An elegant, listed, 17th century chateau awaiting restoration, with a chapel
and outbuildings in almost 8 ha of parklands, in the Loire-Atlantique department
Ancenis, LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE pays-de-loire 44150 FR

Location

Some 50 km from Nantes and Angers and 15 km from a train station with 2½-hour links to Paris. The banks of the river Loire, an ideal starting point from which to explore the surrounding area, as well as those of the river Erdre, which François 1st deemed France’s “most beautiful river”, are just 15 minutes away. Essential shops and amenities are less than 10 minutes away in two equidistant towns.

Description

The east facade of this chateau comes into view at the end of a road, 1½ km long, bordered by lakes and woods.
The end of this road splits into two driveways that lead to the chateau. One runs alongside a former caretaker’s dwelling, followed by the stables, a vegetable garden and a chapel, whilst the other borders the outbuildings.
Parklands, a lake, meadows and several wooded plots extend around the chateau.

The chateau

This chateau is composed of a main building, flanked by two slightly protruding pavilions. Constructed from rendered shale quarry blocks, with raised, exposed freestone quoins, lintel-to-sill spans and surrounds framing the openings, the main dwelling has three levels, one of which is in the roof space. The gable and hip roofs are covered with slate. Each of the elevations features nine bays, all topped with roof dormers, their broken pediments crowned with decoration. The main facade is adorned with a wide triangular pediment, bearing the family’s coat-of-arms and set above the central bay. The ground floor of the central building comprises a succession of reception rooms that do not run the full depth of the building. The pavilions house the staff kitchen and dining room. The two upper floors could be converted into some fifteen bedrooms.
The chateau spans a floor surface area of approx. 1,000 m².
Its elevations, roofs and chapel have had French Historic Monument listing since 1982.


The ground floor
The main entrance, set in the main facade, is reached via a flight of granite steps. The double French windows are flanked by two freestone pilasters, topped with a triangular pediment, featuring a mascaron surrounded by acanthus leaf motifs.
A vast entrance hall provides access, on one side, to a lounge and, on the other, to a dining room. Cement floor tiles, a French ceiling, freestone surrounds framing the windows and indoor oak wood shutters.
Double doors open into a large lounge, with herringbone pattern parquet flooring and a monumental, sculpted granite fireplace, enhanced with birds with human heads and knots of flowers. A French ceiling, 17th-century-style wall panelling added in the 20th century and indoor shutters. An opening leads to a vestibule, housing a half-pace, oak wood stairway, with turned balusters and an intermediary landing, which goes to the chateau’s two upper floors. Said vestibule provides access to a room, with a freestone fireplace and large slate floor tiles, a kitchen and a bathroom. These three rooms are housed in the south pavilion.
On the other side of the entrance hall, double doors open into a dining room, the walls of which are lined with floor-to-ceiling panelling under a coffered ceiling. Its monumental dressed stone fireplace has a chimney breast going up to the ceiling and featuring a crowned coat-of-arms, flanked by two pilasters.
A door opens into the vestibule in the north pavilion, with cement floor tiles depicting geometric patterns. A single-flight, quarter-turning stairway only goes up to the first floor. The vestibule provides access to an old kitchen, with terracotta floor tiles, a small room, a toilet, a pantry as well as the stairway that goes down to the cellars, composed of three small, perfectly sound rooms.

The first floor
The landing provides access, on one side, to two bedrooms, a bathroom and a toilet. Both bedrooms have chevron-pattern parquet flooring and a marble fireplace. These rooms are housed in a pavilion. A door, on the other side of the landing, opens into a large through room in use as a library. There are terracotta floor tiles throughout this level. A corridor leads from this room to three bedrooms, all featuring a marble fireplace. The ceilings are enhanced with moulding, that of the central bedroom with exposed beams and joists. At the end of the corridor, a door opens on to the landing of the second stairway which provides access to two bedrooms, with parquet flooring and a dressing room. These rooms are housed in the other pavilion.
The second floor
This floor can be reached via the half-pace stairway as well as by two back stairways, housed in each of the pavilions. With sloping ceilings, this level is illuminated via Jacobin-style roof dormers. One pavilion is composed of a single room with a vaulted ceiling. A corridor in the central building leads to three bedrooms, followed by a large, vaulted room. Two bedrooms are housed in the other pavilion. This level has terracotta floor tiles throughout. Each bedroom has a fireplace.

The chapel

This chapel, dating from the 17th century, stands in the parklands on the side of a lake. It is constructed from rendered, shale quarry blocks. The windows are framed with freestone surrounds and the floors paved with terracotta tiles. It is topped with a slate roof, supported by a roofing framework in the form of an inverted ship’s hull. The altar made of carved wood, the ironwork communion table and the stained-glass windows are all originals.

The outbuildings


The stable
Topped with a slate roof, this old two-storey building of approx. 350 m² includes the stables as well as independent accommodations with three rooms. The building, constructed from quarry stone blocks, is enhanced with brick and freestone quoins and window surrounds. The roof, partially removed, has allowed nature to return in abundance within the building's enclosure and the entire building needs to be rebuilt and restored.
Built by one of the previous owners following a stay in Argentina, the stables display a few characteristics typical of Latin American architecture: arcades and an outside gallery clad with wood.

The caretaker’s house
Standing in the parklands alongside one of the two driveways leading to the chateau, this house is built of quarry stone blocks. It is composed of three rooms, spanning a total surface area of approx. 50 m². It awaits full restoration works.
The outhouse
Once housing a hayloft, a bread oven and storage areas, the outbuildings span a single level, built from granite quarry blocks and topped with a steep slate roof.

The parklands


The grounds
Composed of woods, meadows and lakes, the parklands extend over a little more than seven hectares. They are notably planted with oak and cedar trees, hundreds of years old.
The kitchen garden
The vegetable garden, spanning a surface area of approx. 5,000 m², is partially surrounded by walls on three sides and comprises two little corner pavilions.

Our opinion

The elegance of this chateau, in its peaceful setting disturbed but by birdsong, can but appeal to potential buyers. It is a fact that by perfectly respecting the rules of symmetry without giving in to the temptation of ornamentation, the architects showed sober good taste.
Made for both living and receiving, this house bears witness to an era when the established order was obvious. Visitors understand straightaway that they will find everything on this estate in its rightful place.
Restoration works, supported through tax benefits linked to its listing as a French Historic Monument, will make it possible to give this chateau back its splendour of yesteryear and to prepare it serenely for the future.

Exclusive sale

725 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense


See the fee rates

Reference 754641

Land registry surface area 7 ha 94 a 8 ca
Main building surface area 900 m2
Number of bedrooms 14
Outbuilding surface area 500 m2

Consultant

Bruno Tavernier +33 1 42 84 80 85

contact

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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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