A 17th century manor house and its 25 ha estate
on the banks of the Mayenne
on the banks of the Mayenne
Laval,
MAYENNE
pays-de-loire
53000
FR
Location
Situated next to the Mayenne river, but invisible from the towpath, the property is only a 10-minute drive from the historic town of Château-Gontier. The sub-prefecture of Mayenne offers all day-to-day shops and services, a large weekly market and a hospital.
It takes 35 minutes to drive to Laval and 55 minutes to Angers. Both towns have TGV (high speed train) stations providing many daily services to Paris. Nantes and its international airport are 1h30 away.
Description
From a small road leading along the picturesque banks of the river to Château-Gontier, a gate provides access to the stately almost 400 m long driveway of the property, bordered by a double row of tulip trees.
A courtyard and two formal rectangular gardens face the manor house to the south. To the east flows the river Mayenne. To the west, the wooded hillside gently slopes down. To the north, there are a technical building and a garage, farm buildings, a stream, woodlands and ponds. The property is unoverlooked.
A courtyard and two formal rectangular gardens face the manor house to the south. To the east flows the river Mayenne. To the west, the wooded hillside gently slopes down. To the north, there are a technical building and a garage, farm buildings, a stream, woodlands and ponds. The property is unoverlooked.
The manor house
Built in the 17th century according to an L-shaped plan, the manor house has been completely restored in recent years. The south-facing facade of the main dwelling is divided into three bays and spans three levels, one of which is under the roof, with two Tuffeau stone dormer windows. An extension to the east also features three bays and only two levels, one of which is in the roof space, with wooden dormer windows. Finally, set at right angles to the west is another wing with a ground floor and an upper floor under sloping ceilings.
The north facade of the manor house has few openings but a modern structure that is perfectly integrated into the old building. Its large east-facing windows open onto terraces, ponds and a swimming pool. The walls of the entire manor house are of coursed schist masonry with lime bonding. The window frames are of Tuffeau limestone. The lintels of the west wing are of wood. The high roofs are clad with slate. The main building has a four-pitched roof, while the other two sections feature gable roofs. Brick chimney stacks punctuate these roofs.
The ground floor
The central door of the manor house opens onto a hallway providing access to the main staircase, a passageway and two sitting rooms. The walls are of exposed stone, the ceiling features wooden beams and the floor is laid with cabochon-style Burgundy stone tiles. The passageway leads to a cupboard and a lavatory. On one side of the hallway, an extensive sitting/dining room is generously lit by large south-facing windows. Again, the flooring is Burgundy stone tiles with black cabochons and the walls are wood-panelled. An 18th century wooden fireplace stands in the centre of the room. Continuing northwards, the kitchen connects to a dining room. The floor is also of stone and glass doors provide access to a summer lounge. This is paved with slate slabs and features a central fireplace, as well as a swimming pool. In one corner, there is a service entrance and a small utility room. On the other side of the hallway, a second sitting room features straight strip parquet flooring, a Tuffeau stone fireplace, exposed stone walls and a beamed ceiling. A study with similar floor and ceiling follows in a row. Finally, at the eastern end of the manor house, there are a bedroom, a bathroom, a lavatory and a wooden staircase. The floors are tiled.
The first floor
This level comprises five bedrooms, combining modern features and period architecture. Three of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with toilets and two others share a bathroom and toilet. Two bedrooms have parquet floors, while two others have terracotta-type tiles. Some walls are panelled and there is a 17th century fireplace. At the far east end of the manor house and reached via the second wooden staircase of the residence, an independent flat comprising a living room and kitchen, bathroom and bedroom completes this wing. The floors are tiled.
The second floor
On the top floor, a vast bedroom is crowned by the wooden roof structure in the shape of an inverted ship's hull. This room is generously illuminated by Tuffeau stone dormer windows. The bedroom also has an en-suite bathroom and a study. All rooms feature straight strip parquet flooring.
The garage
Located on the northern edge of the manor house, this 56 m² garage can park three vehicles. It also contains the swimming pool's technical room as well as the wood-fired boiler and its storage. An attic of 56 m² is located above. The building has a slate roof and is of lime-bonded stone masonry.
The barn
A modern barn and a covered patio, situated 150 m to the north-west of the manor house, are used to store equipment and fodder for the estate's animals.
The park
Covering almost 25 hectares, it offers several different areas. At the foot of the main facade of the manor house, two formal rectangles constitute the French garden, typical of the 17th century. Box hedges, pruned yew trees and low stone walls frame the flower beds. An alley lined with magnolias leads to the river Mayenne. To the north of the residence, there is a large lake of approximately 1.5 hectares with an island. The surrounding meadows are grazed by horses and cattle. The hillside to the west is planted with coniferous and deciduous trees and crossed by a stream fed upstream by three ponds. Woodlands covering approx. 5 ha protect the entire property.
Our opinion
“Beyond the years and the roads”. This motto, engraved at the entrance to the residence in the 17th century by its first occupant, a judge and man of letters, embodied the vision of a poetic, timeless residence. Still today, after important and recent restoration work, the manor house has retained its elegant and rural feel. Only a few minutes from a town renowned for its vitality and quality of life, the property would easily lend itself to a tourist activity. Recreational boating facilities and cycle routes that follow the course of the Mayenne also contribute to the attractiveness of the estate.
2 210 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 664577
| Land registry surface area | 25 ha 32 a 56 ca |
| Main building surface area | 500 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 8 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 500 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.
