CastleVillefranche-sur-saone (69)

Price :

$2,944,400

USD

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Surface830 m²bedrooms7 land2 ha

A former 18th century convent, now a residence, a chateau with an indoor swimming pool and 2 hectares of grounds. Partially destroyed in 1789 during the French Revolution, the former convent was subsequently acquired by a family close to the Emperor during the Second French Empire, with the aim of remodelling and renovating the building and transforming it into a comfortable family residence. At that time, it was granted a view ordinance over the Saône by imperial decree and became a 'chateau'.
The property is situated in the centre of a market town with a population of more than 3,500, overlooking part of it and boasting an uninterrupted view of the river meandering down below.
A small alleyway at the end of the street leads to an impressive entrance gate. It provides direct access to a front courtyard with garage and guest parking. To the immediate left of the gate stands a former caretaker's cottage, converted into an independent gîte (guest house) bordered by an outdoor parking space. To the right of the gate, in the main courtyard, there is an old greenhouse. The rectangular main building is flanked by two wings to the west and two rows of three semi-circular stone arches to the east.
The facades of the buildings are rendered and feature numerous large, paned casement windows or French windows. The wings have dressed-stone corner quoins. The main building has a traditional flat-tile gable roof, while the wings are topped by gambrel roofs clad with glazed tiles, each crowned with two ridge finials.
At the rear of the chateau, behind the arches, a small courtyard opens onto the parklands, where a raised bridle path runs alongside a quiet street. The second part of the grounds, opposite the main facade, is divided into different areas. A second gate provides access to the upper section of the grounds, where a flight of steps leads down to the main house.