An estate with an 18th-century house, sheep barn and
65 ha of woodlands on the edge of Lake Saint-Cassien
65 ha of woodlands on the edge of Lake Saint-Cassien
Grasse,
VAR
provence-cote-dazur
06130
FR
Location
The Pays de Fayence region comprises nine villages perched atop wooded hills, mostly to the west of Lake Saint-Cassien. Created in the 1960s, this reservoir lies at the heart of a protected natural area within the Esterel massif. With a surface area of 460 hectares, crossed by the Pré-Claou bridge and bordered by a bird sanctuary, it is the largest body of water in the Fayence area, today mainly dedicated to tourist and recreational activities. The property lies to the north of the lake, close to the small town of Montauroux, and includes a forest and olive grove that extend right up to the edge of the lake. The towns of Cannes and Fréjus are 30 minutes away and Nice airport 45 minutes.
Description
The estate is accessed via the road linking Montauroux to Peymeinade. A forest track below leads to two buildings separated by a small drive. They have formed a “ménil” (small hamlet) since they were built in 1775. The grounds of the property mainly comprise a wooded area of around 65 hectares with a varied composition including more or less open woodlands and areas of scrubland, an olive grove and a limestone quarry covering around 5 hectares. The first building, used as a dwelling, is on two levels, as is the second, a former sheep barn that has been converted into a hangar, offering spacious accommodation on one level, with an upstairs flat to be completed. The walls are of stone, with straight or arched windows, topped by monk-and-nun tiled roofs with single or double pitches. Several forest tracks cross the estate, leading to the olive grove on one side and through the woodland to the banks of the lake on the other. A forest management plan greatly reduces the need to maintain the woodland.
The main house
This classic late 18th century country house was built on a rectangular plan of partially rendered, coursed local rubble masonry, contrasting with the dressed stone window surrounds. On the south facade, some of the keystones of the arched windows are carved, one of them bearing the date of construction. The glass doors and windows are fitted with green-painted wooden shutters. The house's monumental timber frame is topped with a gable roof of monk-and-nun tiles. The second building, the former sheep barn, is close by, only separated from the main building by a paved driveway to the south.
The garden-level floor
The main entrance to the building is from the north side at the rear. An off-centre, painted wooden door leads into a small split-level hallway with the start of a flight of stairs. The rounded ceilings lend a medieval feel to the staircase which leads down to the garden level and up to the first floor. The garden floor forms the main living area. It comprises a large kitchen, a living room with a stone fireplace and a second sitting room, created in a former cistern. The arched shapes of the vaulted ceiling and the segmental arch windows can also be found in the other rooms on this level. The walls are rendered and smooth, the floors tiled. Continuing through, there is a large garage that could easily be converted to extend the living space, if required.
The upstairs
The second level offers four generous bedrooms, each with a south-facing window, and two bathrooms. The floors are of large marbled stone tiles, with the exception of the last bedroom, which has rectangular terracotta tile flooring. This last bedroom features a mezzanine with access to a large attic that could be converted. Two of the bedrooms on this level have beamed ceilings.
The former sheep barn
A track leads from the main building to the old sheep barn. These hamlet-like houses were built at the same time and share the same external features.
The ground floor
Unlike the dwelling, the sheep barn forms a single interior space. Currently used as a storage shed for horticultural equipment, its spacious terracotta tiled floor area will give rise to a variety of ideas for its layout and use in a future that has yet to be invented.
The upstairs
Above the hangar, accessed via an internal staircase, is a workshop of more than 45 m² in need of renovation, with a narrow strip pine floor and wooden I-beams on the ceiling. Well lit by a row of large adjoining windows and a glass door, it has been used in recent years by a painter for its views to the south, which are among the most beautiful on the estate.
The grounds
The property boasts a vast wooded area of around 65 hectares. The grounds are mainly made up of woodland and scrubland with a variety of Mediterranean species, including many holm oaks, cork oaks and mimosas, as well as pines, rockroses, tree heathers and arbutus. There are also a large cultivated olive grove and a working limestone quarry, leased by a local contractor.
Beautiful grassland terraces above the buildings could be converted into horse pens or an orchard, further separating the property from the road.
Our opinion
A country estate stretching over 65 ha of woodlands and meadows right up to the lakeside is a rare piece of heritage that needs to be preserved. The private access to the banks of the lake is a definite privilege. Along the shores of the lake and in its creeks, the magnificent contours of the mountain slopes and the open vistas into the distance enchant observers of the natural world. Further up, on an easily accessed plateau, the two buildings dating from 1775 await a renovation that will reawaken their charm of yesteryear. Livestock activities could once again be developed here in parallel to cultivation of the olive trees and fragrant flowers and plants. And the flat meadows around the buildings could be home to horses.
Reference 996591
| Land registry surface area | 68 ha 34 a 40 ca |
| Main building surface area | 194.70 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 125.20 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 45.20 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.
