French Manoir For Sale
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235 properties
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Authentic 4 bedroom Manor House for sale in Beauville, Aquitaine
Ref 241752
Prestigious character property in the heart of a pretty village in the Lot et Garonne, with 4 bedrooms and set in half an acre of grounds. This stone house is approached via a lovely cast iron ga...
445,200 EUR
13 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view with Income Potential in Aignan, Midi-Pyrenees
Ref 241739
Charming French chateau set in a country estate of 15 acres in the Gascony countryside, providing luxury living in a beautiful setting with impressive views reaching to the Pyrenees. This much lov...
2,650,000 EUR
Income Producing 13 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in La Mastre, Rhone-Alpes
Ref 241592
Excellent lifestyle and income opportunity with this impressive French chateau in the heart of the Ardeche region of France, set in over 4 acres with outbuildings, gites and swimming pool. The ...
980,000 EUR
Character 6 bedroom Chateau for sale in Montaigu de Quercy, Midi-Pyrenees
Ref 241584
Charming character property with pool and set in over 6 acres in a village setting located 30 minutes from Agen, and 23 minutes from Montagu de Quercy. The lovely stone property features a ma...
740,000 EUR
Refurbished 5 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Monbazillac, Aquitaine
Ref 241566
Recommended
Full of character and charm, this magnificent 5 bedroom Chateau, with a total spacious living area of 342m2, is ideally situated in a quiet setting, yet just a few steps from the charming village ...
1,300,000 EUR
Furnished 5 bedroom Chateau for sale with panoramic view in Nontron, Aquitaine
Ref 241440
Enchanting 5 bedroom fully restored and furnished 15th Century French Chateau, nestling in nearly 2 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, enjoying panoramic countryside views from its ideal elevat...
595,000 EUR
Income Producing 24 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Agen, Aquitaine
Ref 241192
Fabulous 24 bedroom fully furnished luxury hotel nestling in over 3 hectares of glorious landscaped gardens with trees and expansive pool, while enjoying far reaching countryside views from its per...
2,288,000 EUR
Historical 8 bedroom Manor House for sale in Villeneuve sur Lot, Aquitaine
Ref 241145
Exquisite 3 storey, 8 bedroom Maison Bourgeoise nestling in 14.5 acres of glorious land with stables and cottage, enjoying wonderful views across the river from its peaceful location near all ameni...
1,263,500 EUR
14 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Le Mans, Pays-de-la-Loire
Ref 240977
Currently undergoing restoration, this exquisite French chateau offers 680m2 of habitable space plus an additional house and outbuildings sitting on 25 hectares of land with beautiful gardens, eque...
2,640,000 EUR
Historical 13 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Cognac, Poitou-Charentes
Ref 240905
Superb French Chateau, full of character and charm, built in 1880 at the request of a famous Cognac family, this stunning listed chateau is beautifully set within an idyllic setting on the banks of...
3,021,000 EUR
Refurbished 9 bedroom Chateau for sale with panoramic view in Monestier, Aquitaine
Ref 240904
Recommended
Beautifully and tastefully refurbished 9 bedroom stone built property, with a total spacious living area of 500m2, set within a mature landscaped plot of 3,303m2 with a swimming pool and stunning c...
1,150,000 EUR
24 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside and panoramic views in Bonnes, Poitou-Charentes
Ref 240822
Rare and unique opportunity to acquire an extraordinary property. Set in over 155 acres of glorious land is this magnificent and luxurious 24 bedroom chateau with expansive pool, 2 further houses a...
8,000,000 EUR
Character 10 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Charroux, Poitou-Charentes
Ref 240783
With a total of 10 bedrooms, this grand and inviting manor house/small chateau and charming renovated coach house, are ideally situated within walking distance to the popular village of Charroux, w...
392,200 EUR
Refurbished 9 bedroom Manor House for sale with countryside view in Tonneins, Aquitaine
Ref 240782
Well presented 9 bedroom manor house, which is set at the end of its own private driveway, situated in a quiet setting in Tonneins, between Marmande to the west and Agen to the east. Totally rest...
466,400 EUR
Renovated 11 bedroom Manor House for sale with countryside view in Casteljaloux, Aquitaine
Ref 240656
Full of charm and character is this beautifully restored 11 bedroom, 11th Century Manor House with two gites and outbuildings, nestling in over 3 acres of glorious land with pool, while enjoying wo...
845,000 EUR
Renovated 8 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Meilhan sur Garonne, Aquitaine
Ref 240652
Outstanding beautifully renovated 3 storey, 8 bedroom Napoleon III style Chateau with 2 gites, 3 swimming pools and stables, nestling in 74 hectares of glorious land while enjoying far reaching cou...
3,995,000 EUR
Character 10 bedroom Manor House for sale with countryside view in Ruffec, Poitou-Charentes
Ref 240145
Full of character and charm, this substantial and uniquely positioned 10 mbedroom manor house, is ideally situated right in the heart of Ruffec, just a short walk from the market, shops, bars and r...
598,900 EUR
Authentic 5 bedroom Manor House for sale with countryside view in Libourne, Aquitaine
Ref 240049
Nestling in over 9 acres of glorious landscaped gardens with expansive pool and outbuildings, is this exquisite 5 bedroom Manor House with annex, enjoying far reaching countryside views from its pe...
795,000 EUR
Character 7 bedroom Manor House for sale with countryside view in Bergerac, Aquitaine
Ref 239827
Full of authentic character and charm, this historical and beautifully presented 7 bedroom property is set in a quiet area on just over 2 acres of land with a swimming pool and an annexe with disab...
895,000 EUR
Historical 8 bedroom Chateau for sale with countryside view in Bournezeau, Pays-de-la-Loire
Ref 238677
Recommended
A unique opportunity to acquire an exceptional 8 bedroom 19th century Florentine style French Chateau with chapel, renovated outbuildings with accommodation and huge conservatory offering a great d...
5,830,000 EUR
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Area Guide

Soak up the morning sunshine rays whilst enjoying an al fresco breakfast on the terrace of your newly renovated French manoir or manor house nestling deep in the rolling hills of the Dordogne countryside; take a leisurely stroll through the ancient olive groves and trees bursting with ripe oranges and lemons surrounding your 16th Century stone manoir and enjoy the fabulous views of distant hazy mountains and a hint of sparkling blue sea; enjoy a relaxing afternoon messing around in boats on your own private lake before returning to your stylish French manoir for a chilled glass of champagne whilst watching the sun set through the dark green pine trees of the surrounding forest. Mostly located in beautiful locations, there is a wide range of French manoirs for sale throughout France providing investors with a very real opportunity of owning a property that has instant caché whether it is a stylishly renovated 18th Century stone manoir sitting in acres of woodland, a more rustic 16th Century manoir complete with traditional wooden beams and stone floors or a charming modern manor house surrounded by landscaped gardens and rolling green lawns.

A French manoir or manor house was a strongly fortified manor-house, which may include two sets of enclosing walls, drawbridges, and a ground-floor hall or salle basse that was used to receive peasants and commoners. The salle basse was also the location of the manor court, with the steward or lord of the manor’s seating location often marked by the presence of a crédence de justice or wall-cupboard (shelves built into the stone walls to hold documents and books associated with administration of the demesne or droit de justice). The salle haute or upper-hall, reserved for the lord of the manor and where he received his high-ranking guests, was often accessible by an external spiral staircase. It was common to "open" up to the roof trusses, as in similar English homes. This larger and more finely decorated hall was usually located above the ground-floor hall. The lord of the manor and his family's private chambers were often located off of the upper first-floor hall, and invariably had their own fireplace (with finely decorated chimney-piece) and frequently a latrine. In addition to having both lower and upper halls, many French manoirs also had partly fortified gateways, watchtowers, and enclosing walls that were fitted with arrow or gun loops for added protection. These defensive arrangements allowed these French manoirs to be safe from any local uprisings or armed rebellions which often happened during the troubled times of the Hundred Years War and the wars of the Holy League; however it would have been difficult for them to resist a siege undertaken by a regular army equipped with siege engines.

The traditional French manoir is nowadays a very sought-after type of property both as a second home and for holiday rentals and across France there is a healthy supply of French manoirs for sale. The larger properties – those with five bedrooms or more - offer excellent opportunities for holiday rental income with some having been converted into individual apartments or operating as a ‘bed and breakfast’.

There is a wide variety of styles and locations throughout the whole of France and prices range from around 350,000 EUR to over 2m EUR for the very top end of the market. Tucked away between the Pyrenees and the Loire Valley is the beautiful region of the Dordogne. Named after the river that runs through it, the region is home to truffles, foie gras, peppery Bergerac red wine and fabulous hiking and biking scenery. There are French manoirs for sale in the heart of this region overlooking tranquil valleys and secluded woodland. All renovated to a very high standard but retaining original features - some with additional guest accommodation and swimming pools - they offer superb accommodation for families and/or holiday rentals. Moving more south west to Gascony, the region of sunflowers and gently rolling hills, medieval bastide towns and classic French farmhouses, vineyards and typical French country restaurants, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pyrénées mountains. The elegant manoirs of Gascony are grand residences usually dating from the 18th and 19th century but designed on a more intimate scale than the Chateaux, often for landowners who lived from agricultural rents. Most are very symmetrical with grand entrances and hallways, sweeping wooden staircases, high ceilings and tall windows with either exterior or interior shutters. Distinctly different – Brittany’s northern border of beautiful jagged coastline and golden sandy beaches gives way to a mysterious, spell-binding land of myths and legends brimming with meandering canals and rivers, romantic chateaux and charming, picturesque towns. Here the manoirs are varied in style; choose a 15th Century renovated stone manoir set in acres of parkland resplendent with its great hall adorned with granite fireplaces, wooden floors and spiral staircases or an elegant 18th Century manoir with its beautiful original entrance hall with wood panelling, original decorative tiled floor and ceiling rose and polished parquet flooring, wood panelling and decorative tiled floors throughout.

French manoirs are special; evoking the traditions and romance of a bygone era yet providing all the convenience and luxury of modern day living, they are becoming increasingly popular as an investment both as a residence and also as holiday rental accommodation. There are French manoirs for sale throughout the whole of France and for the wise investor, these properties can provide an excellent investment opportunity.

Buying a Property in France

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)

On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner.

The next step, once you are in agreement, is to sign the preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente). This is a legal document and after ten days will be binding on both parties. Rules change frequently in France and it is best to consult with your notary about when this period starts. Generally the compris will be signed in France with the Agent.

Variants can be included in the compris, for example an Acte (clause) can be added if the name or names to go on the title deed have not been finalised. If a mortgage will be required to purchase the property, the details for this, including the name of the mortgage company, must be on the compris.

2. Paying the Deposit

Generally the deposit will be 10% of the agreed purchase price. This will normally be paid to the notaire. There are exceptions to this, if the agent holds a carte professionelle, is bonded and fully registered then you may pay them, but do not hand over the deposit to anyone else. If for some reason the purchase does not go through, for example, if you write to the notaire and the agent that you do not wish to go continue with the purchase before the contract is binding (within seven days of signing the compris), then your deposit would be repaid. This would also apply if a condition had not been met, or the mayor or S.A.F.E.R. (a government agency that has the right of first purchase on most rural property that comes onto the market in France) could oblige the purchaser to give way. If you decide after the seven days 'cooling off' period that you do not wish to complete the purchase and pull out of the sale you would lose your deposit. If however the vendor pulls out of the sale then you will receive your deposit back plus the same amount from the vendor.

3. On Completion

Generally it will take around two or three months to complete the purchase.

During this time the balance of the purchase money must be paid into the account of the notaire, this must be done well ahead of the completion date. The notaire will prepare the documents, check that the deed of sale (Acte de Vente) is in order and have the legal title ready to be signed over. It is possible to have someone sign on your behalf if you give them power of attorney. An interpreter may be of use at this point if your French is not very good and many Notaires will suggest (or insist) that an interpreter is with you.

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