With a thirst for nature and tranquility and a love of gastronomy and literature, we first left Paris for Sologne, a paradise of game-filled forests and scattered ponds. That is why we stayed in the area. We then discovered the Clos Chassepline, it was love at first sight because it was the perfect fit for our project. We of course fell for the architecture, but also for the adapted outdoor spaces surrounded by old stone walls which included the orchard, the vegetable garden and the pool area. It is also at the crossroads of Sologne, Touraine and Berry. The location brings what was missing from where we lived before - a variety of landscapes and a rich historical heritage. Finally, Saint-Aignan is a stunning medieval city and we enjoy a postcard worthy view from our windows every morning. We are just one minute away from town, and one second away from the countryside!
The house was built at the end of the 19th century by a Parisian architect who was eager to sell it to wealthy bourgeois. For this reason, the house is adorned with the finer features of this time - a sparkling tuffeau facade (known as the stone of kings), a slate roof, beautiful high ceilings, waxed floors, moldings, gutters, marble fireplaces, stained glass windows. In short, it follows the Haussmannian code of conduct, and then goes above and beyond. What really appealed to us was the brightness and it seems that this was the architect's main priority. There are thirty-six windows and, noticeably, a large sky light that illuminates the beautiful central staircase which serves all the floors except the vaulted, carved stone cellar. Despite the imposing facade, the rooms inside are a more humble size. There is no need to go looking for the light, it is everywhere. The house is in fact an enlarged version of the mansion that stood here in the Napoleonic era. Only the Maison du Passeur (one of the two cottages) remains from that time, we renovated it ourselves to bring a little modern comfort to the charming, old stones. The original materials were kept where possible, and even when we had to replace them, we made sure to use only noble materials. We never forget that these houses existed long before us, and that they will be here long after we are gone. It is our duty to maintain them as much as possible. As for the second house on the property, it was built by the first buyer's wife: even she wanted a place for friends here and this is certainly the case now!
The history of the house is intrinsically linked to its architecture. As soon as it was built, the house was sold to a middle-class family and was continually maintained and renovated by successive owners who added a pavilion and stables, along with the Maison du Passeur which is the oldest building on the property. The owner before us managed to regroup the lands that were originally attached to the mansion of the Napoleonic era. It has a park, a plot of land on the banks of the Cher, a large meadow and small sections of walled gardens which have brought charm and a name to the place!
Here, we share everything we love: noble materials, soft colours and furniture found in local flea markets which we have spruced up ourselves. Our orchard, kitchen garden and barnyard are our first steps towards becoming self-sufficient - but this does not mean that we have cut ourselves off from the rest of the world! We love this region and enjoy showing it to our guests by introducing them to friends who are producers, winemakers and restaurateurs. We welcome visitors into our unique way of life. We relax according to the seasons, by the fire or by the pool, and we enjoy the omnipresent nature. Guests can go back to basics and simply enjoy reading, eating, drinking, writing or drawing if they are so inclined. Just listen to one another, relax, and why not create something new? We chose not to include televisions in the guest rooms or our home, we opted for books that are available in the libraries installed in the cottages and guest rooms. There are no screens, only the windows overlooking the park where half a dozen hens roam the grounds, Indian ducks wander about the kitchen garden, two loving dogs watch over us, three cats chase the shrews away and a young white donkey and a retired sheep graze in the meadow. It is a wonderful opportunity for children to become acquainted with these farm animals and for parents to rediscover them. Guests can enjoy breakfast in their rooms, in the dining room or on a table in the park, all depends on the weather and their desires. All in all, it is a lovely, bucolic place to take a break.
In terms of gastronomy, we are particularly fond of restaurants that serve local, natural food. Such a restaurant was opened in Saint-Aignan last year, just five minutes from the house. The "P'tit Restau" in Loches and "l’Herbe Rouge" in the beautiful area of ??Chaumont-sur-Loire are a thirty minute drive away. There are also small producers of natural wines, an excellent cheese maker and a sensational butcher. On the cultural side of things, we were surprised by the sheer variety across all levels. The region is of course known for its castles and its famous Zoo, but there are also mushroom farms, troglodyte caves, and beautiful houses in the surrounding area that were home to great writers and artists such as Sand, Balzac and Leonardo da Vinci. Our guests often come for a weekend and end up booking a week long trip for the holidays after they leave!
Two of the guest cottages are located in Clos Chassepline and are fifty meters apart. La Maison du Passeur can sleep eight guests with two queen sized beds, two single beds and a sofa bed. It consists of a large 50m2 living room that can accommodate up to fourteen guests lounging about or having dinner together around the large farmhouse table. The Dovecote is less spacious, the living room-kitchen takes up the entire ground floor. There is a bathroom with a shower, a separate toilet, and two adjoining bedrooms on the first floor. It has a total of six beds with a queen size bed, two twin beds, and a sofa bed. Both guest cottages have kitchens (but there is no dishwasher in the Dovecote), cosy rooms (beds equipped with Tediber memory foam mattresses), free access to the park and pool and a private garden for outdoor meals. We can provide guests with a barbecue, board games and baby equipment (cot, high chair, etc.).
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The guest rooms are on the first floor of La Chassepline which is four stories high. A porch with a double staircase leads to the ground floor, the spacious entrance, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen and the office. A staircase lit by a skylight leads to the upper floors. On the first floor, two guests rooms face each other on either side of the landing. The first, Anthea, overlooks the park, whilst the other, Hestia, has a view of the garden by the street. Each has a double bed (with a Tediber memory foam mattress), a working fireplace and a small desk. Anthea has a private bathroom with a large Italian shower, a double sink and plenty of storage. Hestia has a small, cleverly arranged bathroom with a shower and sink and a separate toilet. The second floor is reserved for the owners. A kettle with tea/herbal infusions and organic cleansers for the whole family are available in the rooms.
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