A 19th-century chateau to restore, in tree-filled grounds, with 11 hectares of woods,
in the Écouves public forest, in the north of the Orne area
in the Écouves public forest, in the north of the Orne area
Alençon,
ORNE
lower-normandy
61000
FR
Location
This estate can be found in Normandy, in the north of the Orne area, within the Normandie-Maine regional natural park, near to the Etang de l’Etansiau lake and the 378-metre-high Butte Chaumont hill that dominates the Écouves Forest. The region is renowned for the variety of its landscapes that are criss-crossed by waterways. The estate is several minutes away from Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon, which plays host to most essential everyday shops as well as a local market. The train station in Surdon can be reached in 30 minutes, the Côte de Nacre coastline is 110 kilometres away, and central Paris is less than 3 hours away by road.
Description
A small, tree-lined, country road leads to the estate’s entrance. An elegant wrought-iron gate flanked by stone pillars topped by capitals opens onto an approximately 150-metre drive winding through the woods up to the chateau. With its architecture typical of the 19th century, the residence combines neo-classical elements and regional influences. The edifice is topped by a hipped, iridescent blue slate roof punctuated by dormers, bullseye windows and two chimney stacks. The roof ridge is crowned by a naturally coloured serrated zinc cap. The southern facade is rendered, while the window and door surrounds are made of ashlar. As for the northern facade, it is made up of pointed rubble stone. A patio with wrought-iron balustrades and a stoop overlook the grounds, forest and River Sarthon. To the side, an outbuilding houses a garage and a workshop.
The chateau
The ground floor
From the stoop and protruding section, a double-leaf door opens into a vast hallway running through the building that leads to an oakwood, winding, cantilever staircase lined with wrought-iron balustrades. The entrance hall paved with terracotta tiles leads to a living room, housing an imposing ashlar fireplace, which in turn leads to a scullery that opens onto the outside. A period fireplace stands against one of the walls. Opposite, a large lounge with a marble fireplace can be found next to a bathroom, a kitchen and a storeroom.
The first floor
The staircase climbs to a landing bathed in light which leads to six bedrooms and a bathroom. The dual-aspect nature of the rooms, which require restoration and refurbishing, means light pours into them.
The attic
This level can be reached by the staircase and light filters in through dormer windows. A landing leads to a studio apartment with a shower room, two bedrooms and loft space. The roof frame is exposed on this level, which can be entirely converted, providing it with structure.
The outbuilding
This edifice, set aside from the chateau, is made of pointed rubble stone beneath a red corrugated sheet gabled roof. The building includes a garage, a workshop and storage space.
The grounds and the woods
The chateau is surrounded by a vast lawned garden. A tree-lined driveway winds through the forests and offers an impressive perspective from the patio. Due to its undulating relief, the nature of its soil and the many varieties of trees, the 11 hectares of woods boast a wide range of different landscapes, through which a river flows. The estate, which is entirely sheltered from view, is mainly made up of deciduous trees, as well as some resinous trees.
Our opinion
This 19th-century chateau, whose facades and volumes still pay witness to a bygone way of life, is concealed behind the branches of the Écouves Forest. Behind its sound facades, its living spaces await a careful restoration that will return them to the elegant state of their origins. Around the residence, the tree-filed grounds and their tall branches make up a moving landscape, in which the light and seasons constantly refashion the views.
Reference 566630
| Land registry surface area | 11 ha 16 a 12 ca |
| Main building floor area | 270 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
