An emblematic chateau with six hectares of grounds, nestled between vineyards
and a river, near the historical town of Saumur in France’s Loire Valley
and a river, near the historical town of Saumur in France’s Loire Valley
Saumur,
MAINE-ET-LOIRE
pays-de-loire
49400
FR
Location
The property lies by a village in the Loire Valley in a regional nature park in France’s Maine-et-Loire department. This region, which surrounds the historical town of Saumur, is known for the relaxing lifestyle it offers, as well as its rich culture, chateaux and vineyards. The nearby village offers a few shops. Saumur, which is recognised for its built heritage, is a short distance away. It offers a market, shops, amenities and restaurants. From the local train station, you can get straight to Nantes and Paris by rail. The A85 motorway is less than 10 minutes away. And you can reach the cities of Angers and Tours in less than an hour.
Description
A driveway runs through greenery and fields. The chateau emerges beyond a wood. It has a broad, water-filled moat and an entry bridge with a gate. The edifice is neo-Gothic in style. It has a grassy courtyard and various outhouses, including a gîte, a chapel, a dovecote and a stable. The property has a swimming pool too. The story of this chateau began in the 15th century. Wings and annexes were later added, as needed, over the course of the centuries. The building is made of tuffeau stone and is crowned with a slate roof. It has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. In its centre, there is a first section, the oldest part. The entrance’s wooden, arched double door stands in the middle of it. This entrance door is framed between two corner pilasters and it stands beneath a balcony of finely sculpted stone. On either side, there is a window beneath a stone arch and timber openwork tympanum. On the first floor, the windows are arched or capped with a triangular pediment. A thin frieze marks the boundary between the first floor and the gabled roof, which has an imposing, stone-mullioned dormer window with a triangular pediment. On both sides of this section, the elevations are punctuated with tall, rectangular windows. A broad frieze underlines a hipped roof with small timber dormers. Two round turrets rise up in symmetry either side of the entrance, giving the edifice a medieval appearance. The grounds extend beyond the chateau. They are made up of meadows and woods. The land is enclosed with trees of varying heights.
The chateau
The ground floor
Beyond the entrance door, you first discover a remarkable series of connecting lounges. These four rooms, three of which have a fireplace, are dual-aspect rooms and look out at the grounds and courtyard. They have French-style beamed ceilings with exposed beams and joists. Some of these beams and joists are finely painted. Wood-strip flooring extends across the rooms and the walls are adorned with dado panelling. The rooms are filled with natural light from pale stained-glass windows. The tuffeau-stone fireplaces are embellished with plain floral motifs. Between two of the lounges, and adjoined to the southern elevation, a tower houses a staircase that takes you upstairs. The stairwell’s atmosphere evokes a religious edifice, with walls of exposed tuffeau stonework and a ceiling that recalls a church’s chancel. The plain spiral staircase is made of dark wood and is adorned with a red stair runner. A passageway beside the tower links it to the largest lounge via a metal-and-glass section with rounded windows. The north wing houses a kitchen, a scullery and a pantry, as well as a second staircase that takes you to the upper floors. The kitchen lies beside one of the lounges. Its style is more modern, with dark units of furniture that contrast with the pale tone of the walls and of the floor’s mosaic-like tiling. Its ceiling with arches gives it a somewhat industrial feel. A wood-burning stove was recently fitted in this kitchen.
The first floor
You reach the first floor either via the tower or the north wing. This floor has five bedrooms, each of which has its own private shower room. The rooms face the courtyard, except for one that faces the grounds. They share some decor, including exposed ceiling beams and joists, red marble fireplaces in three of them, bed canopies, and wood-strip flooring. Each bedroom is unique, decorated in a floral tone with toile de Jouy wallpaper.
The second floor
You reach the second floor via the staircase in the tower. Up here, four bedrooms and two shower rooms share an unusual space with a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. These rooms have been converted masterfully.
The outbuildings
The outbuildings stand around a garden on one side of the entrance.
The chapel
The chapel lies near the gate. It is made of rubble stone and has a gabled slate roof with a timber belltower, which is capped with its own slate roof and crowned with a cross. The entrance’s wooden double door is sheltered beneath a timber porch, which also has a slate roof, in an allusion to the belltower. Inside, the liturgical furniture is still in place, beneath a vaulted roof embellished with foliage motifs.
The guesthouse
The guesthouse stands at the edge of the property. You reach it from the courtyard. It has been turned into a cosy gîte. This guesthouse is made of rubble stone and is crowned with a slate roof. It has a ground floor and a first floor. The doorways and windows are arched, in an allusion to the rounded lines of the swimming pool that lies in front of the building. The entrance door leads into a lounge with a fitted kitchen and a fireplace with an insert. With its two bedrooms and shower room, this gîte can host a family. The ceiling beams and joists have mostly remained exposed in this guesthouse. In the garden, beside the gîte, the outdoor swimming pool is heated.
The stable
The stable stands at a right angle to the gîte. Its loft has been renovated, with a bedroom and bathroom created. The minimalistic bedroom is bathed in natural light from roof windows that face the garden.
The grounds
The tree-dotted grounds cover over six hectares. You can leisurely stroll through this magnificent outdoor space with an enchanting scent of conifers. Horses can be kept on these grounds too.
Our opinion
Time stands still on this remarkable property. The majestic edifice of tuffeau stone is a gem set in a magnificent backdrop of greenery: vast, tree-dotted grounds. This haven is a world of elegance, just a stone’s throw from a village. It is a truly unique place. With its noble shape, the towering dwelling stands beside a cosy, welcoming gîte, as well as an authentic chapel and a renovated stable. The delightful property would be the perfect family home with open space and character, or a lucrative investment for a business venture. Whatever your plans for it, you will be pleased to carefully preserve this historical emblem of the beautiful region that surrounds the town of Saumur in France’s Loire Valley.
Reference 171862
| Land registry surface area | 6 ha 59 a 17 ca |
| Main building surface area | 550 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 11 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 154 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.
