castle for sale Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, France

Exceptional 19th Century Château in the French Countryside Discreetly set within a beautifully landscaped and fully enclosed 3-hectare park, this remarkable 19th century château perfectly embodies the elegance of French country living. Ideally located between Le Mans and Alençon, just 3 km from a village and 3 hours from Paris via the A11 motorway, it offers both accessibility and complete tranquility. The property rich in history, featuring beautifully preserved period details: refined wood paneling, original fireplaces, hardwood floors, and traditional terracotta tiles create a warm and timeless atmosphere throughout. The château offers approximately 450 sqm of living space across three levels, including: - Elegant, light-filled reception rooms with dual aspect views - 10 bedrooms, ideal for family living or hosting guests - Attic space with further development potential Outstanding outbuildings enhance the estate: - Towers and a charming former dovecote, now arranged as two rooms with fireplace and an attic showcasing an impressive timber frame - Stables with a habitable section - Garage, boxes, tack room, additional attic space - Several cellars An exceptional setting: The landscaped park, fully enclosed and meticulously maintained, includes a tennis court and enjoys open views over the surrounding countryside, in absolute peace and privacy. This unique estate is perfectly suited as a prestigious family residence or for a high-end hospitality project (guesthouse, events, retreats). Full details and private viewings available upon request with Coldwell Banker Le Mans. For more photos and information, please visit our website. Agency fees payable by the buyer. Information regarding the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr .

Historic Manor House Listed as a Monument, Set Within an Unspoilt Landscaped Estate Location and accessibility Set within a peaceful and unspoilt rural environment, this distinguished historic property lies in the northern part of the Pays de la Loire region, in the department of Mayenne, close to the town of Sillé-le-Guillaume. The latter provides a full range of everyday amenities as well as a railway station offering regular services to Le Mans, reached in approximately twenty minutes. The location offers a rare balance between privacy and ease of access. Le Mans, with its TGV high-speed rail connections, is around 50 kilometres away. Alençon lies approximately 30 kilometres to the north, while Laval, which benefits from an airport, is less than an hour’s drive. An access to the motorway network can be reached in about thirty minutes, allowing travel to Paris in roughly two and a half hours. Two nearby villages offer essential local shops, including a bakery and grocery store, while the broader commercial and service infrastructure of Sillé-le-Guillaume ensures day-to-day convenience without compromising the rural character of the setting. ⸻ A discreet approach and a carefully structured natural setting The property is approached via a quiet country lane, followed by a private driveway that crosses open pastureland and gently rolling countryside. This leads to an historic entrance porch, which opens onto a spacious main courtyard forming the heart of the estate. The manor house is arranged around this courtyard, accompanied by several stone-built outbuildings positioned to the east and west, while an additional annex completes the enclosure. A secondary access road runs alongside the main residence and serves the outbuildings located to the rear of the property. Meadows extend on either side of the driveway and continue northwards into an established oak woodland, which then stretches westward. To the rear of the manor, a landscaped garden overlooks a gently flowing stream. Beyond this watercourse, two further meadows are accessed via a stone bridge, creating a continuous and harmonious estate layout. ⸻ The manor house – Architectural character Constructed of stone and rendered rubble masonry, the manor is partially built over ancient cellars. It rises over four levels, including two attic storeys, and presents a refined architectural composition typical of historic noble residences in the region. The slate roofs are pitched on two sides and punctuated by sculpted dormer windows that animate the elevations. Stone-mullioned windows rhythmically punctuate the façades, while a double-flight stone staircase leads to the principal entrance, enhancing the sense of arrival. At the rear, the main building is complemented by a series of distinctive architectural features: a square tower capped with a pavilion roof, a stair tower, and a round tower topped with a conical “pepper-pot” roof. A smaller adjoining structure, attached to the eastern side of the square tower, rises over two levels beneath a hipped slate roof. An independent cellar, accessible from the exterior, is built of small-cut sandstone masonry and is thought to date from the 11th or 12th centuries, attesting to the long history of the site. The façades and roofs of the manor, along with the low eastern wing, are officially listed as Historic Monuments. ⸻ Interior layout Ground floor The main entrance opens directly into a generous reception room combining living and dining areas. This central space is also accessible via a secondary entrance located within the stair tower, allowing for fluid circulation. From here, access is provided to a study, a kitchen housed within the square tower, and a corridor with guest facilities leading to the round tower. The lower level of this tower has been converted into a unique wellness area, comprising a bathroom, sauna, fireplace, and vaulted ceiling. The kitchen connects to an adjoining service room used as a pantry and boiler room. Throughout this level, the property retains a wealth of period features, including monumental granite fireplaces, stone window surrounds, and paneled wooden doors fitted with original ironwork, some crowned with carved stone decorations. Stained glass panels remain in the upper sections of the windows. Floors are largely laid with terracotta tiles, and ceilings feature exposed timber beams. ⸻ First floor A stone spiral staircase leads to the first floor, which includes a bedroom and a shower room located within the round tower, complete with a fireplace and separate toilet. A first-floor sitting room provides access to a second bedroom located in the square tower, followed by a corridor leading to an additional shower room, separate toilet facilities, and a third bedroom. This level is distinguished by large fireplaces with painted granite surrounds. One partition wall features a decorated beam adorned with painted cartouches depicting geometric motifs, floral arrangements, and stylised landscapes characteristic of 17th-century ornamentation. Terracotta floors and exposed beams continue throughout. ⸻ Second floor The staircase continues to the upper level, where a landing gives access to a bedroom in the round tower, featuring a painted fireplace, historic wood panelling, and a ceiling with radiating timber beams. A water point adjoins this room. A separate landing leads to two further bedrooms, a bathroom, independent toilet facilities, and a storage room. An additional bedroom, located in the square tower, benefits from a substantial stone and brick fireplace. A series of interconnected attics, totalling approximately 41 sqm, link the upper levels of the main house and both towers. Exposed roof timbers offer further potential for adaptation, subject to the necessary permissions. ⸻ Outbuildings Several stone-built outbuildings with slate roofs are arranged around the main courtyard. To the east, a two-storey former agricultural building offers approximately 240 sqm of floor space. Stone-paved floors and original feeding racks remain in place, reflecting its historic use. It is currently arranged as a workshop, with a large upper-level hall. To the west of the courtyard, a second outbuilding extends over roughly 220 sqm across two levels, including attic space, and is presently used for storage and as a granary. To the rear of the manor, a large open-sided barn supported by two stone pillars provides approximately 117 sqm of ground surface, with a ridge height of 8.75 metres. ⸻ Grounds and landscape The estate combines structured gardens, open pastureland, and mature woodland into a cohesive and serene environment. The access drive, lined with apple trees, leads to a grassed courtyard centred around a mature lime tree. Surrounding paths are planted with roses, trees, and shrubs of varied species. Below the manor, a medieval-inspired garden overlooks the stream. It is arranged into enclosed green “rooms” bordered by hornbeam hedges and enhanced by box and yew topiary. One section is dedicated to medicinal plants, accompanied by the gentle sound of running water. The meadows, reached via a stone bridge, extend to the north and south-west of the property. They are framed by hedgerows and winding watercourses, while the oak woodland borders the land to the north and continues westward, completing this rare and harmonious historic estate.

Chateau, its Outbuildings, its tennis court, and its pond in a preserved natural environment just a few minutes from Alençon and a motorway access, this remarkable property combines with rarity the charm of a historic residence, the nobility of its architecture, and the sweetness of a French art of living. For more information regarding the risks to which this property is exposed, please consult the official site: www.georisques.gouv.fr - Photos slightly retouched by AI.Behind its charming entrance gate, a magnificent driveway gradually reveals the chateau, built in the 19th century of stone with a slate roof. Its refined silhouette immediately captivates with the balance of its main facade, accented by two corner turrets and enhanced by a delicate central awning. On the opposite side, an imposing rectangular tower recalls the existence of the original chateau, still revealing precious architectural elements from the 16th century, witnesses to the past and the soul of the place.Developing approximately 446 m² of living space (over 800 m² including the outbuildings), the residence offers very beautiful volumes bathed in light and retains many period elements: ancient floorboards, marble and granite fireplaces, terracotta tiles, cabochon floors, and generous ceiling heights.The ground floor is organized around an elegant entrance gallery serving a vast dining room with a fireplace, a bright reception lounge, and an office located in a tower offering a unique and inspiring workspace. The service rooms, including the former kitchen with its spectacular monumental granite fireplace, retain all the authentic charm of family homes.The upper floors accommodate about ten comfortable bedrooms, bathrooms, and additional rooms to be reinvented according to various projects: family home, reception venue, event activity, or high-end tourist project.The outbuildings harmoniously complete the ensemble. An elegant annex building made of stone and brick houses, among other things, a double garage, former stables with a tack room and granary, as well as an old caretaker's apartment to be rehabilitated.An old dovecote over two levels and a vaulted cellar further enhance the exceptional heritage character of this property.The park, with a total area of nearly 2.9 hectares, forms a rare setting around the chateau. Organized in terraces and decorated with remarkable trees—majestic cedar, lime trees, and other species—it offers varied and particularly elegant perspectives on the residence. Below, a pond, a tennis court with its pavilion, and an old horseback riding path lined with trees extend the feeling of intimacy and serenity that emanates from the estate.A property of rare character, combining accessibility, authenticity, and potential, destined for lovers of beautiful homes and places steeped in history.(4.39% fees including tax payable by the buyer.)This description has been automatically translated from French.