Sablé-sur-Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, Address available on request

A restored 17th-century manor house with two hectares of tree-dotted grounds in a commanding position in France's Anjou province, 15 minutes from Sablé-sur-Sarthe. The property stands on the edge of a calm village through which three rivers flow. It lies in a commanding position upon an old feudal motte from the 14th century. The edifice has undergone various changes over the course of its long history, having been a law court and a boarding school for girls. It now has touches of modern comfort, yet it has preserved its 17th-century spirit. Tall hedges edge the grounds, giving the property absolute privacy. Hornbeams hide a parking space in the entrance area. A driveway lined with age-old linden trees leads up to the edifice, which is also given shade. On each side of the main drive, there are gardens dotted with trees, shrubs and different clusters of plants. The views of the valley and stream-edged meadow lower down are delightful and unrivalled. A retaining wall runs along the property's western edge and encloses, behind the house, on the north side, a swimming pool area, which is hidden behind hedges. The dwelling has been restored masterfully over the course of the past ten years. This manor house, which has been given the 'Fondation du Patrimoine' label for its distinctive qualities in built heritage, is rectangular in shape with two pavilions, which contain bathrooms, protruding from its southern elevation. It is made of rubble stone, which is coated with rendering. Its window and door surrounds are made of exposed tuffeau stone. The house offers a floor area of around 400m². It has a basement, a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor. Restored dormers stand upon its slate roofs. Five bays with large windows punctuate the southern elevation. In the northern elevation, the windows are arranged in the same way, making the interior a dual-aspect space with natural light flooding in from both sides. The window frames have been renovated in an old style with oak and single glazing and the original window catches reused.