A 15th-century manor house listed as a regional Historical Monument and renovated according to standard practices on 18 hectares of rolling grounds, n
A 15th-century manor house listed as a regional Historical Monument and renovated according to standard practices on 18 hectares of rolling grounds, near Livarot in the middle of the Norman Pays d'Auge region.
In the southwest of the Calvados department and the middle of Normandy, the property is located within a rural town in the Pays d'Auge region, known for its apple trees and its lush, deep green pastureland, while its stately manors and traditional villages are surrounded by immense forests and richly planted fields. Nearby, the towns of Livarot and Orbec, the former of which owes its fame to its renowned cheese, contain essential food businesses and services for daily life, whereas the former episcopal city of Lisieux, a major pilgrimage and religious tourism site linked to the memory of Saint Thérèse is only 15 kilometres away. To the north, the Flowery Coast and its seaside resorts, developed in the 19th century and ideal for dips in the ocean on nice days, are only a stone's throw away, while, further west, from the famous "Cider route", the Dives River and the Seine estuary create breath-taking landscapes. Lastly, Paris is only two hours away via the A13 motorway.
Along a small country road, the property is sheltered behind massive and well-maintained hedgerows, so typical of the Pays d'Auge countryside. An electric gate marks the entrance to the property, near which an orchard provides glimpses of the manor house, while its half-timbered barn, set almost at a right angle to the dwelling, has been reconverted in large part. Further on, the property also includes a second timber-framed dwelling, a dovecote and a machine room, creating an architectural unity with features characteristic of the 15th-18th centuries. In all likelihood built in the second half of the 15th century, the rectangular-shaped manor house stretches from north to south and, according to several architectural studies, seems to have been built over an older edifice, while its interior and exterior were built using the same materials - stone, terracotta and wood - in the traditional architectural style so ubiquitous to the region. In addition, this manor house particularly stands out thanks to the rather astounding rediscovery and preservation of its original Renaissance-era décor, which was resurrected behind its wood panelling in the 18th century.
As for the various buildings on the property, they are elegantly scattered along a gentle slope and connected to one another via tree-lined paths, while, further on, a second entrance to the property provides access, in particular, to the second dwelling.
Up on higher ground, the immense property also includes a variety of interconnected gardens, which create wide verdant spaces with tantalising essences and fragrances, as well as a stream and a pond. As for the forest cover, it is mainly composed of mature trees and encircles the back of the property. In addition, woodlands and pastures, stretching as far as the eye can see, blanket the nearby hills, while the Touques River valley is located below as well as a stud farm further on.
The Manor HouseLike many other buildings in the Pays d'Auge, the manor house, which gives so much grandeur to the property, was designed with a mélange of architectural motifs. So much so that it piqued the curiosity of one of France's first archaeologists, Arcisse de Caumont, who wrote: "Near the church and to the west, is the 16th-century manor house, the ashlar stone gable end of which is flanked by two buttresses...".
On its southern gable end wall, built in the 15th century, an arched door surrounded by curvilinear moulding provides access to the cellars. As for the manor's opposite gable end, it was constructed out of red brick and fully reorganised in order to provide the interior spaces with a modern entrance. Facing east and west, the manor ...
