Historic Normandy France Stud Farm

The late Stavros Niarchos was a Greek shipping magnate who commissioned the world’s largest supertankers to ship petroleum across the Suez canal. He competed with rival Aristotle Onassis (husband of Jackie Kennedy) for domination in the oil market. On the racetrack, his thoroughbred horses competed with the best in the world, earning over 125 Group 1 wins and scoring championships across the globe. His most famous horse, Miesque, was the first horse to win two Breeder’s Cup races. The heart of the Niarchos racing operation was the gorgeous historic stud farm “Haras De Fresnay le Buffard” in Normandy, which was previously owned by another racing giant, the wildly successful Marcel Boussac. Boussac’s operation was responsible for 140 French and English classics and 1,800 victories. Though Niarchos’ descendants continue their racing operations, which have expanded to encompass Europe, America, Australia, South Africa and Japan, they have decided to offer the 803-acre stud farm for sale. The listing price is available on request to serious inquiries.

One of the largest stud farms in France, Fresney-le-Buffard offers 667 acres of prime grazing land with optimum soil quality, natural water supply, and built-in shelters. The paddocks of the entire farm were recently reseeded to the highest quality after consultation with international agronomists and are maintained by a rotation of sheep and cattle. A total of 200 stalls throughout several barns, an isolation stable, a foaling stable, a covering and breeding stable, a 900-meter training track, an 18-meter-diameter indoor arena, and state-of-the-art facilities provide everything needed for the raising and training of international-class racehorses. The lovely layout offers paths and gardens. Meticulously maintained and beautifully appointed, the estate is a true showpiece offering the highest standards of luxury.

Three gorgeous luxury homes on the property are headlined by an 18th-century chateau, which retains its old world magnificence including original fireplaces and Versailles-style parquet flooring but has been remodeled with all the latest in modern conveniences. The two-story (plus an attic) home offers 6,889 square feet of living space, including an opulent entrance hall with impressive staircase, massive kitchen, multiple dining rooms, and nine bedroom suites each with its own bathroom and dressing room. The chateau is surrounded by a spectacular park, which includes a sublime French garden, a pond, and a vegetable plot with a greenhouse. An additional 16 homes provide living space for farm and estate staff.

Located in the central Normandy region of Neuvy-au-Houlme, the stud is located near other stud farms and pastoral estates and close to the vast nature reserve known as Parc naturel régional et Géoparc Normandie-Maine. It is only an hour’s drive from the Deauville racecourse, where the “Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois” boasts the highest purse and most prestige of the meet. The race has been won 18 times by horses raised at Fresney-le-Buffard.

Photos Courtesy Engel & Völkers Market Center Paris

The listing is held by Engel & Völkers Paris MMC.