A restored, 19th-century manor, in the south of the Manche area, at the crossroads of three regions - ref 272881
A restored, 19th-century manor, in the south of the Manche area, at the crossroads of three regions.
Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët is located in the south of the Manche area and shares influences with the nearby Normandy, Brittany and Loire regions, in peaceful, undulating wooded countryside. The small town stretches along the banks of the River Sélune, a small coastal river that flows into the Bay of Mont Saint Michel, and its tributary, the River Airon. Shops, services, schools and cultural centres can all be easily reached. A discrete street leads to the property and its tree-filled grounds overlooking the countryside. The municipality is 2 hours 30 minutes from Paris by rail from the station in Laval, which is 70 kilometres away, 1 hour 10 minutes from Rennes and less than 1 hour from Mont Saint Michel and the beaches.
A wrought iron gate in a tall stone wall opens from the street into the property, which boasts great architectural and landscaping coherence. The manor was built in the 19th century and stands in the middle of the grounds. Its sober silhouette is marked by an adroit mixture of Art Nouveau and Anglo-Norman styles. The property's overall balance is reinforced by the immaculate and harmonious interior decorations and fittings. The three-storey façades made of rough-hewn blocks of granite are punctuated by slight protrusions and many tall, small-paned windows through which light streams into the interior. The steep sloping slate roof is dotted with tall stone chimney stacks. Set back from the manor house, the outbuildings avoid impinging on the property's unity. The grounds are faithful to the original landscaping design and surround the residence with carefully mown lawns, winding paths and a variety of different trees. A vast meadow extends away from the property towards the surrounding countryside beyond the river. The residence was once home to the marine painter Marin-Marie, who was a solo yachtsman and a talented illustrator. He is famous for his daring transatlantic crossings on board the Arielle yacht and for his highly accurate maritime drawings.
The manorThe granite façades are carefully designed and decorated, formed of irregularly shaped rough-hewn blocks, with generous pointing. Its roofs are made of slate. The northern façade set around the entrance door is the most remarkable. On one side, a slightly protruding tower is topped by a pavilion roof. The southern façade looks out onto the grounds and is elegantly symmetrical, set around steps climbing to a patio. The tall windows are arranged into distinctive vertical rows topped by dormer windows on the roof. Inside, the same layout can be found on every level, from the basement to the second floor, with the rooms separated by the thick, load-bearing walls that form the manor's structure.
The garden-level floor
A two-step stoop leads up to the Art Nouveau inspired entrance door, with a daring design. At the foot of a monumental staircase and at the top of several steps, there is a large hall with an impressive ceiling height. A hallway leads to a lavatory, wardrobe space and a kitchen at the end. Next, there is an Art Nouveau decorated dining room, which is the centrepiece of the manor. It is followed by a classically decorated lounge and then a second one that looks out towards the east through a vast window. Lastly, there is an office in the tower, at the front of the manor.
The first floor
The stairs, which are bathed in light through a tall window, climb to a landing. On one side, it leads to a bedroom, decorated in olive green hues with a black marble fireplace, adjacent to which there is a bathroom and separate lavatory in the tower. Next comes a peacock blue second bedroom with a cherry red marble fireplace topped by an overmantel, as well as an en suite bathroom with a lavatory. A third, light blue ...
