La Pastorale: the Spirit of Grand Country Estates

Property Description

A FAMILY HOME WITH A SWIMMING POOL NEAR DIJON

In the heart of the historic Veil-Picard estate in Diénay, La Pastorale is a family home of approximately 400 m², surrounded by a wooded garden spanning nearly 5,800 m². With its stone facades, spacious living areas, and six bedrooms, this home is perfectly suited for both everyday life and large family gatherings. The veranda, terrace, and pool extend the interior spaces toward the pond, in a residential setting steeped in history, near Dijon.

THE HERITAGE OF THE VEIL-PICARD ESTATE
The history of La Pastorale is intertwined with that of the Veil-Picard estate, a former vacation and hunting property located in Diénay, north of Dijon. Acquired in 1899 by Léon-César Veil-Picard, a member of a family of industrialists and bankers from Besançon, the estate then included a château, a hunting party, and several outbuildings. A few years earlier, the painter Edgar Degas had stayed there. The château is no longer standing, but the approximately seventeen-hectare park still bears traces of that era. Centuries-old trees line the old avenues, bridges dot the walking paths, and a pond frames the landscape. Now divided into private properties, the estate has preserved much of its landscape identity. Built in the 1970s, La Pastorale occupies a gently sloping private plot on the edge of the pond. Its stone silhouette blends into this setting, where views open up onto lawns and leafy trees. Located at the entrance to the village, the property enjoys the tranquility of the old country estates while maintaining a direct connection to local life.

GENEROUS SPACES, A HOME DESIGNED FOR ENTERTAINING
Inside, the proportions immediately set the tone. Spread over two levels, the home offers 400 m² of living space, designed to accommodate both group gatherings and more intimate moments. Facing southwest, the living room opens wide onto the garden through large floor-to-ceiling windows. The fireplace serves as its focal point, around which winter evenings are centered. Stone slabs, marble, antique hardwood floors, and exposed beams lend depth and character to the spaces, while contemporary finishes introduce a more modern, understated elegance. This combination evokes the interiors of grand English and American country estates, where weathered materials blend with comfortable furnishings and clean lines. The veranda, approximately [size], extends the living areas. With its views of the landscape, it's the perfect spot for breakfast overlooking the water, family lunches, or reading in the afternoon light. On sunny days, the open doors gradually blur the line between indoors and outdoors. The separate kitchen, designed in a contemporary style, helps maintain a distinct layout from the living areas. Six bedrooms are distributed between the first floor and the ground floor, including one suite with an en suite bathroom, along with four bathrooms or shower rooms. The ground-floor bedroom is particularly well-suited for comfortably accommodating parents or guests. This layout reflects the property's family-oriented design, with ample space for multiple generations to share the same living environment.

THE GARDEN, THE POND, AND LIFE IN BURGUNDY
To the south of the house, a spacious stone terrace serves as a transition to the garden. It is the perfect spot for large summer gatherings, near the outdoor pool. The grounds then slope gently down toward the pond. Trees provide shade during the hottest hours of the day, and the vegetation reflects the changing seasons, from the first blooms to the coppery hues of fall. An old icehouse, a remnant of the estate's history, adds a heritage dimension to the property. The wine cellar, fully equipped for wine storage, completes the ensemble, reflecting the region's winemaking tradition. Beyond the estate, Diénay benefits from its proximity to Is-sur-Tille, just a few minutes away for shopping and everyday services. Dijon, with its schools, cultural life, and TGV station, provides easy access to major transportation routes and France's largest cities. The surrounding area also offers direct access to the landscapes of the Tille and Ignon valleys, as well as to forest trails and hiking routes that crisscross this part of the Côte-d'Or. La Pastorale thus offers the ideal setting for a family home, with ample space for entertaining, the ability to work from home, and the chance to enjoy, day in and day out, an environment where nature plays a central role.

THE AGENT'S PERSPECTIVE
?What struck me about La Pastorale is its English country house atmosphere, with its spacious rooms and views of the pond. I have a soft spot for the veranda, where it's easy to imagine sipping coffee while watching the swans glide by. But beyond the charm of the place, I find that its true strength lies in its location within the Veil-Picard estate. It's a property with a distinct identity, close to Dijon.'
Alexis Mouchet