A former 15th century canon’s house and its French formal garden
at the foot of Autun cathedral
at the foot of Autun cathedral
Autun,
SAONE-ET-LOIRE
burgundy
71400
FR
Location
In Burgundy, the town of Autun is renowned for its rich historical heritage and lush surroundings, at the gateway to the Morvan Regional Nature Park. The perimeter wall is evidence of the Gallo-Roman origin of the city, "Augustodunum” was founded by the emperor Augustus. In the upper town, the cathedral and its religious quarter bear witness to its medieval history. The bishop's residence, the military high school and many private mansions were built in the 18th century. Autun is also highly attractive from an economic and tourist point of view, as well as offering excellent primary and secondary schools.
It takes 3 hours to drive to Paris and 2 hours to Lyon. The Le Creusot-Montchanin TGV station, only 30 minutes away by car or shuttle, connects to the capital in 1 hour 20 minutes and to Lyon in 45 minutes.
Description
The property is situated at the foot of the cathedral in the heart of the historic district of Autun, the upper town. A former canon's residence, built on thousand-year-old foundations, it seems to date mainly from the 15th century, with numerous subsequent alterations linked to the development of the town. Today, it is accessed via an archway in a discreet cul-de-sac, which opens onto a courtyard leading to the house.
The house
The front-gabled house faces south. It is topped by a tall, two-pitched roof structure with flat tiles. An elegant dressed stone staircase provides access to a large terrace and the upper floor, which is dedicated to the living area.
The upstairs
The entrance leads to a reception room illuminated by a mullioned window adorned with stained glass panes. It features terracotta tile flooring, a beamed ceiling and a stone fireplace. To the rear, there is a fitted kitchen and a laundry room. Continuing along the south facade, the dining room has straight strip parquet flooring, wainscoting and moulded recesses. Next follows the large drawing room. Illuminated by two large windows with internal shutters, it has herringbone parquet flooring, wainscoting and an impressive grey marble fireplace.
A corbelled passage leads to an independent study with herringbone parquet flooring. To the rear of the reception rooms, on the northern side, a vast corridor illuminated by a skylight leads to two bedrooms with alcoves, cornices and moulded woodwork, a marble fireplace and a direct view of the apse of the cathedral. The passageway also serves a bathroom, a lavatory and a storage room.
The attic
A wooden staircase provides access from the living area to the attic floor. This leads to a vast volume crowned by an imposing and striking roof frame in the form of an inverted ship's hull. This is believed to date from 1470.
The outbuildings
They are mainly located under the dwelling and above the entrance archway.
The entrance porch
Independently accessed from the terrace, a pleasant 19th century boudoir is located above the entrance archway. It is illuminated by two windows with arched lintels and enhanced by herringbone parquet flooring and a marble fireplace. A bathroom has been fitted out and the necessary ducts are in place to install a kitchenette. This space could be used as a guest house or as an independent office for a professional practise.
The barn
Under the dwelling, a vast barn that could be turned into a garage used to house the former kitchens in medieval times. There are remains of a fireplace and a sink stone. The barn leads off to a small courtyard, a wine cellar and a very old deep vaulted cellar.
The garage
Accessed from the courtyard, there is what was originally a vast volume, supported by Romanesque columns and capitals, whose original use is unclear. Over the centuries, it has been divided vertically and horizontally into three sections and was used as a stable in the 19th century.
The garden
The grounds are ideally proportioned, given their location in the heart of the historic centre. From the archway, a paved and gravel courtyard provides parking and easy access to the buildings. On a raised terrace, supported by a stone wall and reached via a few steps, a formal French garden is laid out in four flowerbeds. A hedge of hornbeam, various shrubs and climbing plants provides a green screen along the neighbouring houses.
Our opinion
In the town centre, yet in a quiet country setting, with tolling of the bells of the unchanging cathedral in the background, the location is ideal and imbued with an atmosphere of which only the old French “provinces” have the secret. The impression of living through the centuries is very real in this property. From the 10th century cellars to the 15th century roof structure via the 19th century drawing room, everything here reminds the next occupants that they will only be passing through, which will not prevent them from leaving their mark and shaping our century. Moreover, the garden, softening the roughness of the stones, is in itself conducive to a restful escape opposite the cathedral spire which soars into the sky.
520 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 664512
| Land registry surface area | 680 m2 |
| Number of rooms | 9 |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Possible number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Number of lots | 2 |
| Annual average amount of the proportionate share of expenses | 1 € |
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.
