vineyards, a 19th-century chateau, with 5,000-m² grounds and centenary trees
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Location
In the western part of the Var department, within the regional natural park of Sainte-Baume, 45 kilometres from Marseille or Aix-en-Provence and near the Mediterranean coast, the estate is located within the rich historical landscape of a major pilgrimage site, and in proximity to a golf course.
Two rocky ridges – Sainte-Baume, on one side, and Mount Aurelien on the other – borders the village where it is located, 75% of which is made up of wooded areas. In addition, it is 1 hour from the Marseille-Provence airport, 5 minutes by car from the closest village centre and its shops as well as 10 minutes from major motorways.
Description
The estate’s origins date back to the 19th century – more precisely 1867 – when Napoleon Bonaparte ordered its construction in the Sainte-Baume mountains, a site of Christian worship since the 11th century, for his second, very pious, wife, Marie-Louise of Austria, a member of the Hapsburg family and great niece of Marie-Antoinette.
With three storeys, the chateau is characterised by its square shape and three towers – two round and one quadrangular – which contribute, with their various ornamentation, to the building’s majestic and unique appearance.
The chateau’s façades are composed of plaster-coated beige and grey sandstone, which participates in the imposing aspect of the three tall towers decorated with Virgin Mary sculptures, while the chateau’s wall ties and the surrounds for its windows and doors are made out of ashlar stone. The towers have hipped or pointed slate roofs, partially renovated, while the main building has a gabled barrel tile roof. These are highlighted by a moulded cornice, sculpted in places, while, one level lower, a stringcourse separates the ground floor from the upper floor on the main façade, facing south. The round towers are also cadenced by two discreet stringcourses and a cornice.
The Chateau
Its straight or arched symmetrical windows are decorated with moulding and, for some sculptures, on their entablatures, surrounds or lintel keystones, while the ones on the round towers have particularly rich ornamentation, including coats-of-arms with the surprising inscription – “Not so strong” – a scallop shell and various vegetal patterns. Lastly, all the windows are protected by light green painted wooden louvred shutters.
The ground floor
The chateau’s main entrance – a wooden door topped with a fanlight protected by a wrought-iron design, which is crowned with an ancient fan-shaped iron and glass canopy – opens onto a 23-m² entrance hall. The latter accesses, on one side, luggage storage in the lower section of one of the two round towers and, on the other side, a reception room of 53 m², which opens onto a vast glass and wrought-iron conservatory bathed in light. A large adjacent exterior pergola makes it easy to organise receptions or relaxing moments between family and friends.
The reception room, with a tiled floor and decorated with an original fireplace in moulded clay and sand tiles and finely sculpted marble, leads to an office located in the lower section of the second round tower as well as a cellar. In addition, two lavatories are accessible nearby.
A professional kitchen with a large storage area and a laundry room are equipped for a catering activity, providing the possibility to organise large-scale meals. Doors facing the grounds provide easy access to the cold rooms and other technical spaces housed in the chateau’s outbuildings.
From the entrance hall and the reception room, a staircase with stone steps and bordered by a wrought-iron handrail, accesses the chateau’s upper floors, where eleven bedrooms are located, which can accommodate more than thirty people.
The first floor
This level opens onto a reading room with a sophisticated décor including a fireplace, period furniture and a light-colour tiled floor. Located in the central section of the chateau, it opens onto five entirely renovated bedrooms, one of which has a diaphanous atmosphere, with its pastel cement tile floor and comfortable volume. This bedroom is integrated within a suite of almost 27 m² including a bathroom with lavatory and a small living room, also tiled. Each bedroom has a bathroom with lavatory and most of the bedrooms have terracotta tile floors. Two of them are located in the central section of the round towers and all look out over the grounds.
The second floor
This floor has two double bedrooms, one located in the upper part of the round tower, while the other, with a mezzanine, is in the square tower. Four other bedrooms also occupy the second floor. Each one of them, spacious and luminous, has its own bathroom with lavatory, which guarantees comfort and privacy, as well as a view over the chateau’s gardens.
The Outbuildings
A first building makes it possible to accommodate additional guests, with its two bedrooms of approximately 15 m² and their bathrooms and lavatories, of approximately 6 m². In addition, not far off, there are two small annexes where equipment can be stored.
Moreover, an orangery, of approximately 300 m² with a capacity of up to 300 guests, creates a privileged place for the organisation of large-scale festive events.
Lastly, abutting the back of the chateau, a summer kitchen, which opens onto a 120-m² garden space, both shady and sunny, provides a peaceful and enchanting setting, perfect for relaxation and conviviality.
The Grounds
Adjacent to a vast space of 110 hectares planted with truffle oaks, the verdant grounds of the chateau form a bucolic and charming setting, perfect for walks and relaxation with gravel and grassy areas, topiary hedges or shrubs, copses of deciduous trees, statues of pastoral women and stone basins.
At its centre, a 13 x 7-metre swimming pool with a shower, surrounded by vegetation, forms a genuine peaceful oasis, making it possible to fully take advantage of warm, sunny days.
Lastly, a boules court located near the swimming pool adds a traditional Provencal character to the noble property.
Our opinion
An architectural gem from the 19th century with its verdant landscaped grounds, located in a site preserved in many respects, close to the Sainte-Baume mountains and the mythical grotto of Mary Magdalene. Inside, its generous volumes, harmonious layout of the rooms and noble materials make the premises both refined and convivial, open and intimate. Outside, there are a variety of places for walking and relaxation, well defined and bordered by protective copses or ornamental hedges meticulously composed, like the property itself.
The possible usages are many, whether as a residence, a private event site with its spacious orangery, or as a historical investment where, under its tall centenary trees, behind its vast glass wall or at the foot of its tall towers, the shadow of its glorious founders still lingers.
Reference 110959
Land registry surface area | 5600 m2 |
Main building surface area | 900 m2 |
Number of bedrooms | 13 |
Outbuilding surface area | 40 m2 |
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.