Medieval Chateau With ‘Remarkable’ Gardens Seeks $3 Million In Central France

central france castle surrounded by remarkable gardens
A symmetrical topiary garden sits in the courtyard of the medieval chateau. (Groupe Mercure)

One would be hard-pressed to find a private estate for sale in all of France with more notable gardens. They are, in fact, listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the country’s more than 300 Remarkable Gardens of France.

The 9 hectares, or about 22 acres, of park-like grounds and formal gardens surround a chateau that dates to the 13th and 15th centuries. The property is near the village of Orcival within the Puy de Dôme area of central France.

Once a castle, the chateau was demilitarized in the 17th century and transformed into a residence.

Once a castle, the chateau was demilitarized in the 17th century and transformed into a residence. (Groupe Mercure)

Built originally as a castle, the property belonged to the same family for nearly 400 years. The fortress was demilitarized in the 17th century, as were many others were due to the political climate of the times, and rebuilt as a residence.

The gardens were added in the late 1600s. They were designed by the studio of André Le Nôtre, the gardener to King Louis XIV and the landscape architect whose French formal gardens grace the Palace of Versailles.

The chateau gained renewed notice when it was used as the setting for Nobel Prize-nominated writer Paul Bourget’s 1914 novel Le Démon de Midi.

The chateau has 12 rooms including grand public spaces.

The chateau has 16 main rooms including grand public spaces. (Groupe Mercure)

During World War II, the location – far from the zone of Nazi occupation – was used to safeguard the archives of the University of Strasbourg and the French National Library.

The chateau and gardens were restored in the mid-1960s.

Hornbeam trees line the driveway to the chateau, which retains the defensive towers that give it a fairy-tale like appearance. The stone facade retains what are known as machicolations – corbel-supported openings through which burning embers or stones could be dropped on attackers.

A massive stone fireplace sits in the dining hall.

A massive stone fireplace sits in the dining hall. (Groupe Mercure)

A topiary garden with fountains sits in the courtyard. Nearby is a labyrinth, which leads to a rose garden. Precisely trimmed hedges surround two more formal gardens with manicured lawns.

The interior has the air of an aristocrat’s country home. A 16th-century marble altarpiece, decorative 18th-century plaster moldings, garrison rooms and dungeons add a museum-like quality.

A wood beam ceiling tops the dining hall, which features stone door surrounds and a massive stone fireplace. The chateau has 16 main rooms including a chapel, 12 bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The high-ceiling bedrooms feature baronial fireplaces, inlaid wood floors and ornate wall panels.

A coved ceiling and a chandelier top are among decorative details in one of the bedrooms.

A coved ceiling, ornate walls and a chandelier are among decorative details in one of the bedrooms. (Groupe Mercure)

Outbuildings include an annex house, a renovated farmhouse, garages, stables and a barn.

Sophie van Cayzeele of Groupe Mercure is the listing agent for the property, which is priced at 2.5 million euros or nearly US $3 million.

Orcival, centered on the 12th century Basilica of Notre-Dame, has long been a pilgrimage destination.

One of the 12 bedrooms features high ceilings, large windows and an inlaid wood floor.

There are 12 bedrooms in the chateau. (Groupe Mercure)

The chateau is about 30 minutes from the larger university city of Clermont-Ferrand and the Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport.

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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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