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.
Today, although the property is listed historically and open to the public, the Mallet family can no longer keep up with the upkeep and maintenance. They are hoping that a wealthy foundation, or private person, with a real understanding of the history and value of the property will fall under it's charm and step in to save this treasure.
If you have the patience, watch at least the first 30 seconds of this little video, the shot coming up the cliffs and over the house is breathtaking!
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