Chateau, fireplace
17th Century Chateau with farmhouse, groom's cottage and swimming pool set on 78 acres gardens and grassland with many outbuildings including stables.
The property is situated just 4 kilometres from the town of Richelieu in the Loire/Touraine region of France. Richelieu is a thriving community and the town has a number of bars, restaurants, shops, medical services and supermarkets. The larger town of Chinon is around 20 kilometres distant. Here, very comprehensive facilities are available.
Richelieu, was constructed by the Cardinal of the same name in the 17th century. The cardinal, of course, was the 'baddie' in the 'Three Musketeers' by Alexandre Dumas, but in reality he was a great patron of the arts, an accomplished scientist and social reformer. The town, devised entirely by him, was the first ever grid iron town to be constructed and indeed when New York was built, the American town planners visited Richelieu to see for themselves the practicalities of such town design.
Richelieu is 25 kilometres from the motorway junction taking you North to Paris (300 kms) and south to Bordeaux (317kms). The major towns of Tours and Poitiers are respectively (62kms) and (65kms). From each of these towns there are regular (daily during the summer) flights to London Stansted and TGV services to Paris. The typical time between Tours and Paris Montparnasse is 1.02 hours.) These trains continue from Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport with its extensive international flight services.
h2. The Chateau
h3. Ground floor:
* Entrance Hall
* Drawing room
* Sitting room
* Dining room
* Cinema/TV room
* Study
* Further study and Kitchen/breakfast room
* 2 WCs.
h3. First floor:
* Principal bedroom suite with bathroom and dressing room
* 4 further bedroom/bathrooms suites
* 2 further bedrooms requiring work (mainly decorative)
h3. Second floor:
* 4 bedrooms bathroom and further attic rooms
One of the delights about the house is that it is for the most part, one room deep which gives wonderful views over the grounds from all rooms and a fabulous transversal light which is very pleasant.
h2. The Farmhouse:
* Kitchen/breakfast room
* Sitting room
* 2 bedrooms
* bathroom
* Apartment/Groom's Cottage
* Living room with kitchen area, bedroom and bathroom.
h2. Additional information:
* Swimming pool set in a super rose garden
* Victorian era greenhouse
* Lake and boathouse
h2. Agricultural buildings:
* numerous barns, store rooms, cellars and outbuildings throughout the property
* formal stable yard consisting of 15 boxes
* further 10 boxes in the farmhouse yard
* fields shelters in all paddocks
h2. Grounds
* Part walled orchard, lawns, paddocks, impressive tree lined drive.
* In all about 78 acres. 18 acres form the garden areas, orchard and lawns.
* The remaining 60 acres are well managed post and railed grassland paddocks and fields.
h2. HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY
There is not an awful lot of history known about the chateau although it is clear that the property was constructed in three different eras starting in the 17th century and finishing in the 18th century.
There is a portrait above the fireplace in one of the studies which will remain at the property after the sale which is reputed to be a portrait of the eminent cardinal's mistress. Folklore or reality, it is a fun story! What is clear, is that the building to the right of Lady Pichardiere, is the original (and still existing) part of the existing building before its later additions.
h2. GARDENS AND GROUNDS
The chateau is approached via a track that winds until it turns into the kilometre long tree lined drive leading up to the chateau. On each side of the drive are the post and rail fenced paddocks. On the left hand side of the drive is the small lake and boathouse which probably started its life as the washhouse.
The remaining land lies behind and to the south of the chateau and is made up of large lawned areas with many mature trees. There are some super cedar trees, mature walnut trees and in the orchard a wide selection of fruit trees.
The swimming pool is hidden in a secluded area behind one of the outbuildings. The current owners have planted an abundance of rose trees around the swimming pool area which give an array of colour throughout the swimming months.
h3. Summary:
* Chateau dating from 17th Century
* Residential or commercial opportunities
* Currently horse training establishment
* Chateau, farmhouse, groom's cottage
* 78 acres gardens and grassland
Note: Prices are approximate - see website for exact euro price.