Ref 4825: 15th-century castle and its hamlet for sale in the Berry region Located in Berry, in the Indre department, this remarkable castle captivates visitors with its distinctively medieval character. Situated in the heart of France, it is approximately 300 km from Paris via the A20 motorway, known as the Occitane, and 30 km from Châteauroux, the local town centre. For everyday amenities, the charming village of Argenton-sur-Creuse is less than ten minutes away. The site can also be reached by helicopter. A veritable fortress, the building overlooks the banks of a small river, the Bouzanne. The gently rolling surrounding landscape marks the south-eastern boundary of the Brenne, also known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Ponds’. Renowned for its unspoilt nature and designated a Regional Nature Park, this region offers numerous opportunities for relaxation and exploration. Birdwatchers come from all over the world to observe waterfowl and migratory birds, whilst hikers, cyclists and horse riders enjoy the well-maintained paths winding between the ponds. Hunting enthusiasts also find favourable terrain here, whilst respecting responsible hunting practices. On the edge of a hamlet, its privacy protected by a wall stretching nearly two kilometres, the fortress stands at the heart of its grounds. It enjoys a remarkable panorama over the Bouzanne Valley, forming a veritable natural amphitheatre where the views stretch for nearly ten kilometres. This spectacular setting had, in fact, caught the attention of Michael Jackson, who had considered establishing his French estate there in the late 1990s. The castle is one of the few largely preserved examples of 15th-century military architecture. Built of dressed stone and rubble masonry, and still partially surrounded by moats, it comprises an entrance gatehouse flanked by crenellated towers, which leads into a first, square courtyard. Two wings of the building flank this courtyard. At the far end of this courtyard, a fixed bridge leads, beneath an imposing keep, to a second courtyard. The dismantling of the curtain walls and certain towers has transformed this inner courtyard into a terraced esplanade offering views, to the north, of the wooded banks of the Bouzanne, a small river flowing at the foot of the castle. To the south of the courtyard, the main residence adjoining the keep, rising four storeys high beneath a slate roof, is defended on three of its corners by imposing towers with conical roofs and machicolations. Entering this residence at terrace level via the stair tower that leads to it, one encounters, in turn, a reception room for guests with its monumental fireplace, a study in the south tower, a former bakery converted into a billiard room, a room known as the ‘courtroom’ with a monumental fireplace, and a chapel. Via the south-east tower, there is access to the bathrooms and sauna located on the ground floor of the south wing of the courtyard. In the north-corner tower, there is a separate bedroom with a beautiful fireplace and en-suite bathroom. On the upper floors, accessible by lift: On the first floor of the main building, a semi-professional kitchen, a dining room with beautiful 17th-century wood panelling, a small green sitting room in the west tower, a large sitting room with a ceiling painted in the 18th-century style, and the executive office in the east tower. On the second floor there are seven bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom or shower room, some featuring monumental fireplaces and seating areas. A spacious room with high ceilings and a gallery completes the layout and is designated as the armoury. On the third floor there are eight bedrooms, each with a bathroom or shower room, some featuring monumental fireplaces and armchairs. On the fourth floor there are six bedrooms, each with a bathroom or shower room, some featuring monumental fireplaces and built-in seats. A library, covered by a four-part ribbed vault with voussoirs, completes the ensemble. There are numerous outbuildings. Four of these form part of the castle complex: The south wing of the square tower, spread over two floors. It houses the boiler room and a staff flat. The north wing of the square tower is dedicated to technical activities, with storage rooms, cold rooms and a large workshop. On the upper floor, three large brick-vaulted rooms could be converted into a superb reception area. A large terrace covers them. Beneath the terrace lies a vast vaulted room known as the Knights’ Hall. The other outbuildings are clustered in the southern part of the grounds, forming a sort of hamlet: The main one is the Bergerie, a large 19th-century farm building converted into a conference centre. With a total of nearly 300 sqm of living space, it houses two meeting rooms and sixteen rooms, including staff accommodation and two holiday cottages. Six residential houses, likely built in the 19th century, currently unused but weatherproofed. A garage with a covered courtyard and a charging station for electric vehicles. There is also, at the entrance to the estate, a pumping station housed in a hipped-roof building. Built on a plateau overlooking the Bouzanne valley, the castle covers just over 15 hectares (37 acres), which can be divided into: - A vast park, planted with remarkable local tree species (cedars, poplars, birches, oaks), surrounds the castle. It includes an enclosed terraced garden which is soon to be restored to its former status as a vegetable garden. Beautiful paths allow visitors to admire this remarkable example of medieval architecture from every angle. - A 12 x 6 m swimming pool, with a terrace of cut stone and changing rooms in a tower. It is situated at the foot of the north-west corner of the esplanade - To the north, a hillside woodland that slopes down to the path running alongside the river. - Finally, meadows covering an area of 3 hectares complete the estate. All furniture and operating equipment is included in the sale price. Cabinet LE NAIL – Berry - Limousin - Mr Christian MAUVE : +33(0)2.43.98.20.20 Christian MAUVE, Individual company, registered in the Special Register of Commercial Agents, under the number 437 693 534. We invite you to visit our website Cabinet Le Nail to browse our latest listings or learn more about this property.
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