A folly in the Second Empire style, along the Seine

Under the aegis of Emperor Napoleon III, the entire Seine-et-Marne department benefitted from the blossoming of small châteaux, during the 19th century, between Fontainebleau and Barbizon, two towns marked by the presence of many sovereigns. Only 45 minutes from Paris, the aesthetics of a wide array of private mansions, also known as «Follies » sprinkled the landscapes of villages favoured by the French bourgeoisie. And the architects of the time gave free rein to their imagination.

Second Empire Style on the banks of the Seine

One of these talented architects built this manor, embellished by a Beaux-Arts decorator, along the waterfront. Enhanced with a slate roof, turrets, a small steeple and white-washed walls, it comprises several buildings. With its convoluted shapes and its ecclectic style, it recalls what historians refer to as the « Affolantes along the Seine », dear to the painters who immortalized these extravagant constructions.

With its Art Deco fireplace, its frescoes and an oak point de Hongrie parquet floor, the dining room has lots of cachet. © DR

In the living room, the high ceilings and the prestigious furniture set the tone of a princely lifestyle. © DR

A leisurely château in an idyllic natural setting

It lords over a landscaped park of 1,8 hectares, planted with trees and plants with rare essences, where one also finds an outdoor pool, a tennis court and a 60 m² caretakers' house. With a liveable surface of 650 m², the homestead includes, on 3 levels, a large reception room with a Louis XVI fireplace, an Art Deco dining room open on a terrace, an oak staircase lit by a polychrome stainglass window, 6 rooms, an artist's workshop and an office, plus a home cinema, a fitness room, a hammam and a sauna that will keep you distracted all year-round…

In the bedroom, vintage and contemporary styles mingle in harmony. © DR

Protected by stone balustrades, the terrace is also sheltered from indiscreet onlookers. © DR