A historic pleasure palace from the Second Empire surrounded by a 40-hectare estate with 27 hectares of woods and an immense pond near the birthplace
A historic pleasure palace from the Second Empire surrounded by a 40-hectare estate with 27 hectares of woods and an immense pond near the birthplace of the famous French author Colette.
The property, located in the southwest of the Yonne department, not far from the Morvan Regional Natural Park, spans across several different towns. A few minutes from the chateau, high-quality essential shops for daily life can be found in the small neighbouring hamlets, while several villages provide their residents with a weekly green market, the most famous of which is the one in Toucy. A large medical centre is located 5 minutes away by car in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye and, an SNCF train station in Briare provides access to the Paris-Bercy train station in two hours. In addition, the region boasts many tourist and cultural attractions, including several churches listed as historical monuments, in which precious medieval murals can be found, as well as the fortress in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, the writer Colette's former hometown, which, during the Hundred Years War, was a Burgundy outpost against the King of France.
After having passed through several villages typical of the region, a small country road leads to the property's two entrances: the first is indicated by a small gate and a former caretaker's lodge, while the second, much more impressive, is marked by two large spiked wrought-iron double gates supported by four brick and stone pillars, while original guard stones run alongside the low briquette walls, which support the finely-crafted fence. The latter entrance faces a majestic pond thanks to the beauty of its banks and resident swans, a chivalric and romantic symbol if ever there was one.
A little further on, a small drive provides access to a third wrought-iron gate, which opens onto a track that climbs upwards towards the property. Large oaks line the drive that leisurely passes by the outbuildings, followed by the fields where horses can be seen frolicking. A large semi-circular courtyard, where orange and palm trees stand side by side with Medici vases, faces the chateau overlooking its grounds, while a staircase in front of the chateau leads to a former orchard, decorated with an original stone fountain adorned by two cherubs. Lastly, hidden within the grounds' vegetation is a caretaker's cottage, located near an enclosed farmyard surrounded by outbuildings, in the centre of which is an ancient brick footbath for horses.
The ChateauBuilt in 1830, the property was originally a hunting lodge before Louis Frémy became its owner in 1841. A brilliant politician, he created an educational farm and held large hunting feasts here in the autumn months. Other important events would also be organised here, such as the inauguration of the conservatory in 1867, with the Comédie-Française theatre troupe performing in the presence of Empress Eugénie. After the fall of the Empire, Louis Frémy passed down the chateau to the Count d'Hérisson-Polastron. However, much later, in 1930, a family of industrialists, Mr. and Mrs. Lelorrain, took over the property and succeeded in returning it to its former lustre. Once again, large parties were held here as they had been in the past and still are today.
The chateau is made up of a main building flanked by two pavilions at either end, facing the semi-circular courtyard. Louis Frémy designed the construction of the two pavilions as well as the expansion of the central building. The slate hipped roof, which tops the main edifice was duplicated over the two pavilions, whose slate roof breaks are topped with zinc decks. The chateau's stone and brick exterior walls are punctuated with many symmetrical windows and doors surrounded by white ashlar stone, which can also be found in the building's quoins. Some of the windows, more sophisticated, are arched, while the roof is ...
