Credit: Patrice Besse
France is renowned for its grand country residences and crumbling châteaux, but even among such competition, this 17th-century château on the outskirts of Domme – named one of ‘France’s most beautiful villages’ – has captured the imagination of our Instagram followers.
The manor sits on around 32 acres in the Périgord Noir region of Aquitaine, perching 150 metres above the Dordogne River. The area is renowned for its caves and prehistoric treasures, and the property itself teases an intriguing past. Originally a fortified manor, it featured a tower to guard against potential attacks, though only the ruins of this structure remain today.
The château boasts a wide façade built from local Vézère stone, with handsome shuttered windows and an arched central doorway, approached by a long sweeping drive. The French property has been partially restored, with some rooms completed and others awaiting work (original features intact). This makes it immediately liveable while offering a rewarding renovation project for future years.
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
Credit: Patrice Besse
The habitable part of the house is accessed through an entrance hall with yellow ochre lime-washed walls, earthen floor tiles, and an open fireplace. A 50-metre-long salon features lime-washed walls and large windows with stone surrounds. An 18th-century fireplace (not original but added within the last 150 years) enlivens the room and is in working order. This is especially useful as the house has not been modernised with central heating and has primarily been used as a summer residence.
The old kitchen and scullery are described as ‘monastic’ for their simplicity, with off-white glazed tiles and a single stone fireplace. Upstairs, the first floor features four restored bedrooms and a shared bathroom. Two bedrooms have 18th and 19th-century fireplaces and chevron parquet flooring, while the other two have stripped oak flooring.
Ilan Libert from Patrice Besse is selling the Dordogne property for €895,000, and the listing has lots more information on the château and its outbuildings.
