Location
In the French department of Aube (10) in the Champagne-Ardenne region, some 150 km to the south-east of Paris and 25 km to the north of Troyes. 20 minutes from an SNCF railway station with 70-minute train links to Paris. The castle stands on the outskirts of a small, quiet village in the heart of the Champagne countryside.
Description
The castle
The castle is accessed via the central entrance postern, dating from the 16th century, reached via the double drawbridge with its spars and chains. It spans three levels. The ground floor features the large porch way closed by the tall wooden door, studded on both sides as well as by the postern on the left-hand side, flanked by continuous rustic masonry. The main door is topped with a stone mullioned, stained glass window, flanked by the holes for receiving the spars of the double drawbridge. The hip slate roof features a central shed dormer with two zinc finials. On either side are the two wings of the main facade, at the ends of which stand a square 16th century tower with gun-loops.
The main limestone building was constructed as of 1714. It spans three levels and is topped with a slate Mansard roof featuring zinc decks and breaks with five windows.
The roof is in need of restoration works.
At the end of the main building protrudes the old, fully restored, square tower, covered with a slate roof featuring a shed dormer.
The right-hand wing still has its original architecture. It spans two levels, topped with a flat tile, gable roof, featuring five roof dormers with overhanging eaves. On the corner stands the old square tower, from which the north-west wing extends at right angles. It houses the old stables and the former “charetterie” where carriages were kept. At the end stands a third tower known as the “Marchioness’ pavilion”. The roofs on the 16th century section are covered with terracotta tiles. In 1900, a gallery with an air of a conservatory was added to the ground floor of the 18th century section on the main courtyard side. It was topped with a terrace bordered by a stone balustrade that can be reached from upstairs.
The main building
Standing facing the outer bailey, it is set out around the miniature castle entrance.
The north-west wing and the dowager Marchioness’ pavilion
The outbuildings
The outbuildings are laid out in an L-shape around the outer bailey. All the servants’ quarters have been meticulously restored.
The gatehouse buildings
The gatehouse buildings span two levels and are topped with flat tile roofs, featuring four roof dormers with overhanging eaves, each of which is adorned with a zinc finial. The facades on the right-hand side of the entrance postern are composed of half-timbering and cob. Those on the other side feature exposed stone. The entrance postern spans two levels. The first floor, with a mullioned window, is topped with a hip slate roof, featuring two zinc finials.
The buildings comprise an old vaulted dairy, the floor of which is covered with terracotta tiles, and the old armoury, now restored and converted into a self-contained flat, comprising a living room, a kitchen with a stone sink, topped with a bull’s eye window, a bedroom and a bathroom. The floors are covered with stone tiles. A guards’ room, accessed from the courtyard, has a double hearth, central stone fireplace providing heat for two communicating areas. A wooden stairway leads up to an attic that could be converted.
Following on from the miniature castle entrance are an exhibition room as well as a vast, 17th century barn with its exposed roofing framework and stone walls.
Set at right angles, facing the castle, is a barn, the first section of which is currently in use as a workshop. It is topped with an attic which can be reached via a wooden stairway. The second section of the barn, once the stables, is used as a storage area. There is also a woodshed.
An ice cave, not currently accessible, stands on the other side of the lane leading to the castle.
The dovecote
The dovecote, on the corner of the outbuildings, can be accessed from outside the courtyard. It is round in shape and is topped with a candlesnuffer roof covered with flat tiles. It includes a vaulted cellar. A stairway leads up to the first level as well as to the second level where, in the centre, there is a vertical beam that pivots on a hard stone locally referred to as “foire”. To this beam are attached the arms which are, in turn, connected to a ladder, the bars of which correspond to the different rows of dove-holes. This ladder made it possible to easily reach the dove-holes in order to catch hold of the pigeons or to clean out the nests.
The parklands
The parklands extend over approx. 6 hectares, one third of which is woods and two thirds parklands, surrounded by water-filled moats. In the outer bailey, the French formal garden planted with yew trees, trimmed into a cone-shape, is next to the decorative vegetable garden, bordered by boxwood, reminiscent of the medicinal herbs and plants that were widely grown in the Middle-Ages in monastery gardens.
Once over the drawbridge, the main courtyard features a garden with medicinal and aromatic plants growing under the windows of the old kitchens.
White wrought iron gates provide access from the castle’s main courtyard over a wooden bridge which spans the moat. This leads to the rear of parklands comprising a large stretch of grass bordered by undergrowth. It is extended by the old alley of one hundred year old plane trees, of which only the stumps remain, but it is still possible to take pride in the view that it continues to provide. This “alleyway of the king” leads to the outer moat.
The parklands also feature a swimming pool.
Our opinion
This building, once a fortress and now a chateau, currently reflects not only the elegance of the 18th century but also the rustic beauty of the 16th century. Standing in a nuisance-free setting, it still appears unassailable since it is surrounded by moats, but it can be accessed via the fully restored double drawbridge which stands out as the main feature of these premises, exuding their almost monastic serenity.
This castle bears witness to the enthusiasm of its current owners who, day after day for years, have zealously and meticulously, restored this unique property to its original condition whilst discreetly providing all modern-day home comforts. Restoration works which have received multiple grants and have led to its classification as a French Historic Monument, thus providing certain tax benefits.
The inside of the castle is like a journey back through time: the centuries appearing to have been called upon to surprise, each leaving their mark and resulting in this unique composition. The future owners will have the honour of laying the “last stone”, of continuing the defence of the castle against the onslaught of time and of choosing from amongst the numerous uses to which this site, the pride of its region, could be put.
And for all that the fiscal aspect of its classification as a French historic monument will enable its new residents to greatly reduce or, even, eliminate their income tax.
Ventes d'immeubles
À Paris et en Ile-de-France
Prix de vente au-delà de 600 000 euros 5% TTC*
Prix de vente de 400 000 à 600 000 euros 6% TTC*
Prix de vente de 200 000 À 400 000 euros 7% TTC*
Prix de vente jusqu'à 200 000 euros 9% TTC*
Honoraires à la charge du Vendeur
En Province
Prix de vente au-delà de 500 000 euros 6% TTC*
Prix de vente jusqu'à 500 000 euros 30 000 Euros TTC* (forfait)
Honoraires à la charge du Vendeur
Expertise
Avis de valeur argumenté : 1 800 Euros TTC*
Expertise à partir de 2 400 Euros TTC*
Les tarifs des expertises sont communiqués sur devis personnalisé établi sur la base d’un taux horaire moyen de 120 Euros TTC*
*TTC : TVA incluse au taux de 20 %
Reference 521780
Land registry surface area | 6 ha |
Main building surface area | 1400 m2 |
Outbuilding surface area | 1180 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.