A delightful complex of listed buildings on 20 hectares of beautiful grounds,
tucked away near a large town in France’s Nièvre department
tucked away near a large town in France’s Nièvre department
Nevers,
NIEVRE
burgundy
58000
FR
Location
The property lies in France’s Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, close to the country’s Centre Val de Loire and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions. Here, there is a mild climate with prevailing west winds. The spot is equidistant from the ocean and the Alps, near a pleasant town with 100,000 inhabitants on the River Loire. Nearby, there are main roads and a train station. From the local train station, you can get to Paris in two hours by rail.
Description
The buildings are arranged around a former forge from the 16th century. From the road, a monumental gate leads to a first dwelling, built in the early 18th century. It has a rectangular plan and is punctuated with many windows. A parking area lies behind the building. A cherry-tree-lined drive leads to the outbuildings. A second wrought-iron gate takes you to the other dwellings. A river flows through the property. Age-old trees stand on the 20-hectare grounds, which include a millrace and an associated lake, as well as a poplar grove, a meadow, a five-hectare English-style garden around the millrace, and a former forge with its bellows room. The mansion, from which a clear view draws your gaze far across the grounds, towers over the other buildings.
The mansion
The mansion stands in a commanding position and faces the grounds. It is crowned with a slate roof that has a hipped end. This roof is punctuated with dormers. Along the broad facade, there are many windows. The mansion was destroyed, then rebuilt in the 18th century. It has a rectangular plan. There is a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. It is flanked with a secondary dwelling, to which it connects. There are floors adorned with tiles that have geometric motifs. And there is oak strip flooring too. Several 19th-century marble fireplaces and wooden panelling embellish the various rooms. The mansion offers a 550m² floor area.
The ground floor
Front steps take you up to a double door beneath a fanlight: the mansion’s main entrance door. This door leads into a hallway where an oak staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade climbs upstairs. The hall also connects to spacious reception rooms on each side of it. A kitchen, a linen room and a lavatory complete this ground floor.
The first floor
The first floor has six bedrooms, each with different decoration. Some of the bedrooms have a bathroom, a shower room or a lavatory. The bedrooms are bathed in natural light from wooden-framed windows with large panes. A storeroom completes this first floor.
The second floor
At the top of the stairs, a landing connects to four extra bedrooms and a bathroom. The whole floor is filled with natural light from dormers along the slate roof. The convertible loft space reveals a remarkable timber roof frame and has a floor of terracotta tiles. This top floor requires some renovation work.
The first secondary dwelling
The first secondary dwelling adjoins the mansion. It has a ground floor and a first floor. It offers a 125m² floor area. A flight of front steps with a wrought-iron balustrade leads up to the entrance door, which faces the grounds. This door leads into a room with a well-preserved limestone floor and a stone fireplace. A lavatory and a storeroom complete the ground floor. On the first floor, a hallway connects to three bedrooms. Oak strip flooring extends across this level.
The second secondary dwelling
The second secondary dwelling has a rectangular plan. It has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. It offers a 350m² floor area. This dwelling stands at the edge of the property, beside an entrance gate. The roof has long slopes with dormers. The walls are made of rubble stone, coated with rendering. The quoins and window and door surrounds are made of exposed ashlar. A Virginia creeper climbs up the facade, the windows of which look out at the grounds. The rear elevation is punctuated with circular windows. The materials date back to the time of construction. The dwelling has been generally well preserved, but it requires some restoration work inside.
The outbuildings
The outbuildings include a stable, a saddle room, a shelter, a garage, and kennels. In total, these outbuildings offer a 180m² floor area.
The former forge with its bellows room
The forge, which has been restored, was built in the early 16th century. It could become a new source of hydroelectric power. Squared-off rubble blocks form its walls, which have ashlar quoins. These elevations are punctuated with arched windows and crowned with an openwork roof. It offers a 250m² floor area in total. The former bellows room now serves as a technical installations room for watering the garden. It offers a 30m² floor area.
The hydroelectric power source
A source of hydroelectric power here could bring you extra revenue. Two watermills could be installed. With the current potential for water retention, we can imagine continuous operation and a total production capacity of 45,000 kWh.
The millrace and lake
The millrace and lake were made in the early 16th century and renovated in the early 18th century. The millrace and its associated lake, which covers over three hectares, are surrounded by low walls of squared-off rubble blocks. The whole structure has been restored with respect for its authenticity.
Our opinion
The current occupants of this remarkable property have masterfully preserved the unique character of the place. They have created an enchanting haven of greenery around edifices of great historical value. This outstanding property would be an unforgettable venue for receptions, ceremonies, concerts or open-air art exhibitions. Indeed, it lends itself to a range of prestigious events, which would find a natural home on this site of built heritage and natural beauty. The place would also be the perfect pied-à-terre for a family, who could make use of the many outbuildings, the ideal location, and the two secondary dwellings as self-contained units. Truly, this property’s future remains entirely open to your plans. Furthermore, restoring the watermill to produce hydroelectric power would limit the costs of maintenance and management here – yet another precious asset of this delightful property.
995 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 818291
| Land registry surface area | 20 ha 34 a 54 ca |
| Main building surface area | 550 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 14 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 180 m2 |
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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.
