A multi-century chateau, its 15th-century gatehouse, immense outbuildings
and romantic 42-hectare grounds traversed by a river, in the former Perche province
and romantic 42-hectare grounds traversed by a river, in the former Perche province
Brou,
EURE-ET-LOIR
center-val-de-loire
28160
FR
Location
Located in the Perche regional natural park, two hours from Paris, 45 minutes from Chartres, 25 minutes from the train station in Nogent le Rotrou, with its numerous trains to Paris, and 10 minutes from Brou with all essential shops, this lordly estate traversed by a river and centuries of history abuts a village of 500 inhabitants. Dating from the 11th century and changing very little over the centuries, this village includes a Romanesque church and several local shops. After the English pillaged the former feudal mound and its fortress in 1428 during the Hundred Years’ War, it was not until 1492 that the fortified castle was rebuilt with all the types of fortifications in use at that time, which the following centuries would gradually mitigate with other separate constructions that are still present today, built between the 15th and 20th centuries.
Description
Behind its massive wrought-iron entrance gate, the chateau’s main façade is visible from the village and is arranged on either side of its former carriage entrance, the wooden door of which once opened onto a covered passageway, temporarily closed, which provided access to the courtyard, from where the property’s three-storey gatehouse with its corner turrets can be seen in all its glory. Topped with a slate hipped roof, the main chateau is also crowned with a small bell tower atop which stands a 19th-century zinc statue of a slender female figure who seems as if to watch over the village.
To the north, the chateau’s main façade faces east towards the village and is extended by a wing, which is framed by two square brick towers.
To the west, the chateau’s exterior, structured around its former carriage entrance and cadenced by windows protected by wooden louvred shutters, faces the topiary gardens and stands out thanks to its brick exterior, which is mirrored in the surrounding buildings.
To the north of the chateau, the gatehouse stands near the Saint François tower, called such in reference to its wrap-around stone décor resembling Franciscan knotted cords. Above, bricks and white stones are topped with slate pepperpot roofs supported by stepped corbels, which are, in turn, crowned with ancient weathervanes.
To the south, the gatehouse and its fairy-tale silhouette represent the centrepiece of this building complex. This ancient passageway was once the main entrance to the fortified chateau, accessible from a drawbridge that no longer exists today, but whose vestiges have been preserved. Flanked by two towers topped with slate pepperpot roofs and supported by stepped corbels, its white stone, massive towers on either side of the entrance and cross-windows are all reminiscent of the chateau of Ussé, located nearby on the banks of the Loire River. In addition, a wing with a gallery provides access to a more recent edifice adjoining a tower from the medieval enclosure.
To the west, towards which the grounds extend, the Renaissance-era dwelling is a reminder of the pleasure and decadence of holiday homes in centuries past. With windows framed by richly sculpted elements on both of its floors, it has a flat tile roof, while a walkway provides access to the “bell tower”, called such due to the unusual shape of its slate roof.
To the south, immense outbuildings with brick-clad exteriors are topped with slate roofs, which are, in turn, punctuated with cross-windows. Marvellously restored over the course of the second half of the 19th century using the original constructions, their style displays an understated Neo-Gothic charm.
The Property’s History
Although momentarily lost to the darkness of the High Middle Ages, this chateau’s history reappears during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) when it was pillaged in 1420 by Thomas de Montaigu, the Count of Salisbury and General-in-Chief of the English troops on their way to laying siege to Orléans. Meticulously reconstructed sixty years later based on the fortification principles in vogue at the time, wide “fortified” moats were created around the immense square enclosure in which the chateau was located, while water from the Foussarde River was used to fill the moats and, to the north, the water from a large pond reached all the way up to the walls of the chateau.
At that time, each successive renovation used what already existed, which makes it possible, today, to see that some of the towers’ foundations have stones that appear to be older and probably date, in part, from the late 12th-early 13th century, while, the sections made out of white ashlar stone probably date from the late 15th century.
From this building, which marked the entrance to this fortified enclosure, it is possible to understand how feudal architecture was able to ensure the protection of its inhabitants during attacks: the outer barrier, made up of the remains of the gates and enclosure wall built in the 19th century, allowed the residents of the village to enter and seek protection in the outer bailey, occupied at that time by the chateau’s vegetable garden and poultry population.
Today, this area is occupied by the former outbuildings, stables and other elements that have now become accommodations, a portion of the topiary garden, the "Village" Pavilion and Saint François tower, which is the only defensive tower still remaining from the original four corner towers.
In addition, a second barrier provided extra protection for the seigniorial dwelling: the gatehouse’s drawbridge entrance, which is now covered by topiaries and box trees, the gatehouse itself, the western gallery rebuilt in the 18th century and a watchtower to the north.
Owned by wealthy lords over the centuries, the property underwent many restorations including, specifically, one carried out by Jean Métézeau, a disciple of the architect Philibert de l’Orme (architect of the royal Fontainebleau chateau as well as the one in Anet, among many others) who was in charge of the reconstruction of the so-called "Village" Pavilion between 1584-1586. This was then reorganised a century later by the Gramont family before a floor was added and its exteriors were redesigned in the 18th century in such a way as to better comply with the symmetry of 17th-century French classicism. The current group of buildings is therefore rather similar to what they would have looked like on the eve of the Revolution, except for the 20th-century addition and the moats, which are no longer filled with water.
To the north, the chateau’s main façade faces east towards the village and is extended by a wing, which is framed by two square brick towers.
To the west, the chateau’s exterior, structured around its former carriage entrance and cadenced by windows protected by wooden louvred shutters, faces the topiary gardens and stands out thanks to its brick exterior, which is mirrored in the surrounding buildings.
To the north of the chateau, the gatehouse stands near the Saint François tower, called such in reference to its wrap-around stone décor resembling Franciscan knotted cords. Above, bricks and white stones are topped with slate pepperpot roofs supported by stepped corbels, which are, in turn, crowned with ancient weathervanes.
To the south, the gatehouse and its fairy-tale silhouette represent the centrepiece of this building complex. This ancient passageway was once the main entrance to the fortified chateau, accessible from a drawbridge that no longer exists today, but whose vestiges have been preserved. Flanked by two towers topped with slate pepperpot roofs and supported by stepped corbels, its white stone, massive towers on either side of the entrance and cross-windows are all reminiscent of the chateau of Ussé, located nearby on the banks of the Loire River. In addition, a wing with a gallery provides access to a more recent edifice adjoining a tower from the medieval enclosure.
To the west, towards which the grounds extend, the Renaissance-era dwelling is a reminder of the pleasure and decadence of holiday homes in centuries past. With windows framed by richly sculpted elements on both of its floors, it has a flat tile roof, while a walkway provides access to the “bell tower”, called such due to the unusual shape of its slate roof.
To the south, immense outbuildings with brick-clad exteriors are topped with slate roofs, which are, in turn, punctuated with cross-windows. Marvellously restored over the course of the second half of the 19th century using the original constructions, their style displays an understated Neo-Gothic charm.
The Property’s History
Although momentarily lost to the darkness of the High Middle Ages, this chateau’s history reappears during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) when it was pillaged in 1420 by Thomas de Montaigu, the Count of Salisbury and General-in-Chief of the English troops on their way to laying siege to Orléans. Meticulously reconstructed sixty years later based on the fortification principles in vogue at the time, wide “fortified” moats were created around the immense square enclosure in which the chateau was located, while water from the Foussarde River was used to fill the moats and, to the north, the water from a large pond reached all the way up to the walls of the chateau.
At that time, each successive renovation used what already existed, which makes it possible, today, to see that some of the towers’ foundations have stones that appear to be older and probably date, in part, from the late 12th-early 13th century, while, the sections made out of white ashlar stone probably date from the late 15th century.
From this building, which marked the entrance to this fortified enclosure, it is possible to understand how feudal architecture was able to ensure the protection of its inhabitants during attacks: the outer barrier, made up of the remains of the gates and enclosure wall built in the 19th century, allowed the residents of the village to enter and seek protection in the outer bailey, occupied at that time by the chateau’s vegetable garden and poultry population.
Today, this area is occupied by the former outbuildings, stables and other elements that have now become accommodations, a portion of the topiary garden, the "Village" Pavilion and Saint François tower, which is the only defensive tower still remaining from the original four corner towers.
In addition, a second barrier provided extra protection for the seigniorial dwelling: the gatehouse’s drawbridge entrance, which is now covered by topiaries and box trees, the gatehouse itself, the western gallery rebuilt in the 18th century and a watchtower to the north.
Owned by wealthy lords over the centuries, the property underwent many restorations including, specifically, one carried out by Jean Métézeau, a disciple of the architect Philibert de l’Orme (architect of the royal Fontainebleau chateau as well as the one in Anet, among many others) who was in charge of the reconstruction of the so-called "Village" Pavilion between 1584-1586. This was then reorganised a century later by the Gramont family before a floor was added and its exteriors were redesigned in the 18th century in such a way as to better comply with the symmetry of 17th-century French classicism. The current group of buildings is therefore rather similar to what they would have looked like on the eve of the Revolution, except for the 20th-century addition and the moats, which are no longer filled with water.
The Chateau
This building is organised on either side of its former carriage entrance and is accessible via its front door, which is now located on the building’s western side. With three levels and partially built over underground cellars, it has a floor area of approximately 430 m2.
The ground floor
The chateau’s front door opens onto the entrance hall, with walls painted in trompe-l’oeil stone, in which the main Louis XIII-era staircase with wooden balusters provides access to the two upper floors. To the left, a wooden door leads to a room that was perhaps once a study, followed by a former kitchen as well as a storeroom. On the other side, a door opens onto three successive sitting rooms. The first, clad in wainscoting and red wall hangings, contains central double doors that lead to the second sitting room decorated with wood panelling painted in Trianon grey and illuminated by glass double doors that provide access to the garden. In the third sitting room, columns topped with capitals and adorned with sculpted flower garlands cadence its wood panelling, while its mitred herringbone hardwood floors indicate the elegant function of this room, as does its white marble fireplace topped with a chimneybreast. In addition, a room in the back fitted with cupboards could be used as a china closet. Back in the entrance hall and to the right, the former carriage entrance, with a tiled floor and brick walls, has today been closed off with a picture window that looks out on the garden, while a lavatory next to a storeroom could be reserved solely for guests. Lastly, a wooden door opens onto a landing and reveals the chateau’s time-worn kitchen with its massive cast-iron wood oven, next to which stands an impressive stone fireplace, which must have been replaced by the more modern oven at some point for the purposes of cooking. Opposite, in the utility room, a wooden staircase once provided upstairs access for the chateau’s servants.
The first floor
Accessible from the main staircase in the chateau’s Northern wing, an immense landing leads to seven bedrooms, two of which communicate with one another, while, in one room, the walls are covered with antique wallpaper decorated with exotic motifs depicting Eastern landscapes and wild animals such as birds and monkeys. In addition, three bathrooms, a lavatory and library complete this level, and a second wooden staircase, accessible from the hallway, provides a shortcut to the downstairs kitchen.
The second floor
The main staircase leads to the turrets in which ten bedrooms, two bathrooms and lavatories are located, while an alcove in one of the rooms contains a tall, ancient, and possibly Alsatian, earthenware stove.
The basement
Accessible via a door after descending a flight of exterior stone stairs, they are composed of different vaulted rooms with exposed stone walls.
The Saint François Tower
The three-storey Northern tower is the last remaining one from the four defensive towers that once protected the chateau’s ancient outer wall. With an exterior stone staircase that continues inside the turret – affixed to the tower – via a spiral staircase, this tower contains one room on each of its lower floors, which are decorated with terracotta floor tiles and tall stone fireplaces. The first is octagonal in shape, while the second is vaulted and, like a souvenir from feudal times, has a glazed arrow slit set within the curvature of its wall. The third and final floor is made up of a circular room surrounded by the enclosed former rampart walk, which is accessible via a staircase.
The Gatehouse
As the epicentre of this group of buildings, the white stone gatehouse with grison stone foundations is connected to a plaster-coated construction from the 1990s via a brick-clad gallery. Affixed to an ancient tower, the recent edifice with stone window surrounds integrates seamlessly with the property’s older buildings.
Accessible via a set of stone stairs, the gatehouse’s entrance opens onto a room with terracotta floor tiles. To the left, wooden double doors lead to a dining room, in which a large central window illuminates the walls clad in wainscoting and topped with red wall hangings. From here, another set of double doors open onto an oval sitting room located in the tower, while yet another door provides access to a spectacular 17th-century gallery with a stone fireplace and topped with a wooden gambrel roof. From here, a spiral stone staircase leads to the 15th-century gatehouse’s upper floors, as well as the chapel located in one of its towers. Only a few square metres in size, the chapel, or rather oratory, has a ribbed vaulted ceiling supported by brackets decorated with cherubs, while the ceiling’s keystone is emblazoned with a coat of arms and the altar is bathed in light by a stained glass window. Above the chapel, three floors provide a total of four bedrooms, each with their own fireplace, as well as an attic, two lavatories and three bathrooms, including a rather spectacular one, positioned a metre lower than the former rampart walk, from where one can secretly admire the view.
The recent and comfortable three-storey extension, with approximately 260 m2, includes a linen cupboard and furnace room in the basement level accessible via a stone staircase, as well as a kitchen and bedroom located above the utility rooms.
The Renaissance-Era Dwelling
Although smaller than the other buildings on the property, this two-storey edifice, located to the west of the chateau, creates an interesting interplay of architectural volumes that seems to ripple outwards towards the property’s edges. Here, the architectural style is different: particular attention was paid to the design’s overall charm with finely sculpted ornamental décor on its main façade. Accessible via the wooden front door topped with a sculpted pediment, its living room is decorated with a brick floor and fireplace, while a wooden staircase in good condition, provides access to the attic.
A second entrance from the outside leads to another living room decorated with a fireplace and black-and-white cabochon floor tiles. From here, a wooden staircase provides access to the first floor, which includes a large bedroom with a fireplace and an adjacent bathroom. Back on the ground floor, a door opens onto a shower room and lavatory, while the fitted kitchen still has its original stone fireplace and communicates with a third living room with terracotta floor tiles and a glass door that opens onto the garden. Along with the so-called Bell Tower, this building has a total floor area of 370 m2.
The Bell Tower
This building owes its name to the remarkable shape of its slate bell-shaped roof and is accessible from the Renaissance-era dwelling via a wooden walkway affixed to the former chateau enclosure wall. Past a wooden door is an oval room with a large fireplace, while a staircase running along the length of the wall leads to the upstairs level where the building’s breath-taking wooden rafters can be seen in all their glory. As for the garden level, which includes a workshop and is accessible from an outdoor stone staircase, it provides access to the kennels and cellars in the adjacent dwelling.
The Outbuildings
The former stables and outbuildings are located to the south of the chateau. These original buildings, which were faithfully restored in the 19th century, extend over approximately 1,000 m2 and have two convertible floors. With brick-clad exteriors, topped with slate roofs and punctuated by cross-windows, their overall appearance is consistent with the chateau’s architectural classicism.
Some of these storerooms, quite spacious, have been converted into reception rooms and garages, while, the upstairs level, accessible via a wooden staircase, contains particularly tall and immense attic spaces that span the entire building.
The Water Tower
Towards the southern end of the grounds, this three-storey tower with a flat-tile pepperpot roof has an entrance framed by sculptures and crowned with a sculpted stone pediment, brought over from another seigniorial edifice, which lends the building an unexpected elegance. Although this building has preserved certain features of its original vocation, today it is used as a storeroom.
The Vegetable Garden
Although separate from the rest of the grounds, the vegetable garden still remains within their immediate vicinity. After passing through an immense wrought-iron gate flanked by brick pillars topped with sculpted fruit baskets, it appears, partially enclosed by walls and planted with yews and ancient fruit trees, while the vestiges of its former flowerbeds bordered by box trees are still visible. To the west, a semi-circular former greenhouse runs along the length of one of the old stone walls, whereas, on its southwest end, an old half-timbered and brick pavilion is crowned with a flat-tile roof and includes a large room on the ground floor, which is used as a storeroom, as well as an attic accessible from an interior wooden staircase. In addition, this pavilion’s notable bucolic style is reminiscent of 18th-century follies, those fantastical edifices that were scattered throughout chateau estates during the Enlightenment period.
The Grounds
To the west of the chateau, the grounds extend over 42 hectares. Once past the property’s entrance, the grounds unveil formal gardens planted with yew topiaries and boxwood embroidered parterres, decorated with mossy stone statues, Medici pots and flame urns. From here, two sphinx statues seem to guide visitors towards a pasture bordered by a stone balustrade and planted with boxwoods in which neoclassical statues cadence the space on successive pilasters, while a small canal, traversed by a bridge with a wrought-iron guardrail, runs alongside of it. To the south, partially enclosed woods planted with firs, oaks and birches are crisscrossed by paths shaded by arbours, which are placed in such a way as to invite strollers to advance deeper into its shady foliage. To the southeast, behind the shrubbery, is a former washhouse, while, from the Saint François tower, a passageway in a hedge of yew trees provides access to a turret located on the former ramparts and surrounded by cypress trees.
Our opinion
What is so striking about this chateau is its originality, due, in part, to the number and proximity of its individual historical buildings, as well as its vast grounds traversed by a river. The buildings, to varying degrees, faithfully reference the western world’s imagery when it comes to chateaus: monumental edifices, the importance granted to the art of living and aristocratic grandeur, as well as vague notions regarding the role of chivalry and military defence in earlier times. Thus, on this property, defensive architecture is combined with the courtly Gothic spirit and the charms of previous centuries. Defending one’s castle was important, prayer as well, but not without adding curves and counter-curves, vegetation and the pleasures of living, with utmost primacy granted to aesthetics in these types of accommodations.
If this property has carefully preserved the vestiges of its former defensive constructions, it stands out thanks to the other buildings added by its many successive generations of owners. As for the undeniable intimacy created by the relative proximity of its different spaces, this does not infringe upon the property’s aristocratic and, yet, timeless grandeur: represented through its monumentality as well as the use of motifs such as turrets, defensive doors, stone lace and French ornamental décor.
The imagination, nourished by the emanations of the past, the presence of Nature and water, the taste for the picturesque in each detail and the monumentality of the estate’s design, make this property an eminently romantic and elegant place. Nine centuries of history unfold in these corridors of time, while the gatehouse foreshadows the elegance of Sleeping Beauty's nearby chateau of Ussé in the Loire Valley. In addition, the grounds, decorated with topiaries and flame urns in the French style, are extended by a landscaped garden, woods crisscrossed by star-shaped paths as well as a crystal-clear river, which passes through the property on its way through the Perche countryside.
Lastly, the property’s immense spaces, as well as the individuality of its components, create a site where there is no lack of potential projects. Even more so that its protection as a Historical Monument will enable its future lord and lady to benefit from advantageous fiscal programs.
3 180 000 €
Negotiation fees included
3 000 000 € Fees excluded
6%
TTC at the expense of the purchaser
Reference 963193
| Land registry surface area | 42 ha 36 a 65 ca |
| Main building surface area | 2500 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | +20 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 500 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.
