A 18th-century chateau, 9 hectares of walled grounds
and vineyards to be replanted near Chablis in Burgundy
and vineyards to be replanted near Chablis in Burgundy
Tonnerre,
YONNE
burgundy
89700
FR
Location
In the department of Yonne, in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, 7 km north-west of Tonnerre and 15 km from the famous Chablis vineyards, the property is 30 km from the Auxerre-sud interchange, linking Paris and Lyon via the A6 motorway. It is 40 km from the Troyes interchange, which links to the A5 to Melun and the Langres plateau. Tonnerre SNCF station is the first station on the Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée line and trains from here take around 1 hour 45 minutes to the capital.
At the end of a village overlooking the Armançon valley, the chateau's only neighbour is the early 19th-century church. The village, which the river Armancon flows through, is close to the Morvan Regional Nature Park.
Description
Entirely enclosed by a well-maintained surrounding wall, the property consists of a chateau built in 1746, which was remodelled in 1890, a 19th century house, a farm and its outbuildings. The facades are made of exposed or rendered stone, the roofs have two or four slopes of flat tiles and the windows are straight or have a low arch.
The eastern entrance to the property, which is opposite the church, leads to the chateau and the adjacent farm via a paved driveway. To the west there is a second more imposing entrance through a wrought iron gate that opens onto a long avenue of lime trees, at the end of which lie the gardens. Close to the rear facade, they separate the building from the grounds, which are hillside meadows. Perfectly suited to viticulture, these south-east-facing hillsides have been recognised by professional wine bodies, who have granted them planting rights for 4.5 hectares under the "Tonnerre" appellation for the Chardonnay grape variety and the "Bourgogne Rouge" appellation for the Pinot Noir grape variety.
In the summer, horses are kept in the meadows, which are have a shelter and fencing. In the winter, spacious boxes in the farm's stable protect the horses from the cold.
The eastern entrance to the property, which is opposite the church, leads to the chateau and the adjacent farm via a paved driveway. To the west there is a second more imposing entrance through a wrought iron gate that opens onto a long avenue of lime trees, at the end of which lie the gardens. Close to the rear facade, they separate the building from the grounds, which are hillside meadows. Perfectly suited to viticulture, these south-east-facing hillsides have been recognised by professional wine bodies, who have granted them planting rights for 4.5 hectares under the "Tonnerre" appellation for the Chardonnay grape variety and the "Bourgogne Rouge" appellation for the Pinot Noir grape variety.
In the summer, horses are kept in the meadows, which are have a shelter and fencing. In the winter, spacious boxes in the farm's stable protect the horses from the cold.
The chateau
Built in 1746, the three-storey building is illuminated by mostly arched windows and has a flat-tiled hip roof with symmetrical dormer windows over each elevation. The chateau was remodelled at the end of the 19th century with added features on the facade facing the street: one- or two-storey oriel windows topped with balconies and round, freestanding stair towers at either end. These additions meant that a corridor could be created leading to the rooms on both the ground and first floors. This meant that the adjoining rooms, which were typical of the 18th century, were supplemented by a corridor, which represented modern comfort at the time. At the same time, two service staircases and a central grand staircase were added to the building. Lastly, the rear facade of the chateau, which opens onto the gardens and grounds, has kept its original appearance, with quoins, entablature, cornices and regular windows in perfect symmetry with sober moulded surrounds, white-painted shutters and glazed fanlights.
The ground floor
It is built around the central grand staircase and the main entrance hall, which is paved with Burgundy stone. To the left there is a dining room with a fireplace and hexagonal floor tiles. A large kitchen with a tiled floor follows on, which a small pantry is adjoined to. A service entrance leads to the kitchen. It also provides access to the cellars. To the right, the main entrance hall leads to a lounge with a fireplace and laddered parquet flooring. Following on from this there is a study with a paved floor and a fireplace. There is a small office annex in the tower. All of the ground floor rooms are through-rooms.
The first floor
There are eight bedrooms, a bathroom and two shower rooms on either side of the staircase, which has a finely-patterned wrought-iron balustrade. The rooms, with their hexagonal tiled floors, can be accessed through each room in the row or via the corridor connecting them.
The house
Built in 1890, it adjoins the farm buildings and stands at the end of the avenue of lime trees. With three storeys excluding the cellar, it is covered with a hipped, small flat Burgundy tiled roof, with just one dormer window on the gable facing the chateau.
A lower building was added to it, probably in the 20th century. Its flat roof is used as a terrace for the house. The building can be used as a home for the caretaker or gardener, or as a gite.
The ground floor
Recently refurbished as offices for professional use, it has four rooms and a separate toilet.
The road floor
It has a three-room flat with a bathroom.
The farm
The building comprises of a main building with two attached barns, stables with six frost-proof stalls and automatic drinking troughs, a kennel, a dovecote, a workshop and outbuildings. The property is separated from the grounds by a walled and gated courtyard with a wrought iron gate. The equipment needed to maintain the grounds - including a tractor and a lawnmower - is kept here.
If the vineyard were to be replanted, the vast barns could be converted into a winery and cellar.
The meadows
Set on hillsides and entirely bordered by the property's outer wall, they ensure the site is kept in peace and quiet. Facing south and south-east, they are now occupied by the current occupants’ horses.
Part of these meadows is recognised as building land by the RNU and the PLU (urban and rural planning regulations). This potential certainly adds value to the site.
The vineyard
Formerly exploited before the phylloxera crisis and labelled "Clos du Château", the vines now have to be completely replanted. They take up an area of around 4.5 hectares within the existing fields.
Under current regulations, the most exposed area has been recognised as eligible for classification as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Depending on the grape variety, whether Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, the wines produced will be called "Tonnerre" or "Bourgogne Rouge".
Our opinion
A property set on sun-drenched hillsides that are eagerly awaiting new vine stocks to start producing delicious wine. Set in the Armançon valley in Burgundy, not far from the small town of Tonnerre, this property with its architecture and style influenced by different eras is sure to please future owners looking for peace and quiet in a setting surrounded by nature. The adjoining farmhouse and outbuildings can be brought back to life and the grape harvest could bring the area to life every autumn. The 18th-century building is a masterpiece of harmony, protected by the green blanket formed by the avenue of lime trees and the walled grounds. Once renovated, the new occupants can enjoy the combination of winegrowing and chateau life, just 2.5 hours from Paris and 1 hour from the Morvan nature park.
880 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 199348
| Land registry surface area | 9 ha 6 a 8 ca |
| Main building surface area | 412.87 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 8 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 298.6 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.
