A neoclassical chateau with an 18th-century chapel
in 23 hectares of grounds near the city of Amiens
in 23 hectares of grounds near the city of Amiens
Amiens,
SOMME
picardy
80000
FR
Location
The property lies in the middle of Picardy’s countryside, slightly up from a village of around 300 inhabitants. The city of Amiens is only a 15-minute drive away. There you can find shops and amenities for everyday needs. Paris is 1 hour and 50 minutes away by car, London is 4 hours away via Calais, and Brussels is 2 hours and 30 minutes away. The spectacular River Somme bay is a one-hour drive from the property. You can also get to the French capital by rail in 1 hour and 10 minutes from Amiens train station.
Description
There is a long driveway set back from a small secondary road. It is lined with age-old linden trees and it leads to a main court that lies in front of the chateau. A central lawn surrounded by a circular driveway extends at the foot of the facade. To the right, there are outhouses – tokens of a farm complex fallen into disuse. Behind the majestic edifice, the grounds extend well beyond the grassy expanse that surrounds the chateau and the chapel. There are woods on both sides of this vast grassy area. The chateau was built in 1836. A prominent architect designed it in a neoclassical style. Construction of the edifice was ordered by a family of Nobles of the Robe – French aristocrats whose rank came from holding certain judicial or administrative posts. This family was well rooted in the local region as they already owned the previous chateau here and a town house in Amiens. The estate enjoyed a dazzling existence throughout the 19th century, but then underwent the trials and tribulations of the 20th century. Indeed, the chateau housed Allied officers during the First World War. And in August 1918, King George V of the United Kingdom and US General John J. Pershing visited the chateau. During the Second World War, the chateau was occupied again, but this time by German soldiers, who accidently set fire to it in the winter of 1940. When France was liberated at the end of the war, the chateau’s owners were able to get back their estate. Yet they had to order restoration of the facade and in 1950 they made the chateau look exactly as it did before – with the notable exception of the large triangular pediment that it used to have and that was never rebuilt. A hipped slate roof crowns the chateau. This roof slopes down to gutters that are hidden behind a cornice. The edifice is rectangular. Its facade, made entirely of dressed stone, displays perfect symmetry with evenly spaced windows fitted with louvred shutters that are painted white.
The chateau
What first strikes you is the majesty of this chateau’s perfect symmetry and the subtle decoration underlining its ideal proportions. Its antiquity-inspired architecture is remarkable. Next, your attention is drawn to the edifice’s many evenly spaced windows that herald a bright interior, especially given that the facade faces south. Only the base course, made of solid blocks of local stone, is the common theme from one elevation to another. The facade is made entirely of dressed stone, but the other elevations are made of brick. Yet the stringcourses, quoins, cornices and window surrounds of these brick elevations are made of stone. A semibasement punctuated with basement windows extends beneath the edifice. A front flight of steps in the middle of the facade highlights the glazed entrance, set in a doorway with a keystone, which all the window surrounds have too. The whole design is elegantly understated and divided into seven bays, three of which are in the avant-corps.
The ground floor
The entrance hallway reveals a surprising 1950s decor – a result of the fire caused by the German army. Yet this 1950s decor goes well with the chateau’s neoclassical style. The plainness of the 1950s lines evokes the chateau’s original return to antiquity. Black and white tiles in a checked pattern adorn the floor, setting the tone for the interior. The main staircase is made of oak. It evokes the former staircase with a starting post and a balustrade revisited. The balustrade recalls 19th-cenutry curves, yet in a style that is pared down and geometric. A fireplace with a mantel of brickwork is framed between two in-built bookshelves that form wooden wall panelling. The inside doors repeat the staircase’s motif of geometric curves. A small bookshelf beneath the staircase and a wooden cornice add subtlety and delicacy to the hall’s delightful decor. A large door leads to a dual-aspect lounge bathed in natural light from its south and west windows. A window above a curved brick fireplace with a timber mantelpiece offers views of sunsets. Wood strip flooring and high ceilings remind you of this fine property’s noble origins. In line with the lounge, through a broad opening, there is a dining room that offers the same discreet, elegant ambience. And from this pleasant dining room, a corridor leads to a kitchen, a linen room and a hallway that takes you to the back of the house. An office (which could be turned into a bedroom) and a bedroom with a shower room complete this ground floor.
The upstairs
At the top of the staircase, a central corridor connects to seven bedrooms. All these bedrooms have wood strip flooring. Some of them have a fireplace and an en-suite shower room. All of them offer delightful views of the grounds – either down the long tree-lined driveway or, on the other side, across the grassy expanse where the chapel stands. A flight of backstairs leads down to the ground floor and basement.
The attic
In the loft, there is a vast space with a floor area of around 180m². This attic space could be converted.
The basement
The basement extends beneath the entire chateau. Down here, beneath brick vaults, there is a former kitchen, a pantry and the chateau’s wine cellar.
The chapel
The chapel stands just north of the chateau. It is made of limestone with a sandstone base course. A slate roof crowns it. A belltower spire rises up from one corner of this small building. Inside, black and white stone slabs laid in a checked pattern adorn the floor. An altar and a Louis XV style altarpiece embellish the back end of the chapel. The interior recalls a Greco-Roman temple. Its style is clearly baroque with urns, trompe-l’œil marble pilasters and cherubs in a cloud. The crucifixion of Christ, made of wood painted white, stands out from a lattice pattern, also made of wood painted white, with gilded highlights.
The outhouses
To the south-east of the chateau, there is a former farm complex. It includes a dwelling and annexes made of brick that are used as storehouses and looseboxes. The whole complex is in a poor state and needs to be restored.
The grounds
The grounds begin with a long driveway lined with age-old linden trees. At the end of this tree-lined driveway stands the chateau. The majestic edifice has towered there for two centuries. Beyond the chateau, there is a grassy expanse surrounded by tall trees. Meadows and cultivated farmland, free of tenant farming, make up the rest of the grounds. The grounds form an unbroken area. They are enclosed and include hedges.
Our opinion
This remarkable property blends harmoniously into its bucolic backdrop. The chateau is a rare gem set in the green countryside that extends around Amiens. Only one family has ever owned this chateau, which is a token of aristocratic country life. Yet its 19th-century neoclassical architecture and its 1950s interior decor bear witness to its interesting story and offer an original touch that a future owner could doubtless make use of. This fine dwelling is ready to be lived in straight away. And it opens up possibilities for development: spaces could be converted into holiday guestrooms. In any case, this elegant edifice, nestled at the end of its long tree-lined driveway in lush grounds, is the promise of a pleasant lifestyle in a magnificent country chateau – just 15 minutes from the charming city of Amiens and 1 hour and 50 minutes from Paris.
Reference 942323
| Land registry surface area | 23 ha |
| Main building surface area | 370 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 9 |
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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.
