A swimming pool of 6 x 13 m (20 x 42 ft) has been inaugurated this year. Thanks to an innovative solar heating system, it has been in constant use since end of April. The pool is flood lit thus encouraging midnight dips and romantic dinners on the 100 sq m tiled terrace.

This mansion was built in 1905 by Edouard Payen for Mr Jules Dayraut founder of a sawmill which in its time of glory employed over 200 people but no longer exists, “sic transit gloria mundi”.
It counts three storeys plus a basement. Walls are in stones from a neighbouring quarry, still functioning. Most of the woodwork is of top quality oak: the 7 ft-high windows close as if it were their first day. Electric installations, plumbing, heating, overall decoration have been totally redone by the present owners in 2001 in order to meet the highest standards of safety and comfort. Floor dimensions are: 45 by 45 ft, each room develops between 280 - 330 sqft. The structure is in form of a Greek cross: two hallways at right angle hosting the utility rooms (kitchen, bathrooms, communications) and four rooms per floor at the four corners.

The first or ground floor is accessed by a flight of four steps from the gravelled walkway. A gigantic porch door in oak, with period brass handles leads to a 30 ft long hallway, 10ft wide, paved with antique tiles and wood panelled. An antique wardrobe, a commode and a console, paintings and brass fixture-lamps are to be found as furniture and decorations.
A huge double door leads on the left to the first reception room: Versailles parquet, moulded ceiling, crystal chandelier, white marble fire place, yellow and gold walls and drapes, antique wardrobe, 4 Voltaire armchairs and a sofa.
The pending double door on the left leads to a Napoleon III style furnished office comprising a desk, bookshelves, armchairs, an amber coloured marble fireplace, a crystal chandelier and a Pleyel upright piano. Both rooms have large Persian carpets.

Further down the hall, the door on the left opens onto the servant staircase, the one on the right onto a modern kitchen with an American fridge, an all-electric cooking range and a dishwasher.

Back to the hallway, through a gigantic glassed double door, one accesses a huge hall/reading room with a large English and French literature containing bookcase, a table, armchairs. The glassed door in front leads to a double revolution stone staircase allowing to descend at garden level. The door on the right goes to the dining room: antique buffet containing china, crystal and silver, a walnut oval dining table and Regency chairs. The dining room has a direct access to the kitchen. The door on the left brings us in to the TV room: comfortable sofas, light English and French reading. Between the TV room and the Napoleon III room is a computer room: Internet-connected computer, colour printer, work table.

Back to the hall: a huge Victorian staircase leads conveniently to the upstairs bedrooms. Bed room West on the left: antique single bed, pine commode, oak wardrobe, table and chairs. Adjoining is a full bathroom with large tub, 1930 ceramic washbasin and toilet. Across the landing, bedroom South is decorated in oriental style: king size bed, 1930 armchairs, table and commode. Next to it is a bathroom with large shower, colonnaded washbasin and toilet. A full-mirrored sliding door allows communication with the bathroom of the master bedroom. Back on the landing, a corridor closable by a double door takes you to the other fully independent bedrooms. On the right, the master bedroom or bedroom East: antique wardrobe, antique queen size bed, table, armchairs and its adjoining bathroom. This contains two washbasins mounted on columns, a wonderful bathtub with elaborate brass tap fixtures and the gliding door mentioned above. A walk-in closet is to be found between room East and North. Bedroom North has a king size bed, a painted commode, table and chairs and a pine wardrobe; attached is a huge bathroom with a double Art Deco washbasin, a large shower and of course a toilet.

Back to the landing, the big staircase and up to the third floor. The landing on the third floor is used as a relaxation space for soft gymnastic and yoga. The other rooms are for storage and are off limits.

One can go from the ground floor down to the basement through the servant staircase mentioned before. One thus accesses a second kitchen: in fact the old servant quarters (kitchen, back kitchen and ironing room) transformed into one huge live-in kitchen. Its prime features are: Year 1900 coloured tiles on floor and walls, exposed oak beams, exposed stone work on some walls, a huge walk-in fire place, a professional gas fired range, a long oak farm table, two antique buffets and loads of usable copper pans. A sheltered outside patio with garden table and chairs for dining “al fresco” or “sotto le stele” can be reached from the kitchen. A second door leads to the game hall: billiard table and table football. This hall opens on the park area.

Garden and park: ca 80,000 sq ft surrounding the house via a gravelled walkway. Centenary linden shade part of the lawn, other parts are sun exposed for the better part of the day. Tree species to be found: linden, maple, hazelnut, cherry, cedar, privet, horse chestnut, laurel. Flower bushes grace the surroundings of the house in season.

Other buildings are found on the property: an enormous stone barn housing the bikes, canoe, in need some tools all at the disposal of the guests and my precious little red MG which is not. Further away is a charming little stone cottage which is not part of the rental agreement.
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