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On the Normandy coast, about an hour from here, there is the opportunity to acquire one of the most remarkable properties in the region, indeed in France.
Le Bois des Moutiers was deigned by Edward Lutyens, then a young architect only 29 years of age, not yet famous for such achievements as the Viceroy Palace in India. The gardens were laid out by the incomparable Gertrude Jekyll, and today is still a lesson in garden design.
In 1897 Guillaume Mallet bought the land, that was already outstanding for it’s position overlooking the sea and for the beautiful mature trees. He had met Lutyens at the Universal exhibition and asked him to design the house, and turned to Jekyll for the gardens.
The Mallet family, still the owners today, filled the house with music, philosophy, literature and and painting and were proud to be a flagship to the Art and Craft movement. Virgina Woolf, Claude Monet, Proust, are just some of the famous names drawn to this exceptional property.
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19 comments
Lovely:) Thanks for sharing!!
Malin
i LOve the aerial view of the gardens, such a pretty masterpiece! thanks for sharing!
Sharon, one word….. breathtaking!
What a stunning house and such a spectacular setting.
Thank you!
bee x
Thank you for sharing this place with me this morning. I hope like you someone wonderful comes along to preserve it.
Sigh. Life is so not fair. That house should be mine!
OH so beautiful. Wish I could buy it without a second thought lol, but I'll have to sell my soul to come up with any sum this property must be worth.
Thanks for sharing,
it's gorgeous!!
xx
Siddy
http://www.SiddySays.com
Thank you for letting us know the property is for sale. I am pulling out my checkbook as I type this and will send my check today. You are welcome to stop by for tea and conversation once we have moved in! Finally, my dad will get to go back to his beloved Normandy roads… Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ok, one more reason to win the lottery
What a beautiful property. One day…..maybe so!
It's so unfortunate that the owners aren't able to keep this wonderful property, but I suppose time marches onward and they must do what's necessary and best for their family. I hope you'll be able to post a happy ending when someone or some foundation is able to acquire and love this place.
-Karen
This must be such a sad moment for the Mallet family. We visited a few years ago. The house and location are so beautiful. We also loved the local church of St. Valéry on the cliff top, painted by Monet. The Tree of Jesse window by Georges Braque, along with his wonderful mosaic tomb in the churchyard. Found you via All Things Ruffnerian.
That is an amazing property, the cliffs coming up to the mansion is incredible. Every time I look at your blog it inspires me to want to come back the France, I absolutely love it! Hope you can visit my blog some time. Trudy x
How phenomenal! Immediately these pictures made me think of Manderley in the novel "Rebecca."
~ Clare x
Oh how beautiful! So glad it's for sale, I think I'll pop over and buy it! x Sharon
such a lovely video; i am lucky that my French is quite good so I could understand his highly interesting explanations of the Arts and Crafts details in his house and also about his theosophic grandparents who must have been amazing personalities too. so sad that so many mansions like this little paradise cannot be kept by the heirs, we know the same problem here in the Southwest of Ireland were gorgeous old gardens with Big Houses even get lost to the elements… oh yes, like looking glass wrote above, reminds me of Manderley too, the author also wrote a place nearby our home (Hungry Hill).
A true classic and quite beautiful! Thank you for posting the video which consumed my interest. As one comment read, "oh to win the lottery", if not for myself then to assist in the preservation of this gorgeous property. Thank you Sharon for yet showing my another side of your beautiful Normandy. Were I younger, I would be living in France rather than enjoying France in the summer months.
It is a wonderful post and I enjoyed a lot. The video was amazing and I find it awesome. It is simple excellent. You did a great job. A lot of thanks for sharing.
Charles A