House buy in Etouars Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Ref.4044 : Vestige of 13th C. fortress and 17th C. dwelling in Mayenne department. "In this land of moor and heather, the passage where one meets this beautiful ruin lacks neither charm nor freshness, with its forest and deep valley. These are the words of Abbé Angot to describe the environment of this property Located in the north of the Mayenne, historically in the Bas Maine, this 17th century dwelling is built in the countryside, in a relatively isolated, intimate and charming environment. In the middle of an old medieval fortress surrounded by water, it comprises the remains of an old castle and its wings, one of which is used as a home and the other as a reception room. "Curious", "aesthetic", "historical" and "authentic" define this place, which bewitches the walkers who get lost in it. A small resource town is 10 km away by car; all shops and services are provided by a dynamic and historic town 19 km away. The dwelling is reached by a single bridge spanning the moat, passing under a delightful porch of vermiculated stonework, of which the semicircular arch and its pedestrian door remain. The ruins of the castle and the parapet walk, the moat, the base of two imposing defensive towers and the two large communal wings, which are the only parts that can be inhabited today, remain from the old fortification, whose size and splendour of yesteryear can be imagined. In the middle of the enclosure is a formal garden with an old gates in the centre. The two outbuildings are arranged symmetrically on either side of the garden, back-to-back with the old castle that once stood at the end of the courtyard. They are built of stone, rendered with lime, covered with slate and the roofs are adorned with charming bull's eyes; the east wing is fitted out as a vast reception room and the west wing is the dwelling which comprises: On the ground floor: a large room partially separated into two volumes by an entrance hatch which is glazed; this room includes two monumental fireplaces, cushions, exposed beams and the start of the stairway to the first floor; to the south, a bedroom with a fireplace, a terracotta floor laid between oak slats and exposed beams, and adjoining a bathroom - wc; to the north, a vast kitchen with a fireplace and a terracotta and stone floor, and to follow a technical room (laundry/boiler room), and a toilet. On the first floor: separated by hemp and lime partitions, 4 bedrooms with shower room and wc; the floors are covered with sea rush. The rooms face east and south, and on the opposite side, the thick, high walls formed the wall topped by its parapet walk. It should be emphasised that the work carried out was done with a technical and artistic concern, the result of which is remarkable. Here again, the adjectives curious, aesthetic, historical and authentic are used. The living area of the house is approximately 350sqm. Opposite the dwelling, the former stables (twin building of the dwelling) have been converted into a reception area and the work was completed in April 2020. The large room measures approximately 250sqm. The floor is made of tinted cement, the walls are plastered with lime and the framework is covered with an elegant formwork in the shape of an overturned ship's hull, giving the room volume and sound absorption. In the extension there is a room equipped for the caterer and a sanitary block (toilet and washbasin); A stone outbuilding with a slate roof used as an equipment shed is set back from the dwelling; A picturesque chapel 3.2 km away by car, covered with shingles. The fortified enclosure dominates the old garden to the south, which is to be recreated, and is bordered by raised paths offering a bucolic walk around it. A few small, unoccupied meadows complete the ensemble for a total surface area of approximately 6.17 acres (2.59 ha). The general atmosphere bears witness to a place steeped in history and legends: "tradition has it that a hound's head, sculpted on one of the walls of the easements, indicates the exact spot where a barrel of gold is hidden, but this treasure has not been discovered". The Mayenne: castle, manor houses, beautiful residences. Gilbert CHAUSSIS. The work carried out by the current owner has made it possible to save and restore this site, which seemed condemned to a slow decline. The place is now saved and alive! This singular place is calling for a new owner willing to humbly continue the preservation of this thousand-year-old site. Vestige of 13th C. fortress and 17th C. dwelling in Mayenne department.