A medieval castle, with 16th & 17th century airs,
and its 11 ha of wooded parklands, two hours from Paris
and its 11 ha of wooded parklands, two hours from Paris
Salbris,
CHER
center-val-de-loire
41300
FR
Location
This old medieval fortress, remodelled over the centuries and now a private home, stands looking down on to a river in the north of the centre of France, an hour from Orleans and 2 hours from Paris, in the Cher department, on the outskirts of a town with Celtic origins. Crossed by five rivers, including the Yèvre and the Cher, and the Berry Canal, surrounded by a 3,000-ha national forest and where the borders of the Sologne and Berry regions meet, the waterside town has 25,000 inhabitants as well as all shops and amenities. In the immediate proximity of a road network, the area can be reached via three motorways, the A20, the A71 and the A85, as well as by a station with regular TER train links to the French capital.
Description
A driveway, turning off the road, is bordered by vegetation, across which it is possible to glimpse steep slate roofs. It leads straight to wrought iron gates, concealing all of the property’s buildings and its 11.0236 hectares of parklands and woods.
Straight on, the medieval origins of the building are obvious courtesy of its square towers as well as the size of its windows. Steep roofs as well as inward-opening and casement windows, amongst other things, reflect the successive remodelling works that the castle has undergone since it stood on its 11th century motte. Looking out the rear of the building from the upstairs, an unobstructed view extends over the parklands and the gently-sloping wooded section. The caretaker’s cottage, standing at the very entrance to the estate and spanning approx. 60 m², faces an old house awaiting restoration. Set back, another building acts as a woodshed and a garage. And lastly, following on from the castle is a guest house. It is adjoined by a swimming pool with a tennis court, concealed by vegetation, at a distance. All the buildings house a main, gravel courtyard, predominantly used by cars. In its centre are a copse of age-old trees and shrubs that flower in the spring.
Straight on, the medieval origins of the building are obvious courtesy of its square towers as well as the size of its windows. Steep roofs as well as inward-opening and casement windows, amongst other things, reflect the successive remodelling works that the castle has undergone since it stood on its 11th century motte. Looking out the rear of the building from the upstairs, an unobstructed view extends over the parklands and the gently-sloping wooded section. The caretaker’s cottage, standing at the very entrance to the estate and spanning approx. 60 m², faces an old house awaiting restoration. Set back, another building acts as a woodshed and a garage. And lastly, following on from the castle is a guest house. It is adjoined by a swimming pool with a tennis court, concealed by vegetation, at a distance. All the buildings house a main, gravel courtyard, predominantly used by cars. In its centre are a copse of age-old trees and shrubs that flower in the spring.
The castle
This building, with its a rectangular layout typical of the first fortified castles, spans a total surface area of approx. 365 m². It is flanked with four towers, all with slate roofs. Two of the towers are round with candlesnuffer roofs, featuring mullioned dormers with broken pediments, and two are square, certainly much older. The main roof would, furthermore, lose all of its majesty without its gothic-style gable-fronted dormers. Most feature coats-of-arms, topped with a crown. The building is partially constructed over a cellar. The external, quarry stone block walls feature varying sizes of windows, enabling enlightened enthusiasts to date the various changes made to the castle.
Most of the buildings set around the courtyard were constructed in the 19th century.
The ground floor
A central living room provides access to a lounge and to a library. Its opening on to the garden, its comfort and its fireplace backing on to the wall, with its stone tiles in front of the hearth, its sculpted marble mantel and jambs as well as its brick hearth and splayed sides, make it the main room on this level. A kitchen communicates with the rest of the ground floor via an oak door, framed in a moulded limestone surround. Said room also has a door leading out to the parklands.
Throughout this floor, the walls are enhanced with panelling and the ceilings with exposed beams. Various rooms are embellished with 19th century marble or quarry stone block fireplaces. Floors are covered with strip pattern, oak wood parquet flooring or with terracotta tiles. The rooms are illuminated via wide openings that let sunlight flood in at all times of the day. The doors are perfectly preserved and maintained and still have their original ironwork and locks.
In the central square tower and going to the upper floor, a spiral, white stone stairway, with shallow steps, ends in a wooden stairway, leading up under the rafters.
The first floor
Awaiting renovation, this level comprises 4 bedrooms, laid out on either side of a corridor, going through the castle, as well as to two bathrooms and toilets. Floors are carpeted.
The attic
The bedrooms are laid out in keeping with the layout of the floor below. This entire level awaits full restoration works. It is taken up by two bedrooms, with bathrooms and toilets, as well as a games room.
The guest house
With a Mansard-style, slate roof as well as doors and windows with brick surrounds, it resembles a construction dating from the 17th century, a time when Henri IV insisted on brick and quarry stone block architecture. The house comprises a lounge and a living room with an open-plan kitchen. Upstairs, a landing provides access to three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
It spans a floor surface area of approx. 230 m².
The outbuildings
This outbuilding is an old house awaiting restoration.
A second building, set back from the property, houses a garage and a woodshed.
Our opinion
Standing proudly upright on the heights, upstream of the river Cher, this castle exudes a certain external, elegant austerity, characterised by architectural features bearing witness to a medieval past. And yet, the comfortable interior of this house makes it a pleasant family home. Renovation works await the new owners, a wonderful chance for them to add their own personal touches to premises which have been enhanced over time by successive architectural changes.
The guest house is indicative of a possible source of rental income. A use that becomes ideal with the addition of the tennis court and the swimming pool to the parklands. Although the town and its accesses are nearby, the castle has its back turned to them as if to better isolate itself.
990 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 191087
| Land registry surface area | 11 ha |
| Main building surface area | 366 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 9 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 200 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.
