A 1907 dwelling, its landscaped grounds and outbuilding,
between Cholet and Doué-en-Anjou in the Maine-et-Loire department
between Cholet and Doué-en-Anjou in the Maine-et-Loire department
Doué-la-Fontaine,
MAINE-ET-LOIRE
pays-de-loire
49700
FR
Location
Near the “Haut-Layon Vineyard and Heritage” route, the city, which was once the canton’s administrative centre, has since been incorporated into the Cholet urban area. From the property, all shops and services are accessible on foot, while a nearby health centre is equipped with a lab and twenty doctors, including seven general practitioners. In addition to the city’s art-house cinema, a cultural space and an aquatic centre were also opened recently, while the cities of Doué-en-Anjou and Cholet are approximately 20 and 30 minutes away, respectively, by car. Lastly, Anjou and its high-speed rail station, 45 minutes away, provide service to Paris in 1.5 hours.
Description
Called the “Chateau” by locals, the manor house was built by one of the town’s former mayors and completed in 1907. Following in the footsteps of its past owners, such as Pierre Lefebvre and the Brunet brothers, its current occupants have called this place home since 1980. With four storeys and a silhouette that can be seen from the town’s four corners, the manor house’s exteriors are cadenced by quoins and window/door surrounds, which alternate between ashlar stone, the main element used to construct the house’s exteriors, and brick, which adorns the dwelling’s false jointing. As for its interior, it was designed with a clear layout with the living areas located on either side of the central hallway. In addition, the house is made up of two pavilions topped with slate hipped roofs, which are, in turn, crowned by four finials and punctuated on either side by a dormer window with an arched pediment decorated with neoclassical scrolls.
Set back from the main façade, the roof that links these two pavilions together contains a dormer window with a triangular pediment topped with a bull’s-eye window. As for the property’s English-inspired grounds, they extend behind the house and provide breath-taking views of the landscape, while their outskirts have been planted with numerous trees. Lastly, the property also contains an immense two-storey outbuilding.
Set back from the main façade, the roof that links these two pavilions together contains a dormer window with a triangular pediment topped with a bull’s-eye window. As for the property’s English-inspired grounds, they extend behind the house and provide breath-taking views of the landscape, while their outskirts have been planted with numerous trees. Lastly, the property also contains an immense two-storey outbuilding.
The Dwelling
The ground floor
An entrance hall of approximately 30 m² opens, on one side, onto two immense adjacent living rooms decorated with original wood panelling, cornices, ceiling roses as well as black and red marble fireplaces. In addition, this level’s original, narrow straight-plank oak hardwood floors have been remarkably preserved throughout, while, on the other side of the entrance hall, is a study and a kitchen, the latter of which is extended by a balcony that provides panoramic views of the grounds. Lastly, a staircase with metal balusters provides access to the upper floors.
The first floor
A star-shaped landing provides access, on one side, to two bedrooms, each with more than 26 m² and pine hardwood floors. The first is currently used as a snooker room, while the second includes a marble fireplace, a cornice and ceiling rose. Between the two is a bathroom with the appearance of a chapel thanks to its impressive floor-to-ceiling height and arched geminated window, whereas, on the other side of the landing, there are two additional bedrooms, each with over 20 m².
The top floor
Initially reserved for personnel, this floor has been renovated and includes two bedrooms with hardwood floors and gently sloping ceilings under exposed wooden rafters, as well as a bathroom. In addition, an attic provides views of the building’s tuffeau stone and brick walls as well as the wooden rafters’ collar beam trusses.
The basement
This floor extends underneath the entire dwelling and includes storage spaces as well as a furnace room. In addition, a living room with an original fireplace and an adjacent kitchen have also been created on this floor, while a brick jack arch ceiling supports the hardwood floors on the ground level.
The Outbuilding
With significant volumes, the two-storey brick building, once used as a barn, is located on one side of the garden. Left vacant for many years, it will require some renovation work to bring it up to modern standards.
The Garden
Behind the house, a landscaped garden planted with St. John’s wort, forsythia, Japanese flowering crab apples, vineyard peaches, yuccas and bay trees extends towards the outlying grounds. In addition, the ruins of a former brick kennel can still be glimpsed between the property’s lofty cedar trees.
Our opinion
Located in an animated and, yet, peaceful town, this perfectly symmetrical manor house, characteristic of the early 20th century, is decorated in an eclectic and, yet, elegant architectural style. With extraordinary volumes, a clear interior layout and remarkable luminosity, thanks to its many windows, this magnificent dwelling has preserved a number of its original elements, and proposes an authentic framework in need of some light renovation work. As for the former barn, it represents a blank slate for further development, while the grounds are perfect for strolling and summer picnics surrounded by family or friends.
434 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 219178
| Land registry surface area | 6890 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 360 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 6 |
| 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.
