Herisson, Allier
The main house provides four double bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms. Three of these have views of the chateau ruins. The Tower house across the courtyard has a family suite sleeping five on two floors, again with its own bathroom.
The large paved courtyard is central to both buildings with a raised terrace with pool, a seating area, and a barbeque in the dining area.
The gite’s central location in the village is ideal for outings, whether just to visit the local shops, bars and restaurants or to wander along the banks of the Aumance river …or onwards out into the pastoral countryside.
On the ground floor, next to the kitchen is the first double bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a convenient room for those who find stairs difficult. On the first floor is the 900 sq ft salon with wood burning stove.
On the second floor are three double bedrooms with bath/shower rooms. All three bedrooms have reversible air conditioning/heating.
In the Tower house, the suite has a mezzanine floor with a double bed above and a bunk bed underneath. There is a pull-out bed also. A bathroom is on the lower of these levels.
Clicking below will give an exploded view of the house.
The paved courtyard is enclosed by the house, the tower house, and the castle wall, a 30ft high fortification built around the 13th century. There is a cocktail pool on the terrace at the foot of the castle wall which has a counter-current jet to swim against. There are sun loungers, a suite of garden sofas, and a table and chairs for alfresco dining. A gas “Plancha” barbecue is provided. The glass-topped well reflects the ancient history of the building.
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The nearest settlement in Roman times was at Chateloy, 2km downstream but the settlement was raided by the Visigoths in the 5th and 6th centuries so the inhabitants started to settle in a more defensible place and build a fortified village. Later on with the establishment of the fortified Bourbon castle in the 10th and 11th centuries, Herisson became an ecclesiastical centre linked to the bishopric of Bourges. Consequently it became a thriving commercial thoroughfare in the region and has itself witnessed many historic events and hosted some notable people. Some of these we have brought into L’Ancien College as a means of highlighting their lives and their historic value to the town. You will find evidence of them in various places throughout the property. With the absence of a railway to the town, in the nineteenth century Cosne d’Allier, 10km upstream along the river, became a more important commercial town leaving Herisson to maintain its historical charm.
L’Ancien College was originally the school set up by the Church of Saint Saveur. After the revolution it became a secular school and continued to educate the boys of the village until the 19th century when the house became a shop, latterly a forge and a locksmith.
We were looking for a house in France to buy in 2016 but although Herisson was some way out of our search zone we were intrigued by the agent’s photographs. Once we arrived at the top of the hill overlooking the village, the castle bathed in sunlight, we were enchanted but, being realistic after seeing several houses, were sceptical about what the house might be like. Certainly, the façade was nothing to get excited about but once we were in the courtyard we knew we would, probably foolishly, buy it.
The previous owners had started some excellent renovation work and a part of the house was habitable which meant that we could stay in it while we carried on. With the help of several excellent local tradesmen, a brother-in-law who chiselled his woodwork skills and my own plumbing and wiring expertise, after 5 years we had restored the house to its former glory and created a five-star holiday rental. We hope you will enjoy your stay.
Simon & Charlotte
