castle for sale Viry-chatillon, France

A 195 m² flat with its original decor and garden, in an 18th century chateau, 30 minutes south of Paris. Hidden from view, the chateau can be made out through an impressive wrought iron gate, which opens on to the main courtyard. The building features a classical architectural style and is aligned with the path of the sun. Some historical documents mention the 15th-century fiefdom that once extended over these grounds. Rebuilt in the 18th century, the chateau was acquired in the mid-19th century by Auguste Lamy and Cécile Kuhlmann. Auguste Lamy (1820-1878), physicist and chemist, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, was instrumental in the discovery of thallium. He was also a director of the Kuhlmann industrial group established by his father-in-law Charles Frédéric Kuhlmann, founder of Crédit du Nord. The property was owned by the family until 1946. The chateau reflects the pure classical style typical of the second half of the 18th century. It comprises three storeys over a cellar. On the eastern side, the building consists of a central section flanked by two wings set at right angles. The main door, accessed via a flight of stone steps with two accesses and a wrought-iron banister, completes the overall symmetry. The entrance is surrounded by three windows on either side, two of which stand proud of the wings. The first floor, illuminated by nine openings protected by wrought iron railings, is topped by a second upper level in the roofspace featuring three domed zinc roof dormers with carved wings. The hipped slate roof features ridge finials. The western facade, overlooking the grounds, follows the same layout as the one on the street side, with one exception: the addition of a central semi-circular porch topped with pear-shaped stone balusters, which opens onto a vast lawn bordered by a variety of trees. The flat is located in the southern section of the chateau and extends over the entire ground floor and part of the first floor. It comprises two sitting rooms, three bedrooms and various other rooms awaiting conversion. The parklands at the back stretch out to an oval pool featuring a statue inspired by the sculpture of ancient Greece as the focal point of its verdant plant theatre stage. The commonhold consists of four flats and the only shared areas are the landings on the different levels and the grounds.