A former watermill from the 19th century with a farm complex and 25 hectares of land free of any use or buildings, nestled on the River Armançon in Fr
A former watermill from the 19th century with a farm complex and 25 hectares of land free of any use or buildings, nestled on the River Armançon in France's Yonne department.
The property lies in the north of France's Yonne department in Burgundy, beside a town with around 3,000 inhabitants that offers shops for everyday needs. The River Armançon runs alongside the property, which enjoys an unspoilt, bucolic backd-rop of meadows and woods. The Château d'Esnon, built in the 18th century, stands nearby, adding a touch of built heritage to the landscape. The estate is centrally located between several important local towns. It is easy to reach: the train station in the town of Laroche-Migennes, 10 minutes away, offers several daily train journeys to Paris. From this station, you can reach the French capital in 1 hour and 30 minutes by rail. You can also get to Paris in two hours by car via the A6 or A5 motorways.
The imposing farm complex, with its inalienable right to make use of the river water already indicated on the Cassini Map (the first detailed map of France, produced in the 18th century), extends around a central courtyard surrounded by meadows. From a road that leads to the village, you reach a covered carriage entrance framed with brickwork. This bears witness to the historical role of this place that once brought together farming activities and the watermill. A driveway lined with acacias leads to the buildings. The buildings are arranged into two series of connecting structures that face each other and run from east to west. Two houses stand out, completed with a group of outbuildings with different purposes: there are barns, workshops, storerooms, stables and a former bakehouse. Beyond them, at the back, meadows and paddocks extend from the tree-dotted banks of a lake, filled up with water from a stream that then joins the River Armançon, whose banks are on the other side of the road that leads to the property. Today, this remarkable property combines its agricultural activities with receptions and gîtes, offering produce straight from the farm.
The main houseThe main house has a ground floor and a first floor. It is crowned with a gable roof of flat tiles. It has white elevations punctuated with slightly arched window surrounds of brickwork. Two hipped dormers mark the loft in the roof space. On the court side, the entrance door stands beneath a canopy of tiles. There is a bull's-eye window at each end of the facade. The south-facing back of the house leads to a cosy gravel court in the shade of an adjoining barn, a large willow and abundant vegetation. It lies above the stream, which runs through a stone-vaulted underground passageway towards the River Armançon. The dining room is extended with a lean-to that provides shade for open-air meals. A swimming pool, which needs to be put back in working order, completes the home and its lush, flowery backdrop.
The ground floor
The ground floor is arranged around a dual-aspect corridor that links the entrance door on the main court side to the rear court. From this corridor, a winding wooden staircase leads up to the first floor and then on to the roof space. On the right, there is a kitchen beside a lounge with a fireplace with an insert. This lounge is extended with an office. On the left, there is a bathroom and then a large dining room bathed in natural light. Most of the floors are adorned with large stone slabs, smoothened over time.
The upstairs
At the top of the stairs, there is a hallway with a floor of terracotta tiles. On the left, it connects to two big bedrooms. On the right, beyond a spacious landing area, it connects to a shower room and a large third bedroom.
The guesthouseThe guesthouse lies in the western part of the imposing ...
