Haute-Vienne, Nouvelle Aquitaine
€291,500 [convert]

Property Description

Situated in the heart of the town of Chateauponsac – Haute Vienne – Limousin is this opportunity to purchase a piece of real French history and own the East wing of a glorious old chateau constructed in 1720 during the Rococo period and name Le Chateau to which it still retains its name today, its origin was its was constructed as a large centre of town hotel and would have offered grandeur, however, its life as a grand chateau was to be shortlived as between 1779 and 1799 the French revolution kicked in and at this point, the grand chateau was divided. The East Wing has had a varied life over the years, with various owners including the town doctor and closer to today in the 1900s the local Gendarmerie, the property has retained much of its original features even though it has undergone many modernisation projects over the years.

The chateau comprises 260m² of habitable space, with its grand entrance to a welcoming hallway on the ground floor, and a large lounge with panelled walls and original tapestries, the open fire has now been replaced with an insert but has retained all the characteristics of what would probably have been the smoking room originally, later after the divide it became a dining room and the original radiator with the plate warmer is still in situ, a small office and a new modern entrance is found next to the lounge. As the property is used as a bed and breakfast on the ground floor is a ladies and gents toilet, and a cloakroom, to the other side of the grand entrance, is a modern kitchen, dining room and a beautiful authentic conservatory which has been constructed using all authentic materials found in the outbuildings and within the chateau itself. At the end of the grand hallways is a storage cupboard that used to be the big grand doors leading through to the West wing.

Going up the incredible wooden staircase to the 1st floor you are welcomed with large French doors opening up onto a sun balcony, another large hallway with a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and dressing room, to the other side of the hallway is what would have been the master's bedroom, with the maid's bedroom directly behind, today it's used as a guest lounge, bar and breakfast room, with the maid's bedroom transformed into a library, which has been this way for some years now, as the previous doctor owner also had this room as his library writing room.

Going up to the 2nd floor once again by the magnificent wooden staircase you are once again welcomed to a large hallway, in years gone by when the chateau was used by the Gendarmerie this used to be the changing area and the original lockers are still in place, even the wallpaper inside the lockers has not been changed, how many stories can these walls tell over the years. We have 2 bedrooms one in the small tower with views out of 2 windows over the town of Chateauponsac and the Gartempe Valley, then a small apartment with bedroom, living space and breakfast room, before the Gendarmerie This would have been the servant's quarters. Another smaller staircase then leads to the attic, this has not been converted but offers space for storage or as the current owners use it for gym equipment and a mini-museum of artefacts found at the property.
Outside is a lovely walled garden with mature shrubs and hidden terraces, a storage building and a large garage on two floors, the garage still requires some work but could create a lovely apartment on the second floor, to the side of the property is a gorgeous cobbled courtyard.
In 2001 the chateau was given a historical status and with the current bed and breakfast business is rated at 9.1 on booking.com and rated in the top 10 chateaux to stay in for its historical value.

This property is a must to visit to truly appreciate the beauty this building has to offer.

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