This mansion house stands in the midst of extensive wooded, enclosed parklands in the middle of the town. Spiked, wrought iron gates open into parklands, laid out in a French formal manner and bordered by old walls, pleasantly covered with wisteria and vines. In front of the residence is a parterre planted with old roses. Various species of tall trees, over a hundred years old, set the tone. Behind the building is a small, medieval vegetable garden, planted with different herbs.
Historical background
This mansion house was built in 1780 as part of the major urban planning works, including the construction of the town hall and the development of the banks of the river Yonne, that took place in the town in the 18th century.
A middle-class home, it stands but a few metres from the political and military decision-making centres and accommodated such illustrious characters as Prince Ferdinand-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, oldest son of King Louis-Philippe. A private ball was held in his honour in the mansion house’s staterooms.
This historic property was then lived in by Fernand-Schneider, a great military character, one of whose sons married one of the daughters of Jacques-Chaband-Delmas. The Schneider family remained here until 2010.

The mansion house

The building’s architecture, with its pyramid roof and its rectangular facade, is typical of the Directoire style.
Two large French windows, glazed with large panes, look out on to the porch, adorned with two Medici vases. Four windows on either side of these openings are each topped with a tympanum. The white stone facing enhances the windows, fitted with slatted shutters. At the ends and in the centre of the building, toothed quoins crowned with foliage ornamentation contribute to the building’s elegance.
The windows on the second level also include wrought railings. All the openings have an upright and a transom, forming a cross-shaped frame.
The roof features a Lescot-style opening, topped with a semi-circular arch.
There are no works to be scheduled.

First level
An elegant entrance hall features old floor tiles with inlaid decoration and wainscoting, crowned with cap moulding.
The left wing provides access to a dining room, with herringbone pattern parquet flooring. Panelling and wainscoting as well as a marble fireplace, topped with a trumeau, complete this room’s aristocratic decor.
The second section of the entrance hall features double doors, glazed with large panes. These lead to a fully fitted kitchen, with ox-blood-coloured units. This functional, modern, well-equipped kitchen in no way affects the age of the building. A flight of steps goes directly down to the cellar.
The right wing comprises a little lounge, with ceiling moulding and strip pattern parquet flooring. This cosy room, somewhat like a ladies’ sitting room, stands out courtesy of its large-framed wall panelling with oblong panels. A mirror, topped with mural decor as well as a tympanum and reflecting double windows, sets the tone. The little lounge provides access to a large, bright lounge. Illuminated via several openings, it also features panelling, strip pattern parquet flooring and ceiling moulding. In the centre of this lounge, an open-hearth fireplace stands out courtesy of its black and white marble tiles. It also has a splayed stricture and angular jambs. It is enhanced by its gold-leaf trimmed trumeau, featuring highly stylised floral decor around its edges.
In the second section of the entrance hall, a spacious, impressive bedroom features herringbone pattern parquet flooring, an open-hearth fireplace topped with a trumeau, trimmed with gold leaf just like all the large wooden panels lining the room. An impressive, central ceiling rose, surrounded by heart-shaped moulding, provides additional elegance. An adjoining bathroom, with floor tiles featuring inlaid moulding, has a free-standing slipper bath, fitted with lion’s claw feet as well as metal and porcelain taps. Featuring a large-paned picture window looking into the bedroom, this room exudes refinement and originality. A wooden stairway in the entrance hall goes up to the bedrooms on the second level. Its newel post is topped with a copper ball. An exposed stone wall runs alongside the stairway.

Second level
A large landing, with old terracotta floor tiles, provides access to three bedrooms with moulded doors. Each of the bedrooms is decorated in a different colour in accordance with age-old tradition. One of them has a little lounge which could become a study. Each bedroom has its own modern bathroom, harmoniously combing the old with the new. The radiators in these rooms are made of moulded cast iron. One of the bedrooms has a secret passageway with old terracotta floor tiles and a magnificent stained-glass window, featuring religious scenes from the Middle-Ages.
The top floor
Another stairway on the landing goes up to an attic which could easily be converted. A large room, with a sloping ceiling and currently laid out as a study, is made particularly pleasant by its luminosity. This level also includes a projection room.
The basement
Two vaulted, stone cellars, one small spanning 5.46 m² and one large spanning 29 m², complete this building.