House Charlieu (42)

An old stronghold house and its lake, with more than 11 ha, 1½ hours from Lyon.
This property is equidistant from the towns of Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Chalon-sur-Saône and Moulins, all of which can be reached in 1½ hours. The Charlieu Country where miscellaneous influences come together, marks its independence between the undulating bocage countryside of the Charolais-Brionnais region and the Loire plain in the Roannais region, via the steep passes in the rural Beaujolais area. The neighbouring town, within walking distance of the property, is renowned for its commercial dynamism and that of its traditional craftsmanship, its Benedictine abbey and its half-timbered houses. It has all everyday shops and amenities.
This property is reached via a long dirt-track, running alongside a river. The buildings form a closed courtyard, partially surrounded by moats, which is accessed via an outstanding dovecote in use as a porchway. A lake, in the foreground, stretches over more than five hectares, surrounded by meadows. The estate and its full water rights were initially referenced as of the 13th century by the monks from the neighbouring abbey, to whom the creation of the lake could be attributed. The current stronghold house most certainly dates from the late 16th century, having lost its defensive features, except for the moats and the closed courtyard, replaced by vast, bright rooms. Used as a working farm up until the 20th century, this property was protected from any subsequent architectural modifications and, therefore, still has its original form. Numerous works have been carried out over the last three decades on the structure of the buildings as well as on interior comfort.
The stronghold houseThis stronghold house is composed of a 3-storey, quadrangular building, partially constructed over a vaulted cellar and topped with a steep hip roof, covered with new flat tiles. Both main facades are flanked with a round tower, one housing a spiral stone stairway going to the various levels and the other accommodating the chateau’s bathrooms. A lean-to, on its north-east side, discreetly houses the kitchen and the estate’s technical facilities. The interior layout is simple and easy: two landing doors provide access on each level to two large rooms, spanning approx. 50 m².
Ground floor
The entrance tower provides access to a vast lounge, covered with stone floor tiles and featuring a French ceiling as well as a Louis XVI style, limestone fireplace. Two French windows open directly out on to the courtyard and on to a pleasant shady terrace. A door opens into a bathroom, set in the south-west tower. This lounge precedes a dining room, with exposed beams and joists as well as floor tiles laid in a chessboard pattern. It leads, in turn, to a study. Following on in the central building, a vast, bright kitchen has been ingeniously laid out. A rear kitchen on a lower level, has cupboards and a separatee toilet. It also provides access to a vaulted cellar and a boiler room, housing the recently changed oil-fired boiler.
First floor
A spiral stone stairway in one of the towers provides access to the first floor which is divided into two areas. A large, bright bedroom, illuminated via four windows facing three directions, has terracotta floor tiles and a painted French ceiling. These sober but warm hues enhance an elegant, yellow limestone fireplace. It is followed by a shower room, housed in the tower. The other area, also featuring terracotta floor tiles and French ceilings, is divided into a bedroom, with an impressive Renaissance-style fireplace, a study, a dressing room and a shower room.
Second floor
With the same layout as the floor below, a vast bedroom features white walls, terracotta floor tiles and its own bathroom. A corridor lined with cupboards provides access to another two …