A 17th century stately manor house, its outbuildings and chapel
surrounded by 1.8 hectares of grounds in the “Hauts du Beaujolais” region
surrounded by 1.8 hectares of grounds in the “Hauts du Beaujolais” region
Roanne,
RHONE
rhones-alps
42300
FR
Location
The property is close to a rural village classified as one of the least densely populated in the region, very committed to its heritage but also to meeting the challenges of environmental issues in a farming environment. Set apart from the village, the manor house slightly rises above an undulating landscape of grasslands and pastures closer to those of the Monts du Lyonnais mountains than those of the Beaujolais vineyards. 27 km from Roanne, its TER station and amenities. 49 km from Villefranche-sur-Saône, 70 km from Lyon TGV train station and 94 km from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry international airport.
Description
The property, completely enclosed by high stone walls, comes into view at the end of a country lane, half-way up a hill crowned with woodland. This vast rural space is shared with a group of 19th century farm buildings and greenhouses that used to form an integral part of the property.
The high, golden stone walls typical of the nearby Beaujolais region protect the 1.8 ha of grounds, which form two different parts of the estate. On the one hand, in the immediate vicinity of the manor house, there is a parterre with a geometric Latin cross pattern emphasised by angular topiaries, leading to a lateral access ramp to the terrace of the residence known as "the chateau". On the other hand, taking up the rest of the grounds, there is an English-style landscaped garden bordered on one side by a small canal and a dormant orchard below.
A majestic bicentennial Lebanese cedar dominates the landscaped garden, towering over most of the other conifers and the lime trees. A very large pool, which could be converted into a swimming pool, appears at the bend of the ramp leading to the terrace of the manor house, next to the unpaved track leading to a votive chapel at the far end of the grounds.
To the north, a group of outbuildings is arranged in a U-shape around the residence. Together with the rear elevation of the manor house, it forms a carriage courtyard, accessed via a service gate. These vast outbuildings, which include a caretaker's cottage, a stable and barns, are in need of complete restoration.
The family, who lived here from the beginning of the 18th century until 1943, with a tragic incident during the French Revolution, left numerous remains, testimonials and archives. The estate was dedicated exclusively to agriculture. Over the centuries, this has protected the authenticity of the original materials that make up the buildings, witnesses of a number of traditional skills, many of which have now disappeared.
The high, golden stone walls typical of the nearby Beaujolais region protect the 1.8 ha of grounds, which form two different parts of the estate. On the one hand, in the immediate vicinity of the manor house, there is a parterre with a geometric Latin cross pattern emphasised by angular topiaries, leading to a lateral access ramp to the terrace of the residence known as "the chateau". On the other hand, taking up the rest of the grounds, there is an English-style landscaped garden bordered on one side by a small canal and a dormant orchard below.
A majestic bicentennial Lebanese cedar dominates the landscaped garden, towering over most of the other conifers and the lime trees. A very large pool, which could be converted into a swimming pool, appears at the bend of the ramp leading to the terrace of the manor house, next to the unpaved track leading to a votive chapel at the far end of the grounds.
To the north, a group of outbuildings is arranged in a U-shape around the residence. Together with the rear elevation of the manor house, it forms a carriage courtyard, accessed via a service gate. These vast outbuildings, which include a caretaker's cottage, a stable and barns, are in need of complete restoration.
The family, who lived here from the beginning of the 18th century until 1943, with a tragic incident during the French Revolution, left numerous remains, testimonials and archives. The estate was dedicated exclusively to agriculture. Over the centuries, this has protected the authenticity of the original materials that make up the buildings, witnesses of a number of traditional skills, many of which have now disappeared.
The "chateau"
The south-facing manor house was built in 1621 on the foundations of an earlier smaller structure, of which nothing remains.
It has two main levels plus one in the roofspace. The front elevation has five windows on each of the upper floors and four on the garden level, symmetrically arranged in pairs on either side of the entrance door. Accessed via a raised terrace, the garden level cannot be seen from the park at the back.
Although it was built in the 17th century, the “chateau” has retained many of the architectural features of Renaissance buildings. These include in particular the mullioned windows, which have retained their original style while having been adjusted to a more modern way of capturing the light at the turn of the 19th century.
The facades are all rendered with the same smooth finish. In the rural areas, this was seen as a sign of wealth, a distinctive feature of country homes built of exposed stone. This is how the noble residence stands out from the outbuildings that surround it to the north. The smooth render does not cover the dressed stone openings, nor does it conceal the triangular Doric pediment of the entrance door or, more generally, any of the jambs and lintels.
The roof has four uneven pitches with monk-and-nun tiles.
The garden-level floor
Access to the entrance door on the south facade is at the end of a monumental brick-paved ramp leading to the terrace of the chateau, overlooking the topiary garden.
The hallway leads to two impressive reception rooms with French beamed ceilings, where the centuries-old oak beams and joists have been whitewashed or sandblasted to restore their natural colour. The same timeless beams can be found in all the formal rooms, including the billiard and music rooms and the two dining rooms, one of which has a locally carved gilded stone fireplace dating from the 18th century. At the rear of the house, to the north, are the linen room, lavatories and kitchen equipped with bottled gas.
The flooring is of polished travertine tiles, recently designed and laid.
This level, like the rest of the residence, is heated by a 1993 oil-fired boiler. Spring water and mains water supply the system.
The first floor
A stone staircase leads to the next level. Natural light pours in through a window situated on the landing. There are six bedrooms, including one with a fireplace topped by a Baroque-style overmantel. The bedrooms share a single bathroom with bathtub, shower, toilet, sauna, closet and a shower room with toilet installed in the 1980s.
As on the ground floor, each of the bedrooms has beamed ceilings with varying colours between the joists to match the name of the room, including green, yellow and blue. The flooring is of light-coloured and waxed solid oak.
The attic
Accessed through a small wooden door with carefully preserved ironwork, the attic offers vast spaces that can be fully converted. Almost three hundred years later, the roof structure still reflects the skill of the craftsmen who assembled it.
The outbuildings
Comprising a two-storey main building above a barn with clerestory arches flanked by two short, windowless wings, the outbuildings also include a stable with just a few oculi. Together with the manor house, they surround an enclosed, paved northern courtyard.
The interior volumes, which have not been altered in any way for a very long time, lend themselves to all kinds of renovation possibilities while benefitting from the existing features. The authentic materials still on site, such as the 17th-century terracotta paving stones and the roof beams with their irregular squaring marks, bear witness to the work of the master tilers and carpenters of yesteryear, and should be preserved at all costs.
One wing features a basic caretaker's lodging.
A stable barn remains in its original state with its old stabling equipment.
The chapel
At the far end of the park, a short distance from the chateau, along an unpaved track that follows a canal bordered by conifers, lies the chapel built in the 1940s by the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (now MEP). The property was bequeathed to the missionary organisation at that time, as there were no descendants of the last member of the family to have lived here.
Its naive murals depict several passages from the Ave Maria Stella. The verses are painted in four ornamental friezes. The theme of Marian apparitions has been given pride of place here, with a selection of around ten miraculous apparitions recognised by the Vatican.
These include, quite naturally, Our Lady of Fourvière, who saved Lyon from the great plague of 1643, as well as Lourdes, Guadalupe, Fatima, Bauraing and La Salette.
Our opinion
The residence and its outbuildings bear witness to a know-how that has remained unaltered. Rooted in their terroir, their intelligent proportions will adapt efficiently to modern use. Set in verdant surroundings, the manor house offers a warm and historic atmosphere. Its overall appearance is more that of a comfortable family house than a stately chateau. The simplicity of its style and the sincerity of its founding act lend a unique sentimental and patrimonial value to the votive chapel.
780 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 442810
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 80 a |
| Main building surface area | 490 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 6 |
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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.
