Ref.4424 : French listed manor house for sale in Normandy In the heart of Normandy, in the emblematic Pays d'Auge, on the outskirts of a market town of just over a hundred souls, a stunning estate with a fortified appearance has stood secretly out of sight for over five centuries, its only surroundings the luxuriant nature of its beautifully laid-out French-style parkland. The acknowledged heir to a past devoted to perfecting the edifice, this property today exudes a beautiful harmony and invites contemplation, exuding genuine feelings of well-being that have always encouraged the hosts of the premises to pass the torch only to sincere lovers of heritage. Everyday life, with all its many demands, is made easier by the proximity of a dynamic city only a few leagues away, with the towns of Caen and Lisieux providing all the necessary motorway, rail, sea and airport links. The Pays d'Auge is a first-rate tourist destination, within easy reach of the sea, rich in varied landscapes, sporting and nature activities, and less than 200 km from the capital. A past... a heritage... a dream... a reality... everyone will appreciate if they can invite themselves into history. The manor house was built on an almost square plan in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, before undergoing extensive alterations in the 18th century. This was clearly a ‘defensive’ property, built on a platform surrounded by a moat, with massive towers and numerous loopholes and firing points. The dwelling comprises a main body with a tower at each corner, each of different size and design depending on when they were built. The lower storey is built of small limestone rubble. It is topped by a timber-framed upper storey. A large triangular pediment, added in the 18th century, dominates the facade facing east. This facade is flanked by two symmetrical masonry towers with a hexagonal timber-framed upper storey. The south-facing facade is also flanked by two towers, one of which is cylindrical in stone and has a conical roof. The other to the north, square in plan, is a small keep. It has a limestone base. The upper storey is timber-framed and covered with five-hole tiles, the classic protection against the elements in the 17th century. An enclosed corbelled gallery joins the towers to the south and west. The original north wall is only visible from inside the dwelling, as it was lined with a timber-framed wall in the 17th century for greater convenience. The entire dwelling is on a human scale, with approx. 250 sqm of living space distributed as follows: Ground floor: Main entrance via the east tower (exposed stone walls, terracotta floor tiles, fire-place) - (ceiling height : 3.28 m); Living room (44 sqm) (fabric, terracotta floor tiles, 2 stone fireplaces (one functional), overmantel) - ceiling height: 3.30 m ; Kitchen (15 sqm) (stone floor, monumental fireplace (wood-burning stove), exposed joists; Second entrance hall (15 sqm) used as scullery, cloakroom, boiler room, wc, wooden spiral staircase; Hallway (6.85x1.00 m) with outside access to the gardens and to the spiral staircase; Dining room in the east tower (exposed stonework, terracotta floor tiles, bare ceiling), 3.30 m high; Stone spiral staircase leading to the upper floors. Remarkable coffered door (3.00 x 1.75 m). 1st floor: Access to office in east tower (4.30x0.95) (sea rush, low panelling); Study/library: ceiling height : 3.50 m (terracotta floor tiles, stone fireplace); Hallway leading to the bedrooms (6.70x1.15 m) (low panelling, bare ceiling); Bedroom 1: 40sqm (fabric, terracotta floor tiles, stone fireplace with overmantel, alcove, dressing room); Library, hallway, bathroom + wc (ceiling height : 3.30m); Bedroom 2: 19 sqm (plaster, terracotta floor tiles, stone fireplace, half-timbering), shower room, adjoining wc; Wooden spiral staircase (interlocking half-timbering) - 3.40 m high; Bedroom 3: 18.50 sqm (fabric, carpet, exposed joists, stone fireplace with overmantel), separate wc, small dressing room - ceiling height : 3.40m ; Spiral staircase leading to the attic. 2nd floor: Vast attic (40 sqm) in cathedral form, with exposed timbers (insulated), carpeted floor; 2 attics for storage (insulated) - 5.00 m high at the ridge. The manor's outbuildings are grouped together to the north in the former ‘bailey’. There are seven of them, all with rubble stone bases topped with half-timbering and topped with flat tile roofs. The facades and roofs are protected by an historic monument listing dated 10/11/1993. When they were acquired, some of them were converted into guest rooms (gites), reception rooms or studio flats. 1) CARETAKER'S COTTAGE : It comprises 2 levels with a total floor area of around 100sqm. Ground floor: living room (lounge/dining room), separate kitchen, wc. First floor: landing bedroom, 2 smaller bedrooms, bathroom. Brick/terracotta - Oil-fired central heating - Single glazing - Electricity to be upgraded. 2) GITES/GUEST ROOMS : A) Living room with shower room - adjoining WC. Floor tiles and joists. 35sqm. B) Living room with shower room - adjoining WC. Tiled floor and joists. 38sqm. C) Living room with shower room - adjoining WC. Tiled floor and joists. 29sqm. Electric heating - 100l hot water tank - Single bend - Separate meter - Electricity to be reviewed. D) Separate kitchen and utility room (12sqm) equipped with sink, hob, washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge/dishwasher. E) Cellars: one used as a storeroom (23sqm) / the other as a wine cellar (16sqm). Electrical panel with differential. Terra cotta floors. Rooms as is. Attic over the whole. Roof at rear of guest bedrooms to be redone. 3) SHEDS : Long building (17x 6 m) divided into 3 sections for equipment storage. Canopy for wood storage at the rear. Roof tired. 4) RECEPTION ROOM : Magnificent building overlooking the moat, converted into a vast reception room. Terra cotta floors - Cathedral ceiling (7.90 m to the ridge) - Mezzanine in the gable end Numerous windows providing plenty of natural light (single glazing). Recent electrical panel. Dimensions: 14.65 x 6.48 m = 95 sqm. 5) DOVECOTE : Extending from the guest rooms is a square, half-timbered dovecote dating from the 15th century, topped with a stone base. There are approx. 400 boulins, indicating the size of the primary estate (1976 acres - 800 ha). Attached is a workshop (concrete floor, with a small mezzanine for storage). 6) GARAGES and STUDIO : Square timber-framed building on 2 levels with outside access on the first floor. Ground floor: 2 garages: (6.25 x 3.25) and (6.28 x 3.13) - ceiling height : 2.40m. First floor: conversion of a small studio (28 sqm) comprising 2 bedrooms, shower room + wc. Electric heating - Electricity to be reviewed. 7) GAMES ROOM : name given to a stone outbuilding with no specific use, situated at the entrance to the property. There is an adjoining wood shed. Concrete floor, electricity. Attic. Dimensions: 13 x 5.50 m). ceiling height : 2.75 m. LANDS The property is at a reasonable distance from the little-used departmental road, thus benefiting from absolute peace and quiet. The official entrance is marked by two handsome stone pillars inviting you to follow the avenue of lime trees leading to the farmyard. A large orchard bordered by bright hedges of hornbeam precedes the first buildings of the farmyard, revealing generous grass that could give some horses a hankering.... This is followed by the farmyard, staggered slightly back from the manor house. From the small car park, the eye is immediately drawn to the moat; the culvert plunges us back into history by inviting us onto the manor's grassed terraces. The rear of the property sets a different tone when we take the second culvert and enter the heart of the formal garden, laid out around a central path shaded by tall, perfectly aligned topiaries. Numerous fruit trees mingle with the festivities all along this path until we reach the repository, where a thousand flowers and plants are delicately arranged in structured flowerbeds. A wood of around 3.70 acres (1.5 hectares) completes the décor, much to the delight of the roe deer... All the tree species are present (ash, elm, lime, yew, etc.). The property is regularly maintained, for the most part by the couple who look after it. The property is free from any visual, olfactory or noise nuisance. It comprises 9.41 acres (3ha 81a) of land. The following parts are partially listed on the Inventaire supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques : Dwelling, excluding modern decor; terrace on which it stands, with the remains of its towers; moat and its bridges; facades and roofs of the outbuildings; dovecote; facades and roofs of the farm buildings . listed by order of 10 November 1993. This property is a historic monument (allowing fiscal tax cuts if you pay taxes in France). Cabinet LE NAIL - Lower-Normandy - Mr Eric DOSSEUR : +33 (0)2.43.98.20.20 Eric DOSSEUR, Individual company, registered in the Special Register of Commercial Agents, under the number 409 867 512 . 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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