Accessible from a village street where two metal double-leaf gates, set apart from one another, provide either pedestrian or vehicular access, the property includes, first and foremost, an immense L-shaped building with understated and massive architecture. Built between 1811 and 1830, it is topped with steeply-pitched interlocking red tile gabled or three-sided roofs, while its weathered exteriors, worn down over the years and in need of a partial restoration, alternate between visible ashlar stone, cement plaster and ancient metal cladding, vestiges of the building’s long history.
Featuring multiple rows of symmetrical rectilinear or low-arched windows, which cadence its exteriors and provide views of its immense flagstone courtyard – supported by stone retaining walls and surrounded with old metal fencing – the grounds below as well as the distant neighbouring dwellings, in the background, a small bell tower and an adjacent chapel recall the premises’ initial vocation. With three floors over a basement level and topped with an immense attic, the main building primarily faces east and west and enjoys completely unobstructed views of the setting sun.
As for the chapel, built in 1875, it abuts the main building, boasts a floor area of approximately 325 m² and features the classical characteristics of churches from the 19th century with an ashlar stone exterior, arched windows and an interlocking tile gable roof – except over the choir, which is crowned with a zinc semi-conical roof.
Located on the slope of a former oppidum, which preceded the founding of Nozeroy, the property’s immense grounds, planted with lawn and trees and surrounding the minor seminary’s buildings, are naturally inclined and organised into a succession of different terraced levels, while, the property, on the outskirts of the village, still radiates a majestic presence and promises a full renaissance once extensive interior and exterior renovations have been carried out.

The Main Building

Its architecture, typical of the 19th century and large-capacity constructions dedicated to the education and housing of students, is characterised more by its structure than its ornamentation, limited primarily to its window/door surrounds, lighter in colour than the neighbouring plaster, and a moulded cornice around the base of the roof, itself decorated with roof finials topped with zinc crosses. Understated in appearance, it stands out thanks to its massive heft, extensive floor area, of more than 2,500 m², the inherent potential of its volumes and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The ground floor
Like the L-shaped building’s two upper floors, the ground floor extends over approximately 860 m² and is accessible via the front door, which gives on to an entrance hall that communicates, on the left, with a flagstone-floor hallway. The latter provides access to a large flagstone terrace as well as classrooms on either side, which also give on to this immense exterior space. As for the entrance hall, on the right, it opens on to a large dining room with a massive stone fireplace, which communicates, in the back and to the left, with a kitchen followed by a utility room.
In addition, two stone staircases descend to the building’s basement, where the cellars are located, while this same wing also includes a vast room that was once used as a refectory, before it was turned into a classroom, which also gives on to the terrace and provides views of the horizon. Back in the wing abutting the chapel, two large classrooms, separated by a lavatory, create an immense, convertible space that also looks out on to the flagstone terrace and enjoys panoramic views of the valley. Last, but not least, the entrance hall provides access to an office, the latter of which communicates, via a door on the left, with the chapel, while, parallel to the flagstone hallway, a staircase ascends to the first floor.
The first floor
With the same size floor area as the previous level, the first floor, in the shape of an L, provides access, on the left, to two classrooms, two offices, two storage areas and a lavatory, while, on the right side, a large room, once a computer room, extended by a lavatory, communicates with the other side of the L-shaped floor with a hallway that leads to two rooms on the left followed by an immense former classroom with a breath-taking corner view of the exterior. As for the right side of the hallway, there are four adjacent bedrooms followed by a shared bathroom, which could be transformed into separate flats with unobstructed views of the valley below and forests along the horizon.
The second floor
The staircase that ascends to the last inhabitable level, with a floor area identical to the lower ones, opens on to a large room, which provides access, on the left, to the former girls’ dormitory, an immense space with spectacular views. Extending over almost the entire wing and communicating, in the back, with a metal emergency staircase located on the building’s exterior, in addition, in the back and to the right, just before the door to the emergency staircase, is a large shower room-lavatory, which was once reserved for this dormitory’s female boarders.
As for the large room right off the staircase, it also provides access to the right side of the building and the boys’ immense dormitory, which enjoys plunging views of the surrounding verdant environment through its many windows, as well as three rooms that were once used as the monitors’ bedrooms and lastly, on the right, a large bathroom for the former boarders.
The attic
Adjacent to the staircase that provides access to the two lower floors, a wooden staircase ascends to the attic level. Extending over a contiguous floor area of approximately 860 m², the L-shaped attic space is topped with excellently preserved wooden rafters, quite impressive thanks to their scale and the intricacy of their many wooden components, while this space makes it possible to easily repair the roof if necessary.
The basement
Vaulted stone cellars, extending over a large portion of the basement level, are made up of many spaces and nooks, including an immense furnace room in which very large tanks supply the fuel for the building's oil-fired central heating system, while a vast and sunny classroom looks out on to a grassy area below the main building, accessible via a side gate and easily transformable into a car park. In addition, several low buildings, most likely former pigsties, which could be converted into another use, are also located on this level.