CHÂTEAU DE MONTANGES - Domaine du Très-Haut - Ancient Cistercian priory of the 12th century - High Jura, 45 minutes from Geneva.
A historic castle, operated as a bed and breakfast and character gîtes, offering a rare development potential in the heart of a 3.6 hectare landscaped park - orchard, forest, gardens and meadows included.
An authentic heritage
The former Cistercian priory, whose lands were once attached to the abbey of Nantua, consists of a main building and two towers, elevated on vaulted cellars with direct access to the garden and can be converted into a spa or other uses. The north tower, a former dovecote, now houses a caretaker's apartment. The main entrance, of Cistercian design, the spiral stone staircase, the French ceilings, the double fireplace and the many ancient woodworks testify to a remarkably preserved past.
A 3.6 hectare park
The estate extends over six cadastral parcels for a total area of 3.6 hectares, combining meadows, wooded areas and landscaped spaces. The planted orchard, associated with a kitchen garden (the "jardin de curé"), gives the park a romantic character as much as nourishing and living, rare for a estate of this scope - an asset as much for residential use as for the reception of outdoor events.
An outdoor pool, a large terrace, a jacuzzi and a Nordic bath complement these green spaces.
The main entrance, through a gate and a gravelled driveway, serves a courtyard allowing the parking of numerous vehicles.
An already profitable activity, with significant room for progress
The castle is operated all year round as tourist accommodation: gîtes and suites, complemented by the private accommodation in the north tower.
The establishment benefits from a Gîtes de France 4 épis classification (capacity for 15 people) and has a restaurant license allowing the sale of drinks. It can be fully privatized for weddings, seminars, team-building, receptions or other events.
The occupancy rate of around 35% is voluntarily limited by the current operator (as a complementary activity).
This untapped potential leaves room for significant progress for a successor wishing to develop the activity.
Additional volumes to be converted into housing
Beyond the already existing activity, several volumes of the castle remain to be enhanced in living areas. The attics of the main building (203 m²) and the barn (305 m² on three levels, the rough work already restored and the authorizations for new openings already obtained) offer a potential for conversion into additional housing - independent gîtes, attic apartments or private housing, depending on the project chosen.
The configuration of the estate, with its main building, the north tower currently fitted out as a caretaker's apartment and the separate barn, also lends itself to division into co-ownership.
Such a division would allow the creation of several legally distinct units - for separate resale, shared use between several owners, or facilitated transmission - an option to be confirmed by a notary, depending on the project chosen.
A tourist development potential already engaged administratively
In addition to these conversions into housing, a larger project for the tourist development of the estate allows the creation of:
10 accommodation units of the eco-lodge type, including 2 treehouses,
a large capacity reception tent (fixed all year round)
two sanitary blocks,
a sauna area,
the
