Castle For Sale In Alençon France

Castle For Sale In Alençon France

$6,346,200

Castle in Alençon France

26 beds ¦ 432 acres

Castle

Property Website

Realtor Information:

Cabinet LE NAIL – Lower-Normandy – Mr Eric DOSSEUR : +33 (0)2.43.98.20.20

About This Castle For Sale In Alençon France

Situated in Normandy, in the south of the Orne département, at the forefront of the Normandie-Maine Regional Nature Park, this elegant property enjoys a privileged rural setting, nestling between civilisation and nature.

The Ecouves forest, a natural area of more than 8,000 hectares of state-owned land, with its varied relief and expanses of centuries-old oak and beech trees, where flora and fauna live in perfect harmony; wild waterways, ponds… this is the exceptional setting that Lonray can make its own forever. A benevolent setting, a source of serenity… and well-being!

The prefecture of the Orne department, Alençon, with its 25,000 inhabitants, remains a major administrative and economic centre, with all the shops and services you need for everyday life less than 2 leagues away. As a recognised communications hub, road, motorway and rail links are just a few minutes away, providing easy access to the capital, among other places.

THE CHATEAU : Inspired by Flemish and Italian art, the château’s balanced west facade comprises a massive main building in white stone, flanked by two more refined brick wings.

Walls and pilasters enhance the bareness of the surfaces and support the balconies; the very high slate roofs are enhanced by bull’s eye dormers, and the quadrangular chimneys with curved pediments contribute to a lighter appearance.

The cross-headed windows are slender and high, with wooden frames, arranged in regular bays and topped with pediments or carved keys. A generous stone staircase with balusters invites guests to discover the secrets of the Louis XIII style….With approx. 1,800sqm of living space, the castle is distributed as follows:

-Garden level: full cellar including the former kitchens, souillarde, boiler room, machine room and numerous storage rooms.

-Ground floor: Entrance via the vestibule (50 sqm), mosaic floor, decorated ceiling and walls, ceiling height: 5.40 m. On the left-hand side, access to the current kitchen and its pantry, stairway leading to the cellars. Madame’s’ bedroom (48 sqm), adjoining a toilet, richly painted and decorated ceiling, remarkable arched door, elegant wood panelling. Dining room (72sqm) with full wood panelling and Versailles parquet flooring, consoles, monumental mirror, ornate marble fireplace, 18th century ‘hunting’ themed décor (optional purchase), bronze espagnolettes and period fittings, HSP: 5 m. Large library (116sqm) with room for thousands of books, 5.20 m high, scalloped marble fireplace with trumeau, Versailles parquet flooring. The grand salon (112sqm), double aspect, Versailles parquet flooring, fully decorated, painted frieze and ceiling, marble fireplace with antique Pompeian decorations, consoles with monumental mirrors. Access to the south and east terraces. MH listing (21 July 2000). Height: 5.16 m. Straight staircase with several flights, suspended, designed around a central void, with classy wrought iron handrail.

1st floor: A long central gallery leads to 11 bedrooms on either side, 4 of which have direct access to a bathroom/shower room or a single water point. A separate bathroom is reserved for the other bedrooms. Each room is of varying sizes and has a fireplace, usually with parquet or carpet flooring. Some have wood panelling, sometimes painted. All have uninterrupted views to the four cardinal points. The landing gives access to a small, intimate chapel of great beauty, where an imposing billiard table now takes pride of place.

2nd floor: A back staircase leads up to the second floor, where around fifteen smaller bedrooms have yet to be refurbished. If need be, the attic still offers many possibilities….

THE HARAS : The history of gallop racing begins as you enter the long driveway leading to the stables of the Lonray stud farm.

The stud farm was created in 1863 by the Duc de Morny, Napoleon III’s half-brother and creator of the seaside resort of Deauville and its racecourse. Shortly afterwards, the Lonray stud was bought by Count Jacques le Marois, who gave his name to Europe’s finest inter-generational race over the mile. Lonray is eminently suitable for horse-breeding, with its gently undulating terrain, excellent quality meadows, abundant springs and proximity to the Ecouves forest, which, at an altitude of 150 to 200 m, provides a highly protective climatic curtain. The facades and roofs of the steward’s house and adjoining stables, as well as the facades and roofs of the ‘Jumenterie’, were listed as historic monuments on 14 December 1999.

Photography Credit: Cabinet LE NAIL – Lower-Normandy – Mr Eric DOSSEUR