We are Parisians and we were looking for a little house in the country, not far from Paris, to gather together and store the many pieces of furniture and objects that my husband, a restorer and keen decorator, had found. A friend took us on a tour of the priory, which at the time was a lively, untidy and authentic artists' residence. The peaceful, spiritual and inspiring setting immediately appealed to us. The warm, friendly atmosphere in the village, with its cultural café and botanical garden, won us over. Although the property was too big for us, we bought it anyway, without any specific plans. The Priory made a major contribution to the development of Marnay, which is why we naturally decided that it should remain a place for living and sharing. We have been welcoming travellers from all over the world since spring 2020.
It is a religious building on the banks of the river, with exposed stone façades. Originally a monastery, the building has no mouldings or sophisticated ornamentation. Inside, everything is natural and authentic. The generous, light-filled rooms feature massive roof timbers and beams that have stood the test of time. Several rooms offer remarkable views of the river or the south-facing gardens. Two round towers flank the garden and river façades. Finally, the priory gallery, once an artist's studio, features a large window built into the roof, giving the room a special glow
The Priory was built in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became a farm, probably following the separation of Church and State. In the 1930s, Henri Filipacchi, a publisher famous for launching the “Livre de poche” in 1953, acquired it. His son, Daniel Filipacchi, inherited the estate in 1961. With his friend and business partner Frank Ténot, they created the magazine "Salut les copains” and organised European tours for great jazz musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. They have all been welcomed here, as have artists from the French music scene including Johnny Hallyday and Françoise Hardy. When Daniel Filipacchi left for the United States, Frank Ténot took over the building and transformed it into an artists' residence for 20 years. After his death, his family sold us the priory in 2018.
It has the atmosphere of a family home in the countryside. It is well-looked after and lively, with an added personal touch. Nothing here has been designed with the idea of exploitation. We renovated the house based on our passion for decoration and our desire for comfort. The place is brimming with antiques carefully collected over 30 years, in an organised manner, where every detail adds charm to the whole. We have bicycles, kayaks, double canoes, stand-up paddles, a table tennis table, a trampoline, a children's play area, buoys and inflatable mattresses for unforgettable swims in the river. The idea is for our guests to feel 'at home' while being inspired by the beauty of the buildings and their history.
In the heart of the village, the botanical garden, the legacy of Franck Ténot, is a haven of peace set in two hectares of land. "L'Expressoir", a cultural café, is a meeting point and a place to meet. The Hélène Monleau champagne house organises a "Vineyard Tour" in Villenauxe-la-Grande, a chardonnay area, where visitors can find out more about the winegrowing profession and the environmental issues involved. In Nogent-sur-Seine, the Camille Claudel museum offers a rich retrospective of the artist's work. The "Au Numéro Vin" restaurant, whose soul lies in its cellar, with wines selected for their quality and uniqueness. In Provins, "Les Bistrophiles" offers authentic family cuisine made with carefully selected fresh produce.
.The priory has three self-contained flats with private entrances and terraces. "Le Logis”, a 250 m² flat, can accommodate up to seven people and comprises the living areas, bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. "La petite maison", which is 120 m² and for four people, has a living room, kitchen and two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, one of which is on the first floor. The 60 m² “studio” can accommodate up to three guests and has a living room with a sofa bed, kitchen and double bedroom with an en suite bathroom. "La maison du pêcheur", which is off-site but only 50 metres away, has four bedrooms and sleeps an additional eight people.
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The Priory, a total of 550 m² can be rented out in its entirety. It includes: "Le Logis" a 250 m² flat, which can accommodate up to seven people and comprises the living areas, bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. "La petite maison" which is 120 m² and for 4 people, has a living room, kitchen and two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, one of which is on the first floor. The 60 m² "Studio" can accommodate up to three guests and has a living room with a sofa bed, kitchen and double bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The kitchen in the orangery is suitable for large groups. "La maison du pêcheur" which is off-site but only 50 metres away, has four bedrooms and sleeps an additional eight people If necessary.
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