An outstanding 93-hectare estate in the Bresse region
of Burgundy, between Lyon, Dijon and Geneva
of Burgundy, between Lyon, Dijon and Geneva
Tournus,
SAONE-ET-LOIRE
burgundy
71700
FR
Location
The property is easily accessed via the A6 and A39 motorways, connecting to Geneva, Dijon and Lyon in 1h30. The Mâcon-Lôché and Bourg-en-Bresse TGV high-speed train stations are 40 minutes away. A wide range of day-to-day shops and services can be reached in just 15 minutes.
Between the foothills of the Jura mountains to the east and the banks of the Saône to the west, Burgundy's Bresse region features a plain traversed by streams and ponds, dotted with scattered rural dwellings built of brick, wood or sometimes white stone.
Description
The secluded estate lies in an undisturbed setting and is accessed via two 800 m long driveways through the woods. The manor house, built at the beginning of the last century, stands at the centre of its grounds, overlooking the plain and the river running alongside the property. To the rear of the residence, there are equestrian outbuildings and, further south, a complex of rural Bresse buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The single plot of land stretching over 93 hectares is made up of tenanted meadows and woodland.
The manor house
The ancestors of the current owners built the residence between 1898 and 1903 on an undeveloped site overlooking a vast natural landscape. A country villa with wide openings and floral interiors, it is imbued with a certain carefree spirit, reflecting the Belle Epoque period of relative social and political stability combined with a national economic boom. It has three storeys plus basement and attic, and features brick corner quoins and stone stem walls.
The ground floor
Accessed via a service entrance on the courtyard side and a wide perron with a view, this level contains the reception rooms. A full-width entrance hall floored with cabochon tiles is adorned with frescoes painted by the owners, depicting equestrian and hunting life on the estate. At the back, a stone staircase provides access to the main floor. There is a wainscoted billiards room featuring stunning painted jute canvases with scenes from Cervantes' novel Don Quixote. A small drawing room with herringbone parquet flooring, opening onto an ornamental greenhouse, is entirely covered in wood panelling and has coffered ceilings and a carved stone fireplace. A small dining room, with cabochon floor tiles, is also entirely panelled. Continuing through, in the north wing, there is a vast reception room with interesting decorative Art Nouveau elements. The flooring is of inlaid parquet, the walls with wainscoting feature paintings of sunflowers and country friezes, and the coffered ceiling has sculpted beams. The centrepiece of the room is an impressive stone fireplace with curved lines and floral motifs. Adorned with the coats of arms of the patrons, it has two stone seats on either side. Next follows a large dining room with cabochon tile flooring and a coffered ceiling. Here, the floral decor has a more exotic feel, with stained glass windows depicting parrots and a frieze of pineapples surrounding the wooden fireplace. The former library has been converted into a kitchen which links to the two dining rooms, with a service staircase nearby.
The first floor
Two landings serve the main staircase and the service stairs. There are six bedrooms, three bathrooms and a separate lavatory on this floor. Most of the rooms have herringbone parquet flooring, wood panelling and marble fireplaces. Some have coffered ceilings, and one boasts striking Art-Nouveau woodwork.
The second floor
Accessed by an oak staircase, it comprises five bedrooms, a bathroom, a former linen room with access to the attic and plenty of storage space. The ceilings are lower than on the previous floors, but the materials used are still of the highest quality: herringbone parquet flooring, wrought-iron espagnolette locks and marble fireplaces.
The basement
Various technical rooms, the boiler room and the site of the original kitchen can be found in the basement stretching out underneath the entire floor area of the building.
The outbuildings
Spread across the estate, they were an integral part of its social and economic life.
The stable
Located in the immediate vicinity of the manor house, they were built at the same time as the dwelling. At the beginning of the 20th century, horse-riding played an important role in the life of the estate. There are a vast indoor riding arena, a shelter for horse-drawn carriages and cars and a stable with seven stalls.
The caretaker’s house
Situated in the same building as the stables, facing south-east and therefore independent of and not overlooked by the main house, this structure was converted in the 1980s to provide accommodation for a caretaker. Currently unoccupied, it comprises three bedrooms, a kitchen, a sitting room and a bathroom, totalling a floor area of roughly 140 m².
The gardener's house
Set away from the other buildings at the eastern end of the estate, it comprises a living room, sitting room, bedroom and bathroom, with access to a terrace and various sheds. This house offers around 55 m² of living space and is currently rented out.
The former rural farm
Built between the 17th and 19th centuries, this is one of the oldest structures on the estate, with a dwelling and two farm outbuildings set at right angles to each other, forming a ‘U’ shape. The beautiful view from here is unobstructed. The buildings reflect the local Bresse architecture, with traditional materials such as rammed earth, timber-framed walls filled with bricks and monk-and-nun tiles. The house boasts a large ‘Sarrasine’ fireplace with a chimney stack in the form of a small bell tower, which is listed as a Historic Monument. Though these buildings have retained their authenticity, major structural and finishing work will be needed to restore them to their usefulness in the long term. The buildings are unoccupied.
The chapel
In the 18th century, the stone chapel with a gambrel roof clad in flat tiles was erected in the honour of Saint-Denis not far from the farmstead. Close by, a building known as ‘la cure’ has recently undergone structural improvements.
The estate
This comprises 93 hectares in a single lot, evenly spread around the buildings. A hunting lease covers all the meadows and woods.
The grounds
The parkland around the manor house and the farmstead covers almost 6 hectares. Comprising extensive lawned areas and mature trees (beech, chestnut, oak, etc.) it offers beautiful far-reaching views.
The farmlands
The meadows of around 60 hectares are located mainly to the west of the estate, bordered and irrigated by the river. They are currently cultivated by local tenant farmers under the terms of two rural leases.
The mixed grove
The woodland extends over an area of almost 25 hectares, mainly to the west of the estate, and has recently been the subject of a forestry survey and a simple management plan. Of high forestry value, it consists mainly of oak trees, crossed by bridleways.
Our opinion
The long paths across the woods and the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind seem to carry the visitor through time. Far from the hustle and bustle of the world, yet so close to the big cities, this is where time stood still a hundred years ago, during the carefree days of the Belle Epoque. The rural estate is remarkably well-preserved, harmonious and comprehensive, suggesting a self-sufficient lifestyle. The architectural style of the main building is unusual for Burgundy, its relative simplicity contrasting with the exceptional interior decor of the Art Nouveau-inspired reception rooms. The rural Bresse farmstead, which is perfectly authentic and partly listed as a Historic Monument, lies sufficiently far away to give free rein to an independent activity. In addition, the landed property will ensure that future inhabitants enjoy peace and quiet and a high quality of life for decades to come, while at the same time generating substantial rental income. It will undoubtedly prove an exciting adventure and a long-term investment opportunity to take an interest in such a rural estate and bring it back to life in the spirit of yesteryear.
Reference 487790
| Land registry surface area | 93 ha 81 a 47 ca |
| Main building surface area | 670 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 12 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 1500 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 195 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.
