Location
This property stands in undulating landscape on the edges of the Touraine and Sologne sectors, near to Loches forest. Several hamlets of houses with flat tiled roofs, typical of the region, are dotted around the surrounding countryside. Loches and its famous market are only 15 minutes away and Amboise is within 30 minutes’ reach, from where direct trains can be taken to the French capital, which is also 3 hours away by road. Some famous Loire Valley châteaux can be found nearby: Chenonceaux, Saint-Aignan, Montpoupon and also Montrésor. The region is renowned for its culinary specialities and wines.
Description
The edifice is flanked on one side by a small house and on the other by a perpendicular wing of outbuildings with a lower height. A barn, at a right angle to the outbuildings, as well as a former pigsty and the surrounding wall enclose the courtyard, which is organised around a well and can be reached through a large gate. The rear facade of the residence is flanked at each end by square towers, while powerful buttresses frame the door in the centre. All the buildings boast facades made of exposed stonework and roofs made of flat tiles.
The main residence and small adjoining house
The ground floor
The everyday entrance is via the small house, into a hall, fitted with cupboards for coats, which leads on one side to a large kitchen, recently renovated in a modern style, with white lacquered fittings. Two windows face south over the courtyard and towards the grounds to the rear. On the other side, the hall leads to a dining room, which rather remarkably boasts a bread oven in the fireplace. This room also connects with the main residence. The lounge which follows, with a working monumental fireplace, opens onto the courtyard to the south through French windows and another window, while there is an office in the northwest tower. Next, there is a passage that is the guests’ entrance, providing access to the staircase tower and the courtyard. The entrance door to the tower is adorned by small columns with capitals, topped by a pointed arch beneath a carved coat of arms. This space also includes a guests’ lavatory and a large cloakroom also used as a utility room. The partitions in the cloakroom are half-timbered and filled in with small bricks. Lastly, the passage leads to a study, which also boasts an imposing, period stone fireplace that dominates the room. In addition to the south-facing windows, the room also possesses a door opening to the north into the grounds. Lastly, the final room on this level is a vast bedroom that forms a suite with the bathroom in the northeast tower. A door connects to the hall in the wing of outbuildings. In the square tower in the centre of the facade, the stone steps of the spiral staircase climb up to the first floor. The flight of steps leading to the top floor is made of wood.
The first floor
On this level, the floors are all paved with terracotta tiles, the walls are rendered and there are exposed beams on the ceilings. The stone staircase climbs to a landing with access to a bathroom. On one side, above the lounge, there is a large bedroom boasting a fireplace with a flat hood, plus a mullioned window overlooking the courtyard. At the back of the room, a walk-in wardrobe has been installed in the northwest tower. On the other side of the landing, above the study, another large bedroom is also dominated by a monumental fireplace. The mullioned windows overlook both the courtyard and the grounds. Lastly, above the bedroom on the ground floor, a vast children’s bedroom stands adjacent to a bathroom installed in the northeast tower. A door leads out onto a small roof terrace connected to the outbuildings wing. The entire top floor of the residence is occupied by a loft, in which the roof frame is exposed.
The wing of outbuildings
This exposed stone edifice was built perpendicularly to the main residence and is topped with a roof of flat tiles. Inside, there are two storeys. On the ground floor, there are two former arched carriage gates that have been glazed.
The ground floor
In the corner connecting to the main residence, a door opens into a vestibule with a wide, wooden, three-flight staircase with terracotta tiled steps. In the following vast space, which was probably old stores, there is a dining room with reconstituted stone slab flooring. The room opens directly onto the decking around the swimming pool, via two glazed stone arcades with double leaf-openings. Next to it, stables with four box stalls open onto the courtyard through two, double-leaf, wooden doors.
The upstairs
This level has sloped ceilings and several interior partitions made up of half-timbering and brick. From the landing, a door opens onto the small roof terrace connected to the main residence. A hallway then a wide corridor leads to four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The bedrooms are paved with terracotta tiles and display a more sober spirit than the ones in the main residence. The rooms are fitted with oakwood doors and some include custom-made cupboards, also made of oakwood. The bedrooms’ windows, fitted with lead-lined stained-glass windows like in the main residence, are situated low down on the walls and overlook the grounds, facing towards the rising sun.
The barn
Next to the wing of outbuildings, it can be reached via a large double-leaf door in the southwest corner of the courtyard. Another opening provides access to the grounds. The barn’s flooring is made of a rammed earth. The roof’s frame and flat tiles are in need of restoration.
The grounds
There is a considerable amount of open space around the buildings, with a former orchard and pastureland. Several tall trees around the edges of the grounds, particularly firs, enclose the property. The current drive, lined by tall white cedars, leads up to the entrance porch, while a small pond is tucked away to one side of the drive. There is also a former drive leading into the property to the north, lined by small mounds planted with hornbeams. The countryside and forest stretch out beyond it.
Our opinion
This historical estate of manageable scale can be found between the Touraine and Sologne sectors, between meadows and forests. Although it is tucked away in the countryside, the property is not far from all essential everyday shops, which can be reached by bicycle in the next-door village. This fortified manor house, flanked by medieval towers, boasts a remarkable appearance and has been carefully renovated, meaning it is habitable without delay. The layout of the residence, with two independent wings, could be conducive to setting up a bed and breakfast business. The property and its outbuildings are awaiting a new family to write a new chapter in its long history.
Reference 777783
| Land registry surface area | 3 ha 48 a 78 ca |
| Main building floor area | 600 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 350 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
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.