15th century manor house near Fontainebleau

A medieval castle converted into a seigneurial farm

This exceptional 15th century manor house stands in a privileged location within the Gâtinais regional natural park, in the Île-de-France region, just 22 kilometers from the historic city of Fontainebleau and approximately one hour south of Paris by train. The property is part of a medieval village nestled in the beautiful French rural landscape.

The history of this place is fascinating: a castle dating from the 15th century stood on this property until the end of the 18th century, being extensively redesigned in the 17th century. A historic map from 1785 shows that the castle formed a defensive quadrilateral where each corner was protected by a tower. However, most of this fortress was sadly destroyed during the French Revolution, and the building was converted into a fortified farm complex centered around a rectangular courtyard.

Today, although all the towers have disappeared, the covered carriage entrance with double doors flanked by defensive loopholes has been preserved, a silent testimony to its military past. An ancient moat covered with vegetation runs along the southern elevation of the manor house, recalling the original defensive function of the complex.

An architectural heritage of exceptional value

Historic spaces that captivate the senses

The main manor house preserves architectural elements of extraordinary value. On the ground floor, converted after the French Revolution into two separate dwellings for workers, there are spaces with exposed wooden beams, grey marble fireplaces and timber framing structures typical of French medieval construction.

The first floor houses five connected habitable rooms that have not been modified since the castle was abandoned by its lords. The wooden and stone corbels and exposed ceiling beams preserve traces of painted decoration dating from the pre-French Revolution era. The largest room features the remains of a plaster fireplace mantel, while all rooms maintain their original hexagonal terracotta floors and small-paned windows characteristic of the period.

The attic constitutes a vast space with an area of approximately 340 m² that could be converted, offering exceptional potential to create additional living spaces with exposed wooden beams and high ceilings.

Medieval underground treasures

In the basement are two cellars dating from the Middle Ages that would have been under the old castle. The smaller cellar features two ancient stone vaults, while the larger one has four alcoves spaced around a double groined vault, creating spaces of extraordinary architectural beauty that testify to medieval construction mastery.

Historic outbuildings with multiple possibilities

The tithe barn is located at right angles to the north elevation of the castle. Farmers would come to this tithe barn to leave a tenth of their harvest as tax in kind for the Catholic Church. Its roof reaches around 10 meters high and the barn offers an area of approximately 150 m².

The multiple outbuildings offer vast spaces for different purposes: former sheep house (55 m²), adjacent barn (85 m²), row of four additional barns of various dimensions, dovecote (15 m²), former dairy (20 m²) and open barn (90 m²). All these constructions preserve original elements such as wooden beam structures, stone walls and historic roofs.

Grounds with potential and unique elements

The grounds of more than 1 hectare include 6,430 m² of land around the rectangular enclosure of the complex. On the west side, there is a section of 430 m² of buildable land. In the southeast section, 6,000 m² of grounds are currently used as farmland. An additional 3,000 m² plot can be acquired from the current owner to expand the estate.

Among the unique elements of the complex stands out a medieval well with perfectly preserved stone wellhead, which adds special charm to the historic character of the property.

An exceptional investment near Paris

The Île-de-France region, with its proximity to Paris and excellent transport connections, represents one of the most sought-after areas in France. The privileged location just one hour from Paris and 22 km from Fontainebleau facilitates access to the French capital and its international airports.

The Gâtinais regional natural park provides an exceptional natural environment, ideal for developing sustainable tourism activities, while the region's heritage wealth attracts visitors interested in French history, art and culture.

This manor house for renovation represents a unique opportunity to develop high-level residential, cultural or rural tourism projects, taking advantage of both its exceptional heritage value and its strategic location in the heart of France.

* Publication for information purposes only, not binding or contractual. May contain errors or be subject to change.