A 15th-century seigneurial barn, 55 kilometres south of Paris
and 10 kilometres north of the town of Fontainebleau
and 10 kilometres north of the town of Fontainebleau
Chailly-en-Bière,
SEINE-ET-MARNE
ile-de-france
77930
FR
Location
The village of Chailly-en-Bière lies in the west of France’s Seine-et-Marne department, on the plain immortalised by the famous painting L'Angélus by the pre-Impressionist painter Jean-François Millet. Chailly-en-Bière is dotted with elegant dwellings. Its development is intimately tied to its closeness to the village of Barbizon, known for the Barbizon School art movement. The majority of its inhabitants originally made a living from working in the fields and rearing livestock. This rural tradition continued even when the industrialisation of the 19th century had got underway. Today, Chailly-en-Bière has kept its agricultural and architectural heritage. Its old farm Ferme de la Fromagerie, its distillery and its surrounding landscape, captured by the painters of the Barbizon School, are perfect examples of this heritage. The village offers shops and amenities, including a bakery, a grocery, a greengrocery, a hair salon, restaurants and a primary school. It is only a few kilometres from the town of Fontainebleau and its chateau, nine kilometres from the A6 motorway and 10 kilometres from a train station on the RER regional rail network. The village is the perfect blend of rural calm and urban convenience. You can reach the property both from country lanes and alleys lined with stone walls.
Description
The seigneurial barn (marked “C” on the plan below) stands in a zone classed UBB1 under French legislation, which means that the land can be built upon but with certain limitations. The barn has been officially recognised as one of village’s remarkable edifices. The building faces west on fields where horses graze. The backdrop is lush. On the east side, tall stone walls combine with an age-old timber roof frame. The edifice lends itself to a range of projects, whether for creating a single home or several dwellings or for using it as a workspace. With its 260m² floor area, its length of 26 metres, its traditional king post trusses, its 10-metre ceiling height up to the roof ridge and 6-metre height up to the tie beams, the interior is considerably spacious and several floors could be created. The barn is already connected to the utilities network (water, electricity and gas) at the edge of the plot. The edifice has solid walls of ashlar and rubble stone beneath a roof of local tiles that needs to be renovated. The barn’s broad wooden doors remind us of its agricultural past, when it served as a link between the neighbouring cheese factory and distillery. Preliminary renovation work has already begun, with a screed and concrete pillars made to install a new level, and part of the floor has kept its sandstone paving. The distillery, which stands at a right angle to the barn, and its loading bay are also available for sale separately. All three parts can, however, be grouped together in a single sale.
The history of the village
Chailly-en-Bière is a rural village in France’s Seine-et-Marne department that is full of history. Its development is intimately tied to its closeness to the village of Barbizon, known for the Barbizon School art movement. From its beginnings, Chailly-en-Bière was based mostly on agriculture. The majority of its inhabitants made a living from working in the fields and rearing livestock. This rural tradition continued even when the industrialisation of the 19th century had got underway. Despite the changes that this industrialisation brought and, indeed, despite modernisation in general, Chailly-en-Bière has kept its agricultural and architectural heritage. Its old farm Ferme de la Fromagerie, its distillery and its surrounding landscape, immortalised by the painters of the Barbizon School all help preserve the rich past of this site. Today, Chailly-en-Bière remains the living expression of this art that captures the village’s rural heritage and makes it a true place of interest, both for lovers of history and lovers of art.
The history of the farm
The old farm Ferme de la Fromagerie, an emblematic edifice of Chailly-en-Bière, dates back to the 15th century. Its history is closely related to that of local lords and church institutions. It is likely that there was a cheesemaking activity here as there are large vaulted cellars. Over the centuries, the property was handed down between different noble families, so it has undergone many transformations. In the 19th century, the farm included much ovine livestock and a wide range of crops. The addition of its distillery changed the place greatly.
The barn
The barn’s total ground surface is 303m² and it offers 260m² of floor area.
Our opinion
This seigneurial barn is a truly remarkable edifice. With its tall stone walls that bear witness to its past nobility, the property is a token of its time. Its generously sized interior, its majestic timber roof frame and its floor partly paved with sandstone create the perfect backdrop for a range of projects. The place could be a splendid home with 15th-century character, a vast workshop bathed in natural light or an original workspace or retail centre. Around the building, fields, stables and the everyday work of farmers recreate the atmosphere of yesteryear.
200 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 669938
| Land registry surface area | 303 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 303 m2 |
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
