A vast manor house, outbuildings and woods set in over 3.5 hectares
of absolute peace and quiet close to Guérande and La Baule
of absolute peace and quiet close to Guérande and La Baule
Guérande,
LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE
pays-de-loire
44350
FR
Location
Guérande, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Western France is 10 km from La Baule, from where the TGV takes you to Paris in three hours. It is also halfway between Nantes and Vannes, both about an hour's drive away. The town is a member of the network of 150 Villes et Pays d'art et d'histoire (Towns and Regions of Art and History) and boasts a number of tourist attractions, including salt marshes, nearby famous beaches and the Brière Regional Nature Park.
Description
An avenue of trees runs for more than 500 metres up from the road. The manor house stands in the middle of protected woodland. Two stone pillars topped by a pair of lion sculptures support a wrought iron gate, the main entrance to the property. There is a pedestrian gate on one side. The buildings, forming two parallel wings, are set in a courtyard surrounded by a high shale rubble stone boundary wall. The house is flanked by two lodges, parts of which have been converted and has a total surface area of approximately 530 m². On the other side of the courtyard, a wing which used to be the outbuildings spans almost 350 m² and can be converted.
The courtyard, with its circular driveway, lawn, tall trees and flowerbeds, is bordered by an old greenhouse.
Adjacent to the east-facing facade, the over 5,000 m² garden, planted with oak, chestnut and hornbeam trees, is enclosed by high stone walls, while the remaining hectares, made up of woods crossed by a historic bridle path, are entirely fenced in.
The 3.7 ha property, which is protected from all outside noise, also features an old bread oven, two small kennels, a broken down barn, two 140 m² sheds and the remains of an old chapel.
The courtyard, with its circular driveway, lawn, tall trees and flowerbeds, is bordered by an old greenhouse.
Adjacent to the east-facing facade, the over 5,000 m² garden, planted with oak, chestnut and hornbeam trees, is enclosed by high stone walls, while the remaining hectares, made up of woods crossed by a historic bridle path, are entirely fenced in.
The 3.7 ha property, which is protected from all outside noise, also features an old bread oven, two small kennels, a broken down barn, two 140 m² sheds and the remains of an old chapel.
The manor
This remarkable building is an important part of the town's heritage. Built in the 17th century and remodelled in the 18th century, the house is laid out in a regular rectangular shape. Its facade has three floors: the ground floor, square floor and attic with overhanging roof. It is flanked to the north and south by two wings, known as the "petit" and "grand" lodges, both with two floors.
Facing south-west, the facade of the main building facing the courtyard features three bays with shutters, topped with straight granite lintels. The overhanging roof has two semi-circular roof dormers on either side, with dentilled cornices. There is a hanging dormer with a triangular pediment on the south pavilion. Two tuffeau stone roof dormers and two ogee windows punctuate the east facade. Built of granite rubble stone with ashlar stringcourses, the building has a long-sloped slate roof.
Most of the manor house has been restored: the roof, framework, floor insulation, electricity, plumbing, heating system, drainage, etc. The main building is nearly completed: two rooms and the hall still need to be rendered, and the attic needs to be insulated and converted.
The ground floor
From the courtyard, the central part of the manor house is accessed through a double-leaf door which is glazed at the top and decorated on the outside with a wrought-iron interlace pattern. This floor, organised around the entrance hall and its oak spiral staircase dating back to 1900 with its wrought iron balustrades, has a large fitted, tiled kitchen and a dining room on one side. The two through rooms are interconnected and bathed in light. In the north wing, the kitchen features a stone fireplace and white beams. Two glass doors with small panes lead to the courtyard and garden. Accessed via a paved stone passageway of medieval origin, a scullery that always keeps to a constant temperature can be used to store fresh food.
There are two adjoining rooms on the other side of the ground floor. In the living room, the 18th-century doors and panelling have been replaced, and the travertine flooring lets in the heat from underfloor heating. The walls, the white moulded ceiling and the light-coloured marble fireplace accentuate the soft light let in by the double-opening windows. Set back, a discreet alcove surrounded by wood panelling provides an intimate view of the garden through its ogee window. The English-style library which follows down the living room is lined with mahogany wall shelving. The centrepiece of the room is a finely carved wooden fireplace dating back to the 19th century. The light from the wide windows is filtered by heavy curtains. The exposed beams are enhanced by a pale green colour and the floor is covered in natural stone tiles.
The first floor
The first landing leads to two symmetrical, spacious bedrooms with through-lighting and marble fireplaces topped by mirrored overmantels. The ceilings are finely moulded and the floors are parqueted in Burgundy oak.
One bedroom has its own bathroom, while the other shares a bathroom with a third small bedroom, complete with a bath and separate toilet.
The second floor
The last staircase steps lead up to the attic, made up of two areas measuring around 27 m² and 50 m², which can be converted into bedrooms and a large dormitory with an inverted ship's hull frame. This potential is made possible as there is a bathroom and separate toilet, with drainage, water and heating pipes that just need to be connected.
The small and large lodges
Accessed from the kitchen of the central body of the building to the north, the small lodge has two floors. The first floor houses the boiler room, while the second floor has two areas, including a room measuring around 36 m².
Extending from the main building to the south, and despite being connected to the main house, the large lodge has an independent area measuring approx. 180 m² opening on to a hall that leads to two 19 and 27 m² areas that can be used as a dining room and kitchen. A shower room with a toilet completes the first floor.
Upstairs, the staircase leads to a landing with two 13 m² bedrooms that need to be renovated. Opposite, a 20 m² attic is topped by a 16th century mortise and tenon frame and could accommodate a large games room.
The farmhouse
The vast old outbuildings with their rendered stone walls and slate gable roofs have retained all of their authenticity. The open-air garage, stables and former servants’ quarters, which include several separate areas including a large almost 42 m² room, stretch across the full length of the building under a 7-metre-high roof.
The walls and roof are watertight. When reconstructed, the upstairs floors would give the building two floors, each measuring around 150 m².
The garden
The 5300 m² estate is entirely enclosed by high stone walls and features a mixture of remarkable trees and a vast lawn. Monumental oaks, chestnuts and hornbeams stand side by side with old fruit tree varieties such as "Mirabelle de Nancy" and Ostricourt plum trees. A stone well can be used to water the vegetable garden, while amaryllis watch over the entrance to the old chapel. The decorative tradition seen in 18th-century gardens and parks has been preserved here, with statues of geese providing a different perspective on the north-east-facing rear facade of the manor house.
The woods
The wooded areas and the entire property are part of a plan to place value on architecture and heritage in France (PVAP) and are therefore protected. The 3.7 ha have been fenced off to deter hunters and to keep out any roe deer that dare to wander in at sunset. The woods are predominantly composed of oak and deciduous trees. The old bridle path can be glimpsed through their abundant foliage.
Our opinion
Sober and elegant, this manor house feels like a country gentleman's residence and reflects a certain art of living. The atmosphere in these historic surroundings is warm and welcoming, just like in a big family home. The central part of the house is ready to live in, so you can settle in comfortably and take your time to think how to restore the extensive untouched spaces. The peaceful estate is also very close to La Baule and its bustling seaside resort.
1 542 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 239238
| Land registry surface area | 3 ha 7 a |
| Main building surface area | 530 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 343 m2 |
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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.
