in the southern reaches of the Haute-Loire area, in the former Gévaudan province, in the heights of a village
Location
From 1558, the village in which the castle is located was governed by the Generality of Montpellier, having, in the 15th century, previously been part of the Gévaudan senesschalty and bailiwick, which was disbanded during the French Revolution of 1789. It is located 40 minutes from Langogne and 46 kilometres from Puy-en-Velay, from which trains can be caught to Saint-Exupéry international airport as well as the cities of Lyon and Saint Etienne. By road, Saint Etienne is 45 minutes away, while Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand are 1 hour 30 minutes away.
Description
The castle
From a bird’s eye view, this four-storey building seems to have been built in a rectangular shape, facing south over the surrounding countryside. The main façade overlooks a patio and a courtyard, on one side of which a former sheep barn still stands. The castle has been renovated with respect for its original features and atmosphere. It is now heated by a series of wood-burning stoves with additional electric heating in one part of the building. Domestic hot water is provided by three 200-litre water heaters which can be controlled by a system of valves.
The ground floor
This level can be reached from the courtyard via two doors on either side of the spiral staircase which leads to all the building’s different storeys. Two barrel-vaulted cellars, the old kitchen with a vaulted stone fireplace boasting column shaped jambs, a smoker and the tower make up the part of the ground floor to be restored. A deep dungeon and solitary confinement cell complete this level.
The first floor
This storey is split into two parts linked by the spiral staircase, though another staircase also leads directly to the eastern part of this level from the outside. The left part is made up of a vast reception room with a surface of approximately 100 m² as well as a snug in the tower. The former latrines can still be found here. The reception room has wood stripped flooring decorated with a cross. At the end of the afternoon, it is bathed in light through the small-paned windows. French windows lead out onto a stone terrace and to the cannon, a preserved vestige of the place’s past. The eastern part includes an approximately 94-m² open-plan room that includes a lounge space, a dining area as well as a kitchen and is heated by two Gaudin wood-burning stoves. Behind a staircase in the centre of the room leading to the next level, a laundry room, utility room and the water heaters are smartly concealed.
The second floor
This storey is also divided into two parts. On the western side, there is an apartment located above the reception room, including a living room, kitchen, storage space, shower room, lavatory and a bedroom, as well as further storage space in the tower. There is an independent water heater in the shower room. On the eastern side, at the top of the wooden staircase that leads up from the open-plan room, there are two bedrooms, each of which have an en suite shower room and lavatory. The largest has two box beds, a double bed and a sofa bed, totalling six sleeping places, as well as a wardrobe that conceals the access to the spiral staircase. The smallest is furnished with a double bed and a sofa bed. From the corridor, a staircase leads to the uppermost level.
The top floor
This storey boasts a surface of approximately 200 m² awaiting restoration. It has new floorboards and a roof frame like an upturned ship’s hull. The electrical and plumbing systems have been completely refurbished. On each floor of the castle, fire hoses and extinguishers are concealed in raised floors or an antique trunk.
The sheepfold
This building, located to the side of the inner courtyard, boasts a surface of approximately 50 m² and is currently used as storage space for a variety of elements.
The garden
The almost 1,000-m² garden stretching out in front of the castle is made up of lawned terraces and includes the remains of a hen coop.
Our opinion
This property, located between the Haute-Loire’s various regional natural parks, is a peaceful fortress of human scale in which history is engraved in each stone. It also boasts plenty of potential: it could serve as a home for a large family, be used as guest accommodation or welcome the organisation of small events, whether cultural or of another nature. In fact, because the property’s layout is conductive to such a possibility, it could be used for all three. It is a place with a unique atmosphere in which the mineral power of the granite and meticulous restoration highlight the sober decoration.
Reference 746827
Land registry surface area | 1090 m2 |
Main building surface area | 700 m2 |
Number of bedrooms | 4 |
Outbuilding surface area | 50 m2 |
including refurbished area | 450 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.