A 19th-century chalet in almost 3 hectares of grounds between the Charolais area
and Morvan Mountains, peacefully tucked away between woods and meadows
and Morvan Mountains, peacefully tucked away between woods and meadows
Mesvres,
SAONE-ET-LOIRE
burgundy
71190
FR
Location
From the high-speed TGV railway station at Le Creusot which is 30 minutes away by road, Lyon can be reached in 45 minutes and Paris in 1 hour 20 minutes. By car, Dijon can be reached in 1 hour 20 minutes, Lyon in 2 hours and Geneva in 2 hours 30 minutes. All the required everyday shops are located in Autun or Etang-sur-Arroux, both 10 minutes away by car. Between the last wooded meadows of the Charolais area and the first foothills of the Morvan mountains, this property is located in an excellent natural environment.
Description
The residence was built in the late 19th century for a local public figure, with the idea of creating a dreamlike, idealised world, following in the footsteps of a movement launched by certain landscape artists and painters in the late 18th century. After initially concerning simple follies or pagodas, the movement went on to produce buildings with far-off architectural inspirations worthy of manor houses in landscaped gardens. This residence is tucked away from any neighbouring homes and can be reached by a long, private, 400-metre drive lined by hedges and trees. It stands next to a forest made up of deciduous trees surrounded by meadows. The house overlooks a pond in which its reflection can be seen when coming through the entrance gate.
The chalet
It was built in 1884 in highland style, with large protruding eaves to protect the building from inclement weather, a balcony running along the first floor and gabled roofs. It is made of sandstone, with ashlar door and window frames. There is a three-storey central section with two smaller wings. Its roof is made of flat, glazed tiles. Its eastern façade looks onto the grounds and the western one overlooks the courtyard.
The ground floor
In the central section, a large, almost 44-m² dual aspect room is used as a dining room and lounge. It is flooded with light through five openings, including four French windows, has a paved stone floor, exposed beams on the ceiling and a massive stone fireplace. From this large room, there is a snug in the northern wing, followed by an office. The southern wing is occupied by the kitchen, from which the grounds can be reached through French windows. There is also a lavatory.
The first floor
An oakwood staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade leads to the first floor. A corridor leads to three east-facing bedrooms, with views overlooking the grounds, pond and wooded valley from the central balcony. One of the bedrooms boasts an en suite bathroom. Some of them have wood stripped flooring or marble fireplaces. A shower room completes this level.
The second floor
This storey, which can be reached by the oak staircase, has been more recently renovated. In the central section underneath the exposed roof frame, a large, approximately 43-m² room can be used as a dormitory, office or relaxation lounge. French windows lead outside to another balcony on the façade.
The outbuildings
These reasonably sized stone buildings with roofs made of interlocking tiles are located to the west of the main house around a courtyard. One of them houses a former bread oven, another serves as a vast garage with living space above, while the last one is used to store equipment for maintaining the property.
The grounds
The enclosed grounds of almost 3 hectares are themselves surrounded by woods and meadows, keeping prying eyes and any potential disturbance far away. They have been designed as open parkland and feature large, open meadows and groves of trees, plus undergrowth, drives and pathways and a pond. The electrically powered gate opens in front of the pond in which the chalet that overlooks it is reflected. To the south, old birch, beech, hornbeam and conifer trees structure the different views and perspectives. At the very southern tip of the grounds, a separate entrance leads to a communal woodland path, allowing walks around the garden to be extended.
Our opinion
Far from the hustle, bustle and din of the modern world, at the end of a long, private drive, this property is the essence of peace and quiet and getting away from it all. The grounds provide a majestic setting for the manor house, which is nonetheless of comfortable scale and easy to upkeep. It requires some decorative work and a slight improvement of comfort to provide the interior with the perfect charm. The property has been in a rare and excellent state of repair for 30 years, allowing the next occupants to move in total peace of mind. It is a country house that will assuredly not leave visitors indifferent.
Reference 838542
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 93 a 50 ca |
| Main building surface area | 185 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
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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.
