Only ten kilometres from Fontainebleau, the distillery, thanks to its location, environment and architecture, acts as a genuine link between country and city life. Located on a fertile plain where a few grazing horses provide a bucolic touch, it is bordered on one side by market garden fields, whereas, on the other side of the building, protected majestic trees, filtering the morning light, create a warm and intimate atmosphere around the stone constructions. Built out of buhrstone in the 19th century, the distillery, which contains four storeys of approximately 100 m² each, is inundated by light thanks to its large rectilinear windows, while from the building’s upper floor, the view extends over farmland, which provides a shimmering spectacle at sunset.
Adjacent to the distillery and the seigniorial farm known as the “Fromagerie” or “Dairy”, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, the 260-m² barn with traditional wooden rafters and king post trusses, is 26 metres in length and has a floor-to-roof-ridge height of 10 metres, which makes it possible to create several additional levels here.
Facing the distillery, the 125-m² loading dock with its metal structure and stone foundation, represents the last edifice on the property and was the subject of a building permit in order to turn it into a family home, the architectural blueprints for which have already been drawn up. In addition, the property is located in a Ubb1 area zoned for building, making it possible to come up with a variety of conversion projects for the three edifices already existing on the land registry. With all necessary utilities, such as water, electricity and gas in each of the buildings, the distillery’s roof, clad in local tiles, was redone in 2017, the ancient plaster on its courtyard-facing exteriors was removed and four floors were created with pockets for drainage and electrical purposes. Recognised as “remarkable”, this property’s industrial buildings represent considerable historical interest for both the town and the surrounding area.

The History of the Premises

L'histoire du village
Chailly-en-Bière is a rural and historical town in the Seine-et-Marne department, whose development is closely linked to its proximity to the village of Barbizon, famous for its school of painting.
From the very beginning, Chailly-en-Bière was primarily agriculturally based. Most of its inhabitants received subsidies from working in the fields and raising livestock, a rural tradition that lasted even after the beginning of industrialisation in the 19th century. Despite the changes caused by the latter and modernisation in its various forms, Chailly-en-Bière was able to conserve its agricultural and architectural heritage. In addition, the “Fromagerie” farm, distillery and the surrounding countryside, immortalised by the Barbizon painters, participate in the site’s rich history. Today, Chailly-en-Bière remains a living illustration of an artistic heritage, which contributes in creating its rural legacy and has made the village a place of interest for both history lovers as well as art enthusiasts.
L'histoire de la ferme de la Fromagerie
The “Fromagerie” farm, an emblematic edifice of Chailly-en-Bière, dates back to the 15th century. With a history intimately linked to that of the local lords and ecclesiastical institutions, its name indicates that a cheese-making activity once took place here, a probability corroborated by the presence of several large vaulted cellars. Over the centuries, the property was passed down through the hands of several noble families, who made significant transformations to it: in the 19th century, it housed a large ovine herd and made a name for itself thanks to its wide variety of crops, while the later addition of its distillery also significantly contributed to its development.
L'histoire de la distillerie
In the middle of the 19th century, a beetroot distillation factory was built on the western side of the “Fromagerie” farm. This building marked a shift in Chailly-en-Bière’s economic history and remained operational until 1939, employing many of the village’s residents. Equipped with a steam-powered machine, the distillery was self-sufficient in terms of energy and was also able to provide electricity for the farm, at a time when the rest of the village was still without. Its presence also probably encouraged the cultivation of beetroots in the region, thus diversifying local agriculture. As for the paintings that illustrate the latter, they depict an authentic rural way of life.

The Buildings

The buildings, located on a parcel of land of approximately 1,356 m², include a total of almost 740 m² and are split up into three distinct edifices: the barn (with the possibility of creating one or two additional floors), the loading dock and the distillery.

La distillerie
With a cadastral surface area of almost 728 m², the distillery has approximately 355 m² of built space split into three levels and includes a large wooden mezzanine under the eaves. In addition, it is bordered by a cobblestone and grassy courtyard, which extends over 700 m² all the way to the loading dock opposite.
The barn
With 303 m² of built space over its entire cadastral footprint, its floor is covered in either cobblestones or cement.
Le quai de chargement
A logistical space historically linked with the distillery, which its bare metallic structure, foundations, walls and small staircase, entirely in stone, all face, it has a cadastral surface area of 325 m².