Maison Zenith

• When did you become the owner?

The house has been family-owned for over 30 years. Originally purchased by my parents in 1993, I took it over in 2020 and have spent over 2 years renovating the property and maintaining the surrounding land.

• What was it about the property that you first fell in love with?

The shuttered windows and aged stone façade to the front and sweeping views of the garden down to the river from the terraces.

• Are there any interesting stories in its history?

Following the overthrow of the monarchy during the French Revolution in 1789, the power and authority of the Catholic Church was severely reduced.  The new republican government then required all areas of France to comply with new laws and to pay a range of new taxes.

Although the Vendée (then known as Bas-Poitou) was the last department of France to agree to these demands, it refused to accept the authority of the revolutionary government. It insisted on remaining loyal to both the king and church and reflected this allegiance by displaying intertwined hearts on its coat of arms.

This led to war in the Vendée as the government sought to overcome this insurgency from counter-revolutionaries in the region. The war raged from 1793 to 1796 as republican forces sought to erase the opposition in a series of violent battles and civil massacres, resulting in the death of several hundred thousand people.

Troops known as the “Colonnes Infernales” were instructed to destroy every village in the Vendée and eliminate all resistance.  One of these villages was Paillers, which was completely razed to the ground except for the priest’s house which was retained by the military as its regional headquarters.  This was the house we now call Maison Zenith.

Over the years the house again became a private dwelling and home to local families who farmed and worked in the locality.  The original building still forms the main part of the house, which has progressively increased in size by absorbing several of its storerooms and outhouses.

Retained features include many of the original beams, the two main granite fireplaces and the early kitchen range which was fired by embers from the fire placed under the three cooking rings.  The existing kitchen was originally a barn with a hay loft, with separate access from the house. This low height back door was used to separate cattle from horses when bringing them into their winter quarters as horses would not bow their heads to go through. Make sure you do if you are more than 1.5m tall!

One of the families that preceded the present owners had 14 children, all born in the original house. The entire family lived in the house and, as late as the 1950s, were still washing their clothes in the river and using water from the well. They all thrived and returned to celebrate their parents’ 60th wedding anniversary in the nearby town of Beaurepaire in an extended family of more than 100.

• For anyone coming to stay, is there anything you suggest that they really must do?

Visit Clisson which is half an hour’s drive from Maison Zentih. It was extensively rebuilt after the Vendée wars and is well-known for its mix of architectural styles, some of which resemble designs more usually found in the Italian region of Tuscany. Then from Clisson take the train to the vibrant city of Nantes.

Close to the Atlantic Ocean, covering about 11,500 ha, the vineyard of Nantes is home to Muscadet wine and is the largest wine-growing area in the Loire Valley. The cellars are small, family-run businesses. Easy access to the motorway and good road links enable you to easily get to the coast in an hour.

A region of marshes, canals and rivers together with low-lying land and woodlands best explored by boat. Also known as “Green Venice”, this is a nature reserve with a canopy of ash trees and poplars, giving a unique insight into the beautiful environment.

For golf lovers, Cholet has an 18-hole course 30 minutes from Maison Zenith. It has a driving range, 2 putting greens and a club house which is described as “magnificent”! 

• What insider tip would you pass on about the property or the area?

There are a great many things to do in the surrounding area, as above and all are accessible for a day’s outing. We recommend an early rise to make the most of the day to get to the beach or the Marais first, before the crowds and then leave early in time to enjoy a swim in the pool and an aperitif before dining al fresco on the abundant local produce!

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