towers, while its mullioned windows, facing south, provide ample natural light for its interior spaces. With a sundial affixed to the right cornerstone of this Renaissance-style manor, the edifice is then extended by another dwelling, with one storey as well as an attic level, which originally contained several rooms with fireplaces, as well as a dairy, a kitchen and a bakehouse, whereas the whole building complex, featuring roofs with various heights, hugs the property’s rolling topography.
The garden-level floor
The entrance hall, with a cloakroom, provides access, on the left, to the manor’s living areas and, on the right, to the boiler room as well as a storeroom. To the left of the entrance hall, a small sitting room and dining room, facing south, are bathed in plenty of natural light thanks to windows and glass doors, while, extending on from here, a drawing room faces south and west. These three rooms have preserved their original details, such as stone fireplaces, terracotta floor tiles, visible oak ceiling beams and joists, whereas this level also includes a kitchen and pantry, accessible from the dining room, a study next to the small sitting room and a lavatory.
The upstairs
From the ground floor, the spiral oak staircase, whose steps are assembled around a solid newel, leads to the upstairs floor followed by the attic. An initial bedroom, of approximately 50 m², with its own bathroom and private lavatory, has preserved its immense 16th-century stone fireplace whose moulded lintel is supported by two corbels resting on small, engaged columns, while a small corridor provides access to two other bedrooms, a shower room and a lavatory.
The attic
This level features a large bedroom illuminated by a window and two dormers.
The Holiday Cottage
Facing the main dwelling, on the other side of the walled enclosure, this cottage, of approximately 100 m² and completely renovated, features two storeys, including one under the eaves of its hipped roof. As for the garden level, it includes a living room with an open fitted kitchen and a fireplace, a narrow corridor, a small sitting room, a bathroom and lavatory, whereas the upstairs level, with sloping ceilings, contains three bedrooms.
The Caretaker's Cottage
Accessible via a separate entrance located behind the manor, this renovated, single-storey building is currently used as a second holiday cottage. With a floor area of 45 m² it features a main room with an open kitchen, a bedroom and a shower room with lavatory.
The Outbuildings
Several agricultural buildings have been added to the manor’s enclosure over the years, including a barn from the 17th century, with a floor area of 165 m² and impressive wooden rafters, an adjacent workshop, of 88 m², followed by a covered open-air edifice, accessible via two carriage entranceways, which was recently converted into a spa with a jacuzzi, shower room and lavatory.
In addition, next to the dwelling, a two-storey storeroom was recently converted in order to make it inhabitable with a living room, shower room and lavatory on the ground floor as well as a bedroom on the first floor.
The Garden
Landscaped by a renowned landscape artist, whose creations have been recognised several times as “Remarkable gardens”, the property’s walled enclosure, extending over 4,000 m², seamlessly blends together its upper and lower gardens by alternating perennial flowerbeds with wide expanses of lawn, fruit trees, a small basin – on its upper section – and cobblestone pathways.
The Orchard
Next to the manor’s walled garden, an orchard, of 1.9 hectares, perched up on a hill and planted with a variety of fruit trees, is directly accessible via a gate in the enclosure wall, as well as a path that runs alongside the property’s outbuildings.
Our opinion
Featuring grounds made up of various spaces, each with their own unique ambiance and different kinds of vegetation, this one-of-a-kind property, in the Perche region, provides all the elements for a harmonious and verdant composition. With its landscaped garden, expansive swaths of lawn as well as an orchard, this property overflows with lush and, yet, manicured nature, while its different buildings blend in flawlessly with their environment and would be ideal for a large family looking for peace and quiet.
In addition, the proximity of nearby towns sought out by antiquarians as well as major thoroughfares also makes it possible to create tourism accommodations here, within a region that Roger Martin du Gard, a former resident, once described in his journal: “I am seduced by the incredible and captivating charm of this region; never has a place possessed me to this extent, never has air inebriated me in the same way”.
Exclusive sale
1 672 000 €
Including negotiation fees
1 600 000 € Excluding negotiation fees
4%
incl. VAT to be paid by the buyer
Reference 364949
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 32 a |
| Main building floor area | 380 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 9 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 485 m² |
| including refurbished area | 230 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.
