Amplepuis, Rhône 69550

A 17th century stately manor house, its outbuildings and chapel surrounded by 1.8 hectares of grounds in the 'Hauts du Beaujolais' region . The property, completely enclosed by high stone walls, comes into view at the end of a country lane, half-way up a hill crowned with woodland. This vast rural space is shared with a group of 19th century farm buildings and greenhouses that used to form an integral part of the property. The high, golden stone walls typical of the nearby Beaujolais region protect the 1.8 ha of grounds, which form two different parts of the estate. On the one hand, in the immediate vicinity of the manor house, there is a parterre with a geometric Latin cross pattern emphasised by angular topiaries, leading to a lateral access ramp to the terrace of the residence known as 'the chateau'. On the other hand, taking up the rest of the grounds, there is an English-style landscaped garden bordered on one side by a small canal and a dormant orchard below. A majestic bicentennial Lebanese cedar dominates the landscaped garden, towering over most of the other conifers and the lime trees. A very large pool, which could be converted into a swimming pool, appears at the bend of the ramp leading to the terrace of the manor house, next to the unpaved track leading to a votive chapel at the far end of the grounds. To the north, a group of outbuildings is arranged in a U-shape around the residence. Together with the rear elevation of the manor house, it forms a carriage courtyard, accessed via a service gate. These vast outbuildings, which include a caretaker's cottage, a stable and barns, are in need of complete restoration. The family, who lived here from the beginning of the 18th century until 1943, with a tragic incident during the French Revolution, left numerous remains, testimonials and archives. The estate was dedicated exclusively to agriculture. Over the centuries, this has protected the authenticity of the original materials that make up the buildings, witnesses of a number of traditional skills, many of which have now disappeared.