Live Like French Nobility In A Manor House Attached To A Historic Castle

french manor on a hillside
This manor house and stone citadel look out on panoramic views of the bucolic valley of Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France.

There’s nothing like owning a piece of French history – especially when it involves a castle on a site that has been occupied since the 4th century.

This manor house and stone citadel look out on panoramic views of the bucolic valley of Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France.

The storied property takes in panoramic views of the bucolic valley of Savoie in France.

The storied property takes in views of the valley of Savoie in southeastern France. (Groupe Mercure)

Perched strategically on a rock outcropping, the elevated dwelling took shape from the 11th to 16th centuries. The residence, set in the outer courtyard of the fortress, underwent an extensive restoration in the 19th century and has been kept up since.

While the castle portion is now largely a relic, much of its majesty endures with several towers and thick defensive stone walls intact.

Battlements top the towers, creating gaps in the parapets where archers once shielded themselves while firing on invaders of the war-torn region. Paths and gardens fill the bailey – the courtyard where soldiers may have trained.

Paths and gardens fill the courtyard.

Paths and gardens fill the courtyard. (Groupe Mercure)

Over the centuries the castle was used to guard an important transportation route and, for a time, as a prison from which the revolutionary politician the Marquis de Sade famously escaped while his guards ate dinner.

The manor house, which is attached to the castle, retains a historical charm. Authentic materials were used to keep its character intact.

The central hall is adorned with stained-glass windows and anchored by wood wainscoting. An ornate staircase splits at a landing to access the upper levels.

The formal dining room features a wood-beam ceiling, wainscoting and wood floors. Intricate wood panels grace the ceiling in the adjacent living room, which features a fireplace.

Parquet wood floors, paneled ceilings and fireplaces are among the architectural details.

Parquet wood floors, paneled ceilings and fireplaces are among the architectural details. (Groupe Mercure)

The large reception rooms and 14 bedrooms have high ceilings that create a feeling of spaciousness throughout the 750 square meters, or 8,073 square feet, of interiors.

The round-shaped primary bedroom has a domed ceiling and decorative woodwork.

Outbuildings include a chapel featuring stained-glass windows, a raised altar, stone work, wooden pews and a soaring groin-vaulted ceiling. One tower has been converted to a billiard room.

The grounds, which include stables, gardens and a garage, encompass 1.14 hectares or roughly 2.8 acres of land.

A domed ceiling tops one of the 14 bedrooms.

A domed ceiling tops one of the eight bedrooms. (Groupe Mercure)

Needless to say, they don’t make properties like this anymore.

Nicolas Devic of Groupe Mercure is the listing agent for the estate, which is set near Saint-Pierre-d’Albigny. The asking price is 4.21 million euros or close to US $4.86 million. The castle is classified as a historic monument.

The property is about a 20-minute drive from the alpine town of Chambéry and an hour from the international Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. Lake Carouge is about 10 minutes away.

Hiking, biking, skiing and touring wineries are among local attractions.

Author

During four decades of covering luxury and celebrity housing, I’ve looked into people’s homes, lives and property records through many lenses. I was the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section editor for eight years, the Hot Property columnist for six and did stints as a newspaper reporter, copy editor and page designer. My work for The Times Business, Home and Real Estate sections has garnered in-house and national awards for blogging, editing and feature writing.

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