A 15th-century castle in need of restoration, its hamlet of outbuildings
and its panoramic grounds of 6 ha, 30 minutes from Brive in the Corrèze region
and its panoramic grounds of 6 ha, 30 minutes from Brive in the Corrèze region
Brive-la-Gaillarde,
CORREZE
limousin
19100
FR
Location
In the north-east of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, 30 minutes from the greater Brive-la-Gaillarde area and 15 minutes from the National Stud of Pompadour, the castle is nestled at the foot of a picturesque village, sheltered from disturbances but close to the main amenities. A link between the Limousin pastureland and the Périgord valleys, at the crossroads of five regional nature parks, the wooded hills of the Corrèze countryside are punctuated by gorges and rivers. Hikers looking for a temperate climate will find the region just as appealing as lovers of a heritage that is all the more enjoyable for being largely undiscovered. Limoges can be reached in less than 1 hour via the motorway, while Bordeaux and Toulouse are 2 hours 30 minutes from the property. Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne airport and Brive-la-Gaillarde railway station provide direct services to Paris.
Description
From the town centre, a country lane leads to the main entrance of the property. A driveway winds gradually through the English-style landscaped grounds, first bordered by hedges on either side, and then along a line of tall deciduous trees. The track ends beneath a large lime tree facing the castle, in whose shade it is easy to park or to discover the stunning vista.
The medieval edifice stands proudly at the centre of a largely lawned plateau, below which a vast meadow stretches out to the great valley to the east. The panoramic view takes in the entire landscape from north to south - a single arc of greenery. Behind the chateau, hidden by the vegetation that marks the boundaries of the soberly landscaped grounds, are the large stone outbuildings. Built in the 19th century, they were designed to modernise the servants’ quarters and other outhouses of the estate without detracting from the authenticity of the medieval buildings.
Two of these outbuildings face each other and are separated by a driveway that leads to a long farmhouse with sturdy stone walls. This drive, which serves a courtyard before marking the exit from the property, connects to a street running through the village. At the western end of the property stands an old winery, dating from the same period as the castle, a reminder of the region's wine-growing past.
The medieval edifice stands proudly at the centre of a largely lawned plateau, below which a vast meadow stretches out to the great valley to the east. The panoramic view takes in the entire landscape from north to south - a single arc of greenery. Behind the chateau, hidden by the vegetation that marks the boundaries of the soberly landscaped grounds, are the large stone outbuildings. Built in the 19th century, they were designed to modernise the servants’ quarters and other outhouses of the estate without detracting from the authenticity of the medieval buildings.
Two of these outbuildings face each other and are separated by a driveway that leads to a long farmhouse with sturdy stone walls. This drive, which serves a courtyard before marking the exit from the property, connects to a street running through the village. At the western end of the property stands an old winery, dating from the same period as the castle, a reminder of the region's wine-growing past.
The castle
Rectangular in plan and four storeys high, the castle sits on granite bedrock, with outcrops which provide a solid foundation for the building. The round towers on the west facade are flanked on their inside angles by two pepperpot turrets covered in chestnut shingles. The interlocking two-, three- and four-pitched roofs are clad with Travassac slate. The towers feature a parapet walk with machicolations and quarter-round moulded corbels at their top. The east and west facades feature three levels of mullioned windows with transoms. Large windows in the north and south walls provide light and brightness from all four points of the compass. The square tower, with its pavilion roof, is the main entrance to the castle and houses a wide spiral staircase leading to the upper floors. Its studded wooden door is topped by a triangular pediment featuring the carved coat of arms of the Earl's family.
The ground floor
The hallway leads to a dining room, a library and a cloakroom. The neo-Gothic decor of the reception rooms includes "napkin pleat" wood panelling in the dining room, herringbone parquet flooring, the monumental fireplace with its "fleur de lis" earthenware and stained-glass windows. The French-style painted ceilings lend a Loire chateau feel to these rooms. The south tower is currently used as a larder. Facing the garden, it could easily be converted into a comfortable boudoir or private study. Access to the kitchen is via a corridor with cloakroom, currently serving only the scullery. Awaiting refurbishment, the vast kitchen with its granite inglenook fireplace overlooks the parklands. It has a floor of red hexagonal terracotta tiles. The boiler can be accessed from the kitchen in the north tower.
On the east side, a luminous drawing room/library faces the lawned terrace. This room features a fireplace and parquet flooring, with walls limewashed in light colours.
The first floor
A wooden spiral staircase, built into the square tower on the east side, was panelled around 1850. It leads to all three floors. On this level, a grand sitting room with Versailles parquet flooring boasts the same decorative features as the dining room: stained glass windows, French beamed ceilings, a fireplace with Doric carved wooden columns next to red and brown wall hangings with fleur-de-lis motifs. From the centre of the room, the eye is immediately drawn to another sitting room, located in the south tower; very cosy and modest in size, it has floral wall coverings and a herringbone parquet floor. Its Grand Siècle style alcove contrasts with the Gothic panelling. From the sitting room, a long corridor leads to a generous bedroom with nailed wide-strip parquet flooring and a modernist bathroom tiled in white. Finally, there is a second bedroom, more classical in its decor, which echoes the library just below, both in terms of its layout and its ornamental features: here, the walls are painted and plain, the woodwork is unadorned, and the floorboards reflect the passage of centuries. Lastly, a secret passageway links the two bedrooms.
The second floor
This level comprises four bedrooms, two of which are in the round towers, and an attic. They have retained their Limousin chestnut parquet flooring and their 1900s “Toile de Jouy” fabrics and floral wallpaper. There are many cupboards and storage spaces.
The third floor
Four generously proportioned former servants' bedrooms await renovation in the roofspace. A second area is reserved for the attic.
The attic
A small stone staircase leads to the top floor of the castle, with its five centuries-old roof timbers and dizzying walkways.
The cellar
Perfectly concealed to the right of the east facade of the castle, a short hairpin bend leads to the solid wooden entrance doors to the cellar. Forming a floor area of around 40 square metres, the stonework is a blend of lime, sandstone and dressed stone, supporting a wide vault above a rammed earth floor. Two windows in the thick wall provide unexpected light.
The outbuildings
The first building houses two independent dwellings, with five and three rooms respectively. Their interiors are in need of renovation. It faces a tall farm building in perfect condition, comprising a garage, stables and cowshed totalling a floor area of approx. 250 m².
The hayloft, supported by elegant stone columns, provides a comfortable space for storage or parking. It is extended on each side by two three-room lodgings, the second of which has recently been brought up to date. The complex, built of exposed and pointed stone with slate roofs and dressed stone window frames, reflects the Saint-Simonian utopia and features a striking architectural uniformity.
The winery, austere in appearance and offering substantial volumes, is a perfect example of the preservation of rural vernacular 16th-century architecture.
Our opinion
At first glance, the castle stands out as an emblematic work of its time, whose quality has been remarkably well preserved. The nobility of the building blends in astonishing harmony with the warmth of the interior fittings, to be renovated in the purest French neo-Gothic style. The arrangement of the rooms, spread over four levels, follows the curves of the load-bearing walls, creating a mysterious, flowing space with overlapping layouts. Shielded by its grounds, which could be enlarged through the acquisition of 60 hectares of woodland, the uninterrupted panoramic view over the unspoilt countryside will guarantee peace and quiet for several centuries to come.
Reference 920577
| Land registry surface area | 5 ha 62 a 45 ca |
| Main building surface area | 500 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 10 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 765 m2 |
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.
