Close to Vichy, in the heart of the historic Bourbonnais region,
the ruins of a 15th-century chateau, listed as a Historical Monument, and its outbuildings
the ruins of a 15th-century chateau, listed as a Historical Monument, and its outbuildings
Vichy,
ALLIER
auvergne
03200
FR
Location
In the middle of France and located in the former duchy of the Bourbonnais during the time of its construction, today the chateau is situated in the south of the Allier department, 10 kilometres from Vichy.
A land rich in history and heritage having given birth to a dynasty of French Kings, it is also at the crossroads of many routes and is easily accessible by either car or train.
Surrounded by absolute calm, a few pushes of the bicycle pedals are all that are needed to reach the village, its elementary school, bakery, corner shop and church.
In less than 5 kilometres in the opposite direction are larger businesses as well as a train station that is served by trains along the Paris-Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon-Nantes lines.
By car, the gates of Paris are 3.5 hours away, while Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Geneva are 1 hour and 45 minutes, 1 hour and 3 hours away, respectively.
Description
From the village’s church, edified as of the 12th century, the “chateau” road winds an irregular path for one kilometre between farmland. A roofless tower can be glimpsed between the few ancient oak trees that border the road, as well as a tall chimney, which a grove of trees does not succeed in hiding completely.
Further on, the estate’s former farm, still operational, guards the driveway bordered by oak and walnut trees, which leads to the property. The property is accessible between two former stables once connected with a gate.
All of the buildings – chateau, dwelling, dovecote, bread oven, barns and stables – combined with the moats and the luxuriant vegetation form a private and timeless oasis of calm.
Further on, the estate’s former farm, still operational, guards the driveway bordered by oak and walnut trees, which leads to the property. The property is accessible between two former stables once connected with a gate.
All of the buildings – chateau, dwelling, dovecote, bread oven, barns and stables – combined with the moats and the luxuriant vegetation form a private and timeless oasis of calm.
The Chateau
Built during the 15th century, it appears behind two immense lime trees that hide it from view. From the finely-crafted mullioned windows to the monumental Gothic fireplaces miraculously conserved, by way of the arrowslits and door lintels with immaculate sculptures, the “left-turning” stone staircase as well as the Gothic vestiges of the original entrance, all bear witness to a remarkable construction from the end of the Middle Ages.
Abandoned after the Revolution and sold as national property, the chateau was used as a granary and was, despite it all, considered to be one of the best-conserved examples of local architecture from that time until its partial collapse in the 20th century.
The dwelling with four cardinal sides is flanked on its southern façade by a staircase tower, which leads to the basement level, upstairs and what composed the attic space of the chateau before its collapse.
Built over a vaulted cellar, the main building has three floors, each one divided into two rooms decorated with a monumental ashlar stone fireplace, above which it is still possible to distinguish a few polychrome traces in ochre and yellow tones.
Two round corner towers frame the northern façade. An example of remarkable comfort during their period of construction, at each level, they possess latrines and a fireplace with a flue shutter in black “Volvic” volcanic stone.
Roofs and floors having today disappeared, taking with them a corner of the chateau, only the staircase tower is still covered.
The chateau is surrounded by moats, a part of which still contains water. The well located at its feet remains full throughout the year.
The Dwelling
Located in what once formed the stables of the largest of the barns on the estate, it is still topped with a strongly sloping roof typical of the 15th century covered in flat tiles characteristic of this region.
Composed over a single story of 110 m², it has a large living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and lavatory. Each room is open towards the outside via tall windows making it possible to benefit from an agreeable luminosity and a view of the garden or the surrounding fields.
Renovated in the 1990s, it has central gas heating, a wood stove, but could use some refreshing in order to unveil its full potential. New rooms could also be added under its remarkable oak rafters, entirely renovated a few years ago and maintained ever since.
An outhouse used as a garage, abuts its gable end.
The Outbuildings
The barn
Its construction also dating from the 15th century, this consists of one room of 210 m² with a beaten earth floor separated from the inhabitable section by a thick load-bearing wall. Behind a timber-framed and brick partition, there is a former fruit cellar that has been converted into a workshop. A covered woodshed abuts its entrance, which protrudes out from the façade.
Its small flat tile roof, although watertight, is showing significant signs of fatigue.
The dovecote
A contemporary of the chateau and round in shape, it has an octagonal interior and thick walls in whitewashed rubble stone pierced with windows framed in ashlar stone. It is topped with a pointed, completely restored roof, the oak timbers of which are crowned with a roof lantern.
An ancient and tall enclosure wall is located behind it as well as the foundations of a former carriage door gate and a pedestrian door.
The stable
Formed by two buildings framing the entrance to the property, they are each composed of a ground floor with hayracks and troughs and an upstairs in the attic space accessible via hayloft doors. Their roofs are covered in interlocking tiles.
Adjacent, is a large barn with a floor surface of 165 m², the wooden framework of which was probably renovated in the 20th century and, although watertight, could eventually need some restoration.
The bakehouse
Built more recently than all the other buildings, it was built on superficial foundations and did not succeed in conserving its roof. The brick oven, which abuts it, with its fireplace, is functional.
The Garden
Over 1.5 hectares, it forms a fertile, natural island surrounded by verdant fields. Water, omnipresent in this region, is directed via a network of ditches towards the moats as well as a pond. Trees and brambles, which were invasive, have been eradicated in order to protect the buildings and provide space for leisurely strolls.
A large variety of local trees – oaks, limes, walnuts, black locusts and mulberries, among others – blanket the ground in welcome shade during the summer months and are the home to a rich natural fauna.
An orchard and young trees are gradually taking root in the former farmland, which surrounds the buildings.
Our opinion
Completely private, hidden within a verdant island, a forgotten part of France’s heritage patiently awaits those who will know how to care for it and breathe new life back into it.
This human-size estate rich in history and filled with poetry will know how to reward the courage and commitment of the enthusiastic owners who will find a fertile field for their imagination and projects here.
Reference 240055
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 73 a 46 ca |
| Main building surface area | 110 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 2 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 1143 m2 |
Aucune procédure en cours menée sur le fondement des articles 29-1 A et 29-1 de la loi n°65-557 du 10 juillet 1965 et de l’article L.615-6 du CCH
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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.
