A 17th century manor estate, with dwellings and a 2-hectare
equestrian centre, near to Coutances and the sea in La Manche
equestrian centre, near to Coutances and the sea in La Manche
Coutances,
MANCHE
lower-normandy
50200
FR
Location
On the western edge of Normandy, in the centre-west of the La Manche department, the property is close to a market town in the Coutançais art and history region, on the Côte des Havres, with a view over the English Channel. Part of an oyster-growing region, the commune is both coastal and wooded. It has all local shops and services you might need on a daily basis. An 18-hole golf course, tennis court, casino and sailing club face the Channel Islands. It is less than 1 hour from Cherbourg and 4 hours from Paris via the A13.
Description
The property, which is set back from the main road, is accessed via a driveway bordered by an avenue of chestnut, lime and maple trees. The first part of the grounds is divided into grazing areas, while further on, heavy stone pillars open up to a view of the buildings. The dwelling and its outbuildings mostly date back to the 17th century. It was once a small seigneurial manor house, which would have included farm outbuildings in the past. Today, there are two large dwellings remaining, which are linked by a gravel courtyard. A well, probably built at the same time, stands in the centre of the courtyard. The first rectilinear building and its return wing close off the courtyard to the west of the property. Almost all of the farmhouse has been renovated. Opposite this is the main dwelling. To the west, a tree-lined pond is surrounded by lawns. Finally, to the north-east, some equestrian facilities mark the property boundaries on this side.
The main dwelling
The date inscribed on the lintel above the entrance door indicates the year 1664, which marks the beginning of Louis XIV's personal reign. Construction of this type of building bears witness to the kingdom's policy of pacification in the Coutançais region which was once torn apart by the Wars of Religion and the Jacqueries. Facing due south, the entire building was built of granite stone with lime pointing. The gable roof is built of slate. Roof windows bring light to the attic, giving views of the first part of the grounds, the surrounding countryside and the sea in the distance. Although archives say little, it would appear that the house was built over at least two different periods. A recess to the east bears witness to the existence of a first building which, according to oral sources, could date back to the Wars of Religion in the 16th century. A simple, panelled, solid wood door, flanked on the right by a full-height glass door, provides access to the entire residence. To the south-west, another round-arched entrance with large-paned windows leads to the two upper floors. A number of completely refurbished single-glazed windows let soft light filter through to all floors.
The ground floor
An entrance door opens onto a group of four rooms with limewashed stone walls. The floors are made of Burgundy stone throughout, with exposed beams and joists, mainly carved from Oregon pine, more commonly known as Douglas fir. The stone staircase forms part of the vestibule ceiling. A dining room was once the central hall of the first dwelling. A stone “potager” and an imposing fireplace with built-in stove are still visible. To one side, a completely refurbished kitchen/diner still has its old stone “potager”. At the opposite end of the room there is a study with an antique fireplace. Finally, there is a bathroom and a boiler room.
The first floor
An original, red tiled floor is still visible on this side of the house. A landing room, built along the same lines as the ground floor room, gives access to the two bedrooms and bathrooms. It still has its stone fireplace and enjoys views over the countryside. The property has been completely renovated and features high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials.
The second floor
Three further bedrooms, accessible from a landing and with en suite shower rooms, have been fitted out in the same spirit as on the first floor.
The house connected to the main dwelling
The two-storey house connected to the main dwelling was built more recently and blends in with the rest of the building as if it were all one. The gable roof is built of slate with four dormer windows. Four windows, three of which are semi-circular, are directly accessible from a terrace that is partly laid out between lawns and flowerbeds. They lead to four rooms whose layout would mean they could be used as a guest house. Upstairs, four other bedrooms are laid out in much the same way. They are next to bathrooms.
The second building opposite the main dwelling
Opposite the main dwelling, currently used as a garage, there is a slate stone building with a gabled slate roof, still attached to the surrounding wall. It is most probably one of the first buildings in the manor estate. Further west, a setback portion has enabled the building to be extended and completely transformed into a guest house on both the ground and first floors. It has since been joined by an angled wing.
The grounds
At the entrance to the property, horse pastures stretch out behind hedges. The animals are sheltered by the plant cover. Acacias, laurels, lilacs and hornbeams have been planted beyond the driveway. The grounds are also dotted with fruit trees - apple, cherry, plum and fig - and include five stables and a quarry.
Our opinion
Looking out over the waves of the Channel stretching out to the horizon, an authentic Norman manor house, hidden by the woodlands. On a manageable scale, the dwelling and its restored outbuildings are sheltered by their leafy surroundings, close to the delightful historic town of Coutances. Carefully renovated in almost its entirety, the estate still features some remarkable remains from its centuries-old origins, carved out of Chausey granite. There are numerous conversion possibilities: for example, to extend the premises’ current use as a guest house or something completely different, depending on whatever this peaceful refuge inspires the new owners to do.
Reference 945149
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 9 a 90 ca |
| Main building surface area | 455 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 12 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 103 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 103 m2 |
| Number of lots | 1 |
Aucune procédure en cours menée sur le fondement des articles 29-1 A et 29-1 de la loi n°65-557 du 10 juillet 1965 et de l’article L.615-6 du CCH
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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.
