Property Description
Summary
Petit Gothic chateau in Suisse Normande with huge potential for income. Clecy, the most sought after natural beauty spot in Calvados offers this unique, historic manor estate with its stunning 7 bedroom suites, multiple living rooms and large event room suited to music evenings, social events or weddings. There is a wonderful carriage house to be finished into two cottages and around 4 acres(1.7ha) of beautiful gardens.
In a private and calm setting, this beautifully manageable chateau, dating from the C18th is currently a glorious family home, but once was a hotel and restaurant. Perfectly suited to either model, this significant property could offer a gracious family lifestyle or equally a dynamic small business.
Location
The house is set in 4 acres (1.7 ha) of parkland with rolling lawns, a sunken garden featuring an impressive Henri Studio fountain and wonderful mature trees which surround the whole of the estate , The region of Suisse Normandie is truly breathtaking. Just a mile from the chateau, you'll find the charming village of Clecy, complete with delightful shops and eateries. Venture out a little further to the Viaduc de Clecy, which magnificently spans the River Orne, this unparalleled natural beauty spot is famous for its deep gorge, carved by the river, exposing dramatic cliffs and rock formations. It's a paradise for sports enthusiasts, offering opportunities for climbing and paragliding. The lovely river also hosts a variety of watersports, including boat hire and kayaking. There is also a bobsleigh monorail offering thrilling rides down to the river where you can recuperate at one of the many bars or restaurants.
Access
Travel from the UK is extremely convenient with the ferry port at Caen just 40 minutes away. There are train stations at Caen, Falaise and Fleurs and the airports of Paris are reachable within a 3.5 hour drive on excellent roads. France boasts one of the worlds best high speed train systems, but the roads are simply a joy, with very little traffic and well maintained routes throughout.
Interior
It is impossible to compare this house with others. It has a truly unique architectural style, lending an almost church like quality to its appearance. Soaring roofscapes and delicate stone tracery adorn the facades of the property and a beautiful external staircase winds up to the first floor. Inside, the gothic theme continues with a hand carved stair with ancient wooden carved characters and unique radial wooden panelled doors. There are fireplaces, plasterwork and ornate windows. On the ground floor you enter the panelled and beamed outer hall with WC. Through to an internal hall and along to the library with its warm wooden panelling, intricately plastered ceiling and welcoming open fireplace. There is a small office, laundry and walk in cupboard. The inviting kitchen has bright windows, tiled floor and a large woodburner. The commercial cooker still remains and works perfectly and the units are recently installed. Through to the pantry and salon which has a large, light filled bay window and door to the garden. This room has gorgeous panelling and wonderful hand-built, period, floor-to-ceiling joinery. There is a glasshouse leading to the gardens. The first floor houses the four principal bedroom suites, two with balconies. These bright rooms each have private bathrooms. Here you will also find a living room which is so luminous it is called the solarium. Up to the top floor and a further three bedroom suites, one with its own sitting room and generous terrace which receives the sun all day long.
Exterior
Entering through double gates and down a long private drive, you approach the house with the gothic view revealing itself like a picture. The architecturally pleasing facades of this house give a feeling of strength and permanence. Stone-built with giant beams, it sits within its landscape, beautifully proportioned and gracious. The property is filled with period features and the church like stone tracery of the windows, porches and staircase give off a feeling of quiet dominance. The lovely grounds enclose the house entirely and there are beautiful spots for sitting in the sun. An orchard with a variety of apple trees, a pear espalier with the biggest fruits we have ever seen and an ancient quince tree complete the picture. There is also an abundant sweet chestnut tree which in November gives around 4 kilos of treasure. You will find the stone foundations of an old chapel and a quirky sentry box with lettering from WWII as well as the small trout pond which used to serve fresh fish in the Michelin starred restaurant during the 1950's
Additional Details
Opportunities for income.
We bought the house with a view to creating a boutique event venue with rooms. The area of Suisse Normande is a vibrant hub of visitors nearly all year round, but our circumstances have changed and so the next chapter will be played out with a different owner. Our plan was to convert the two cottages, use the bedroom suites and event room to create something unique in the region. This is still the perfect plan for the house and the area is completely lacking in high quality accommodation, with no event centres available for large celebrations. Although you can scale the amount of input you want, keeping the whole as a wonderful family home, or simply letting out the two cottages - the opportunity to really expand the potential of the house is a very exciting prospect.