MONTLUÇON, Auvergne, Address available on request

At the crossroads of the Bourbonnais, Marche, Berry and Auvergne, in the middle of castles and fortresses of all ages, this neo-Renaissance jewel typical of the region, and yet adorned with tufa, overlooks the Cher valley and its historical sites in front of a motte attested to in the Merovingian period (636). The turrets with south-east and north-east pepperpot roofs, as well as the stair tower, are reminiscent of Renaissance defence architecture, as are the stylised façade decorations, in the form of a crossbow with pinnacle or a trefoil opening in the shape of a cloverleaf.
At the crossroads of the Roman roads east-west from Augustoritum (Limoges) to Augustodium (Autun), and south-north from Augustonemetum (Clermont) to Avaricum (Bourges), dominating from its esplanade an exceptional panorama, at more than 180° over the forests and bocage of the Val de Cher, the Château de la Motte-Rocheuse, this elegant nineteenth-century folly erected in colorful variegated sandstone, unique to the region,  still has a 13-hectare reserve laid out in the traditional way: on the edge of a small wood, a long avenue of honour lined with lime trees and oaks skirts a meadow crossed by a wide stream; You can discover the castle beyond its outbuildings, separated from them by a grove and a romantic park of various species, crossed by the meanders of a stream: several species of oaks, chestnut trees, plane trees, lime trees, hornbeams, acacias, redwoods, pines and cedars... Three wells attest to a place where life abounds: on the farm, in the castle, and on the motte.
A second shaded driveway provides access to the outbuildings, which have their access from the small municipal road "defended" by a neo-Gothic entrance castle with a crenellated tower. The place, although in the center of France and so easy to access, is only disturbed by the rustling of nature and the scents of the park.
The castle, renovated inside and out (350 m² of living space on 3 levels + entire vaulted basement), built in red, orange and yellow variegated sandstone:
South-east garden level (entire vaulted basement):
- accessible by stone spiral staircase: 2 wine cellars and various groin-vaulted rooms, one of which has an oil boiler.
Park level:
- on the esplanade: stone porch of honour in front of the panorama to the south-east, overlooking
- the entrance opening onto the reception rooms and
- the barbican turret, with an oak staircase with wrought iron railings
- dining room (28 m²) and living room (30 m²) facing the view, with herringbone oak parquet flooring, woodwork, marble fireplace, interior shutters
- North-west office (17 m²), park view, straight oak parquet flooring, marble fireplace
- service entrance to the west also opening onto stairs, toilets (washbasin), and
- kitchen (23 m²) paved with lava stone, fitted and equipped.
Upstairs (oak parquet floors, more or less the same floor plan as on the ground floor):
- central bearing distributing:
- 2 large south-east bedrooms facing the view (28 and 30 m²), marble fireplaces, interior shutters
- 2 smaller rear rooms, with marble fireplaces, one of which is converted into a bathroom
- shower room
-toilet.
Converted attic (pine parquet floors):
- Landing in a stay serving:
- a suite: large bedroom with view, anteroom, shower room + separate toilet
- large room with a view
- shower room + toilet
-laundry.
Restored structural work (rendering, freestone facings... roof about 25 years).
Restored interiors: decoration, floors, sanitary and plumbing, electricity...
- Cast iron radiators, authentic windows, decoration in the taste of the time.
Outbuildings in quadrangular courtyard, adorned with marbled pink stone from Saulzais (to be finished restoring or not):
Very pretty neo-Gothic entrance castle, adorned with neo-Renaissance freestone windows and doors, still with a beautiful stone spiral staircase, but roof to be done (or not);
Old stables with arcades and dormers;
Rebuilt barn, clad in Saulzais stone, with an oak frame of traditional workmanship;
Kennel;
Renovated caretaker's house at the west entrance, on the edge of the property (92 m²);
Walled garden and shed (orchard-vegetable garden).
This superb site of the Château de la Motte-Rocheus is located at:
* 20 minutes from the historic heart of Montluçon, sub-prefecture of Allier (motorway 71, SNCF station) and a golf course
* 15 min south of the forest of Tronçais
* 1 hour 15 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand and its airport.
Numerous additional photos, including "before-and-after renovations" photos