An ancient fortified castle with medieval towers, old forges, garden, orchard
and a swimming pool on the outskirts of a typical Franche-Comté village
and a swimming pool on the outskirts of a typical Franche-Comté village
Besançon,
HAUTE-SAONE
franche-comte
25000
FR
Location
On the outskirts of a Franche-Comté village with a rich industrial past, which has a bakery, a hairdresser, artisans and artists, 10 minutes from Pesmes, labelled as a "Little Comtoise town full of character" and one of the "Most beautiful villages in France", 15 minutes from the towns of Marnay and Gray where there are numerous shops, public services and schools. The A36 motorway is 20 minutes away, the A39 Paris-Dijon-Geneva motorway is 30 minutes away, the Besançon TGV train station is 35 minutes away and the Dole-Jura regional airport is 40 minutes away.
Description
The property is accessed via a 500 m long private drive from the centre of the village or from an independent road over a small bridge. The buildings are arranged around a courtyard bordered by the main building to the north, a large rectangular structure flanked by two round medieval towers. Opposite are the former forge master's house on one side and the building housing the old blast furnaces on the other. Between the two, there are the courtyard and a garden enclosed by the old fortress wall. To the north, the château opens onto a terrace with a swimming pool. An orchard can be accessed via a small bridge spanning the stream that runs through the parkland. The old château moat is filled by a permanent spring and forms a navigable lake. An English-style garden overlooking the surrounding countryside completes the ensemble.
The main building
It is a large rectangular structure flanked by two medieval towers to the north and a reception building to the south-east. The masonry is rendered rubble stone and the roof is tiled. To the east, the living area is insulated and has double-glazed windows. There is a terrace on the south side and another on the north side. The central section has been converted into a garage on the ground floor. A metal staircase provides access to the first floor, which is currently used as a shed. Finally, at the west end, the second tower and a former stable are still in their original state. They are used as storage areas for wood and other materials.
The ground floor
The main entrance is accessed from the south via a terrace surrounded by a low wall. It opens onto a vast open-plan kitchen with a dining area. On the east side, a storeroom leads through to an office currently used as a customer reception area. To the north-east, there is a relaxation area with a small bar in the medieval tower. On the west side there is the reception dining room, followed by the lounge with a closed hearth fireplace. A wooden staircase leads upstairs and a wooden door opens onto the technical areas, a landing room used as a storeroom leading to a vaulted cellar, a boiler room with an oil-fired boiler and the laundry room, which is also used as a pool house. Two large cellars are currently in the process of being renovated. A second staircase made of stone leads up to the first floor. Heating is provided by underfloor heating.
The upstairs
Two wooden staircases at either end of the house lead up to the first floor. One is in the kitchen, leading to a corridor with two bedrooms, a bathroom and the tower room. The first bedroom still has the pillars from an old moulded stone fireplace that runs the full height of the room. The window has a view over the garden. There is storage space which is discreetly integrated into the room. The second bedroom has an antique marble fireplace. The modern bathroom has two washbasins and a corner bath. In contrast, the tower room has retained traces of its medieval origins, notably the painting on the keystone depicting the Maltese cross and the edges of the ogives depicting intertwined plants. Three double-arched stone windows let in light to the round room with its terracotta floor. A stone fireplace with a single pillar is set into the defensive wall to form an angle. A wood-burning stove has been added. A stone staircase leads to the tower attic space. The second staircase leads to a mezzanine that has been converted into a relaxation area and connects two adjoining bedrooms with the other two upstairs. The floor is heated by radiators.
The carport
Three cement-floored garages have been built as extensions to the house. One is used as a private museum space.
The old forge building
This bears the traces of successive developments over the ages. The first and highest bay forms a rectangle against the old perimeter wall. Two perpendicular bays adjoin it and provide access to the courtyard. They are symmetrical and have an ashlar pediment with a half bull's eye. The stonework is rendered rubble. Each bay had two low-arched windows on either side, one of which has been partially rebuilt and the other completely rebuilt on the north side. A lower building on the south side still contains the old wine vats from when it was used as a warehouse.
The former forge master's house
The square-shaped building sits enthroned in the courtyard. The façade is reminiscent of the old forges and features a bas-relief ashlar pediment supporting a half bull's eye. The stonework is rendered rubble. On the courtyard side of the main facade, the original openings, comprising five windows and the central entrance door, are lined with exposed ashlar. Inside, the rooms are still in their original configuration. Cement slabs have been added to the ground and ground floors. The other elements are original.
The courtyard
This large, fully enclosed courtyard leads to all of the buildings on the property. A vast gravelled area runs alongside the main building and provides access to the outbuildings. There is a copse of trees in the centre. A terrace surrounded by a low wall is connected to the house entrance. A lawn borders the house of the former forge master and continues to the back, embellished by copses and a small hedge along the edges. Finally, a large wooded area is circled by the wall enclosing the former fortress. All of this is hidden from outside view.
The English-style garden
Situated to the north-east of the main building, the garden benefits from the setting sun. A flagstone terrace provides access to the in-ground swimming pool and a straw pagoda. The old moat, which forms a U shape, is fed by a permanent spring topped by a pontoon. A gravel path leads to an arbour in the centre of the U-shape. A coppice is accessible via a walkway and has a view of the château and its two towers. The panorama then extends to the surrounding countryside and meadows. A stream crosses the garden to the north, and a small wooden bridge crosses it to access an orchard.
Our opinion
A real piece of history and heritage with buildings with a unique past, first as a Templar stronghold in the 13th century, then as a leisure chateau, blast furnaces in the industrial era and wine warehouses in the 20th century. An exceptional site, an emblem of local history, preserved from the ravages of time, a fiefdom of character with large surface areas and great potential for a family or professional project, or why not a combination of both? The property's location, close to shops, amenities and services, with motorways and train stations nearby, is an added bonus.
698 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 653621
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 99 a 90 ca |
| Main building surface area | 344 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 800 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 150 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.
