CastlePléneuf-Val-André (22)

An 18th-century chateau with a panoramic sea view, just 15 minutes from the seaside resort of Pléneuf-Val-André. Once you have left the nearby village and gone beyond fields, groves, meadows and a handful of properties, you reach signposts that direct you to two beaches near the chateau. A lane runs through a wood of various species of trees. On the left, a meadow partly hidden by the foliage offers a view of the sea in the background.
An entrance in a stone wall leads into the property and reveals a majestic chateau. The edifice faces south. It was built in the late 18th century but construction of it was interrupted by the French Revolution. It is remarkably tall. Four bays punctuate its ground floor and first floor. The chateau was originally supposed to be much bigger: the three bays left of the entrance door were first designed as a west wing and three other bays were planned for the other side to create a symmetrical facade centred on a central bay. That is why the edifice now has an unusual appearance with a facade of exposed stonework and asymmetrical slate roofing. On the right-hand side, at a slightly lower level, there is an old caretaker’s house, hidden behind a hedge. It was recently restored. Behind it, a long outbuilding includes a former stable, a barn and a small dwelling. The two structures have the same stonework as the main house, but have roofing of flat tiles, in line with a hierarchical organisation of the materials used for the property. The quoins and window and door surrounds are made of dressed stone.
The whole property enjoys a sweeping view of the English Channel. This spectacular vista is unrivalled.