In the Pays de la Loire region, 15 minutes from Laval, on over 16 ha,
a striking 18th century listed castle, fully restored
Laval, MAYENNE pays-de-loire 53000 FR

Location

On the outskirts of a village with all main shops and amenities. Less than 15 minutes from the town of Laval and its train station which is connected by the fast train line to Paris and to Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport (ten daily return between Laval and Paris, some taking just 80 minutes). 1½ hours from the Channel coast and the towns of Saint Malo and Dinard. The property is also close the A81 motorway which links Paris and Rennes, the capital of Brittany. It takes less than one hour to drive to Rennes and Paris is about 260 km away.

Description

A long driveway, bordered by trees and crossing the parkland’s grasslands and woods, leads from the village to the property. Entrance gates open on to a very wide courtyard, partially surrounded by a dry moat and laid out in front of the chateau’s regular, elegant facade. The outbuildings, set out around the courtyard, comprise stables, a dovecote, pigsties, a barn, a small corner pavilion, a caretaker’s cottage and, lastly, a chapel. A central parterre, displaying its original design, takes up a large section of the courtyard in front of the chateau. A copse of very old trees stands to one side. A regular, terraced, back garden, reached via granite steps, looks down on to the rear of the chateau.
The first castle dated from medieval times. In the 16th century, its status was raised to that of a “châtellenie” (an officially recognised castle and its land). All that remains of these eras are the dovecote, the chapel as well as the castle’s two pavilions.
At the beginning of the 18th century, these two pavilions were connected by a vast building. The chateau, the outbuildings and parklands underwent major restoration works in 2010. A good number of these features are now protected with French Historic Monument listing (by order dated 13 March 1989): the chateau and the chapel; the dovecote facades and roofs; the perimeter wall with its moat and its support walls; the facades and roof of the little, 18th century corner pavilion; the garden with its fencing and its towers as well as the shelter over the central well; the wood and, lastly, the large alleyways in the parklands. Nowadays economic activities, notably linked to culture and events, are held by the current owners. But the potential of the buildings, not all actually in use, and the existing parklands which extend over a total of more than 16 hectares, make it possible to envisage other development possibilities, especially as the town of Laval is near and Paris and Rennes are within easy reach.

The chateau

Most of the construction is the work of a wealthy trader from Laval who, in the 18th century, became the owner of the premises. His coat-of-arms are still to be seen in the middle of the main facade of the chateau. The latter comprises a central building, connecting two pavilions. The main building spans seven, regular bays and three levels, including one below the rafters. It is topped with a three-sloped slate roof. Its front facade features an octagonal tower, protruding from the east gable. Behind, two impressive pavilions are also topped with elegant hip roofs. One of them has a finial representing Judith, holding the sword and head of Holofernes in her hands. The openings, all arched, are framed with dressed stone or granite. The cornices and the quoins are made of freestone. A porch with a few steps provides access to the main entrance door.


The ground floor
The entrance door opens into a vestibule, housing a large, listed wooden stairway. Straight on is a passageway which leads to a toilet and a door to the cellar, as well as to the kitchen and the back kitchen. A vast dining room, on one side, features outstanding panelling, parquet flooring and a marble fireplace. On the other side is a cloakroom, followed by two adjoining lounges and a study. The first lounge comprises oak wood panelling and a marble fireplace. The second lounge has wainscoting and a marble fireplace. Both rooms have parquet flooring. The study, with its exposed stone walls, has terracotta floor tiles and a stone fireplace. Doors in the first lounge and the study lead directly out on to the rear terrace. All these rooms have French ceilings.
The first floor
A door, half-way up the stairs, opens into a hall area leading to a bedroom, with its bathroom and a separate toilet. Its features include wall panelling, an oak wood fireplace, strip pattern parquet flooring and a French ceiling. On the first floor, the stairway landing provides access to a flat and to a gallery. This flat comprises a study-lounge, a dressing room and a bedroom, with its shower room and toilet. The gallery leads to two bedrooms, one of which has its own shower room and toilet, and to a second flat composed of a lounge and a bedroom, with its own shower room and toilet. All the rooms on this level have parquet flooring or terracotta floor tiles, marble or freestone fireplaces and high, French ceilings.
The second floor
A door, again half-way up the stairs, communicates with a hall area leading to a bedroom. The second floor landing provides access, one on side, to a vestibule and two maid’s bedrooms awaiting renovation, and, on the other side, to vast attics.
The cellar
Cellars only run under a section of the chateau’s floor surface area. They can be reached either via the inside or via the outside. They comprise two wine cellars, a boiler room, with recent fixtures and fittings as well as an oil tank.

The outbuildings


The stables
Fully restored, this building now comprises a large function room used for events, a toilet and a professional kitchen. It spans a ground surface area of 140 m². The attic awaits conversion.
The dovecote
Constructed in the 16th century, this dovecote has been converted into a flat. It comprises a lounge, with a stone fireplace and terracotta floor tiles, on the ground floor and a bedroom, with its shower room and toilet, on the second floor.
The barn
This building is partially used as storage space, garages, a workshop and a woodshed
The caretaker’s accommodation
This inside of this old dwelling awaits conversion works. It could, for instance, be transformed into two flats.
The pavilion
This attractive, little corner pavilion dates from the 18th century. It adjoins the west end of the support wall for the terraced garden. Spanning two levels, it is topped with a hip slate roof. It provides access from the courtyard to the raised garden, with which it communicates via a door on the first floor. This pavilion could easily be converted into a flat.
The chapel
Constructed in the 16th century, this chapel was renovated in the 18th century. The walls are painted with fleur-de-lis motifs and the vaulted ceiling features a deep blue, starry sky. The altar is made of marble and the black and white floor tiles are laid in a chessboard pattern. A good-sized building, it could either retain its original function or be adapted for another purpose.

The parklands

Parklands extend over a total of more than 16 hectares. Grasslands and woods are on the east and south sides. A driveway, in line with the entrance gates, is approx. 1 km long. Gardens surround the chateau. An elegant front lawn, laid out in a medallion shape, is enhanced with boxwood, yew trees and rose bushes. An outstanding raised and terraced, back garden is enclosed by walls and reached via stone steps with wrought iron railings. It features, first of all, a row of lime trees running the full length of the terrace; then, on the west side, a little oak wood; followed by a first series of eight regular lawn parterres. Facing the steps and separated by alleyways, they are surrounded by boxwood and planted with yew trees and rose bushes. These eight parterres are then extended by an orchard and a vegetable garden, planted in two more squares of lawn separated by alleyways. In the centre of these features is a well under a shelter.

Our opinion

Both the elegance and quality of this property are outstanding. That of the buildings first of all. The residence’s pavilions, the chapel and the dovecote are reminiscent of the Renaissance period whilst the main facade of the residence illustrates the classical era and the corner pavilion that of the Age of Reason. All underwent major restoration works, inside and out, almost ten years ago. Now, that of the gardens. Whether the landscaped courtyard, the terraced gardens or the views extending from the chateau. They have once again been restored in keeping with their original designs. This property has, therefore, been given back its splendour of yesteryear when it was occupied by famous families. It is now waiting for someone else to take up the torch, especially with regard to the current activities which could be further developed.

2 990 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense


See the fee rates

Reference 442324

Land registry surface area 16 ha 87 a 35 ca
Main building surface area 700 m2
Number of bedrooms 6
Outbuilding surface area 500 m2

Consultant

Denis Trassard +33 1 42 84 80 85

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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.

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