Historic French Stud Farm “Fresnay-le-Buffard” Is For Sale

Rare listing: Famous stud farm “Fresnay le Buffard” in Normandy up for sale with Engel & Völkers

• ●  Renowned stud farm including an historic château
• ●  325 hectares of land with superb conditions for breeding horsesHamburg, 16 March 2023. Engel & Völkers is currently brokering a rare gem with enormous appeal for lovers of heritage properties and racehorses alike: One of the most prestigious stud farms in the world, complete with a château, is now on the market for sale in the Orne and Calvados region of Normandy. The asking price is available upon request. Built in 1903, “Fresnay le Buffard” is an exceptional estate and a jewel in the crown of this region of France, which is internationally renowned for its excellence when it comes to horse breeding. Former owners of note include the French horse breeder Marcel Boussac, considered the finest in his field in the early 20th century, breeding several generations of the world’s best racehorses here. Another past custodian was the Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos. He acquired the estate after Boussac’s death and also bred internationally award-winning thoroughbreds here in the 1970s. “We’re delighted and honoured to be involved in the sale of this very special property,” says Grégory Vallée, Real Estate Agent at the Engel & Völkers Market Center Paris, adding: “It holds great significance in the history of French horse breeding, as well as being a beautiful residence with an elegant château and outstanding facilities for rearing and breeding world-class racehorses.”

  

  Historic château set in parkland grounds

  The 325-hectare estate encompasses a château, as well as two other fully appointed luxury homes – “La Belle Etoile” and “La Haute Côte” – 22 accommodation units for staff including 16 houses, and various different stables, pastures and paddocks. The “Château de Fresnay le Buffard” was built in the 18th century and renovated throughout in 2015. It is set in idyllic parkland spanning some five hectares, complete with a beautifully landscaped French garden, a pond and a vegetable plot with greenhouses. Its living interiors span 640 square metres, set over two floors and an attic level. The ground floor plays host to a magnificent entrance hall with a monumental staircase, a large drawing room, a main dining room, a dining room for staff, and a large kitchen and pantry. The upper floors preside over nine suites, each with en suite bathrooms and dressing rooms. The château also benefits from its own wine cellar. All rooms have undergone extensive refurbishment and feature both original fireplaces and Versailles-style parquet flooring. “The highest standard of contemporary luxury and comfort awaits inside the château. The rich heritage of the property is still fully honoured though, giving the space a sophistication beyond compare,” Grégory Vallée elaborates.

  

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  Ideal conditions and amenities for breeding racehorses

  The soil quality of the stud farm is excellent, providing the optimum ideal conditions for breeding racehorses. The paddocks are also ideally sized and specifically conceived for professional horse rearing. They also enjoy their own water supply and natural shelters, as well as being connected by pathways. They have recently been reseeded after consultation with internationally renowned agronomists to ensure the highest quality possible, and are regularly maintained by rotating cattle on the land. The stable buildings are carefully layouted around the paddocks and comprise 200 horse boxes in total, as well as another 14 boxes in a separate isolation stable. The estate also benefits from a foaling stable, a covering and breeding stable, a riding ring and a 900-metre-long training track. “Fresnay le Buffard is a dream for horse lovers and breeders. It has been conceived with the utmost care and meets the highest standards when it comes to quality excellence and aesthetic beauty. These standards were upheld by the former owners, who bred and trained some of the most successful racehorses in history here,” Grégory Vallée reveals.

  (Image source: Engel & Völkers Market Center Paris