A majestic, early 20th century manor house, its outbuildings and more than 7 ha of parklands,
overlooking the Seine estuary near to Trouville
overlooking the Seine estuary near to Trouville
Trouville-sur-Mer,
CALVADOS
lower-normandy
14360
FR
Location
This property stands on a hillside along the “Côte de Grâce” (Coast of Grace) between Trouville and Villerville. It is 400 m from the sea as the crow flies and looks out over the Bay of the Seine River. Paris is 200 km away via the A13 motorway or 1½ hours from Deauville train station, just 10 minutes by car.
Description
Whether from the main gates or from those near to the garages, two driveways go around the property to the manor house. The first goes alongside the caretaker’s cottage, whilst the second goes, in the opposite direction, around a large farm building, an outbuilding in use as a garage as well as a workshop and along a double row of beech trees to reach to the other side of the manor house. Set between these two driveways, the garden slopes gently down towards the sea. The wooded slope behind the manor house goes up to the top of the hillside.
The manor house
Constructed at the very beginning of the 20th century, this rectangular manor house spans three levels. Its architecture is composed of numerous protrusions. A central projection is flanked, on the corners of the main facade, by a round tower and by a square aedicula. Behind, a rectangular, 2-storey extension has been added to one corner. A square construction comprises an impressive porch, looked down on by a loggia in the middle of the rear facade. And lastly, a semi-engaged, half-timbered extension on a gable goes up to the second level.
Just like the facades, the roofs vary in shape and size. A candlesnuffer roof tops the round tower, others are composed of two, three or four slopes, whilst that crowning the central projection has five, very steep slopes topped with a bell-tower. And all are covered with flat tiles. Some are softened with upward curving eaves and others are enhanced with tall, dressed stone and brick chimney stacks as well as shed and Jacobin-style dormers.
The variety of the architectural features is spectacular. The walls of the first level are a succession of geometric motifs composed of dressed stone, flanking quarry stone blocks and black or white flint, forming strips, squares and chessboard patterns. Dressed stone comprises the surrounds framing the openings which are geminated, casement or half-casement and sometimes flanked by tall, richly sculpted pinnacles. Arches are triangular, semi-circular or basket-handled in shape. Arch moulding is supported on bases decorated with foliage.
The upper levels are half-timbered, featuring diagonal ties and cross braces. The second level features corbelling. On one section of the main facade, angle braces support a gallery and a balcony. Some trusses overhang.
Everywhere, in every section, new details appear.
The ground floor
The entrance door is housed in the central projection. It opens into a majestic hall, paved with ceramic floor tiles, the motifs of which appear to be taken from a Renaissance bestiary. Four, fluted stone columns support a cloister arch vault with brick and dressed stone domes. The stone walls are richly adorned with decor, such as pilasters, scrolls and mascarons. A majestic, wooden stairway faces the entrance door. Its carved newel post can but bring the mermaid of a ship’s figurehead to mind. The hall leads on either side to a lounge and a dining room, an access to the cloakrooms, a hallway and the basement.
The vast, bright lounge is laid with herringbone pattern parquet flooring. A sober fireplace is made of marble, an arched opening leads to an area in the tower, the ceiling features arch moulding, adorned with cornices. Double doors, glazed with mirrors, open into a study where wood takes pride of place, comprising a fireplace, strip pattern parquet flooring, wainscoting as well as ceiling beams and joists. At the rear, a hall area joins the hall and gives access to an L-shaped room.
Wood is also omnipresent in the dining room, with floor-to-ceiling panelling, ceiling beams and joists as well as a carved chimney breast above the fireplace. Its jambs, however, are covered with ceramic tiles, depicting biblical scenes. The floor is identical to that in the hall. A tall, arched opening leads to the square tower, with double French windows. Behind the dining room are a pantry, a kitchen and a back kitchen as well as an access to the cloakrooms and toilets. A bedroom, with a bathroom and toilet, is housed in the extension at the back of the manor house. A straight stairway goes to a mezzanine, with a bathroom and toilet.
The first floor
The stairway goes up to a large corridor, laid with strip pattern parquet flooring and featuring walls covered with wainscoting. It leads to five flats, composed of one or two rooms, some with an open-plan kitchen and a bath or shower room, with a toilet.
The second floor
The layout on this level is almost identical to that on the first floor. It is divided into five flats. A stairway at the end of a hall area goes up to the third floor.
The third floor
This level, with sloping ceilings, comprises three flats.
The basement
Near to the main stairway, a door gives access to another stairway going down to the basement, composed of numerous blind rooms which take up the full ground surface area of the manor house. A door at the end of a hall area leads outside.
The outbuildings
A caretaker’s cottage is near to the entrance porch. A building housing garages stands next to the second entrance. A large building has been divided into eighteen flats (studio and two-roomed flats, some with mezzanines). A building, standing at a distance, is used for garage, storage and workshop purposes.
A swimming pool has been installed behind wide, protective hedges. An old bunker has been converted into its pool-house.
The parklands
These parklands predominantly extend between the two driveways providing access to the manor. Beyond, on one side, they become vast grassy areas. Behind the manor, heavily thinned undergrowth goes up to the top of the hill.
The area in front of the manor house is dotted with numerous trees and large flower beds with hydrangea bushes as well as Portuguese laurel, yew, cypress, yucca, cedar and conifer trees.
Our opinion
Exceptional, unusual and astonishing. The view over the sea and Le-Havre, with its chimneys as a backdrop, is captivating. Space is increased courtesy of the position of the manor house, dominating its vast setting. The verticality and the variety of its roofs take it skywards. King Alphonse XIII of Spain once stayed here. And even though impressed, he must have fully appreciated the ambitious architecture and the wealth of its extremely detailed decoration. Its exceptional location will be shared just as happily by the residents of the farm building who, despite being drawn by the munificence, will nevertheless look out over the horizon.
4 720 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 538170
| Land registry surface area | 7 ha 62 a 4 ca |
| Main building surface area | 1400 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 15 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 400 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.
