Dating back to the 13th century, Fief des Epoisses is a fortified manor near Paris. The asking price is 1 590 000 €.

Located in the commune of Bombon in the Seine-et-Marne department of Île-de-France, this historic is mentioned in documents as early as 1285. The estate once belonged to Jean, Viscount of Melun, and over the centuries it passed through the hands of prominent lords, including Guy de Gyresne in 1477 and members of the Mesgrigny family in the 17th century. In 1830, it was held by the Countess of Béthisy.

The property’s fame extended beyond noble lineages. In 1878, it became the unlikely stage for a major agricultural exhibition during the Universal Exposition, drawing a crowd of 20,000 and showcasing the world’s first self-operating harvester. More recently, Fief des Époisses became a venue for musical events, discovered by the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who performed there in 1975. Restoration work followed in the 1980s, and the estate has since been used for business seminars. Though currently not open to the public, its historic architecture remains beautifully preserved.

Set amidst four hectares of moated land, meadows, and lime tree avenues, the estate is a striking example of medieval defensive architecture adapted over centuries for agricultural, residential, and cultural use. Its name, Époisses, comes from the Old French espesse, meaning thickness or dense wood—likely a reference to the deep forest that once surrounded it.

The fortified manor’s layout is both imposing and enchanting. The manor features two square towers. The entrance passes through a wooden carriage door and a guardhouse equipped with loopholes.

The main courtyard is lined with buildings dating to the 13th century, including a large barn, a dovecote, and the seigneurial dwelling. Inside, the manor boasts Burgundy stone floors, terracotta tiles, French-style ceilings, stained-glass windows, and grand fireplaces. One of the reception halls—vaulted and double-height—leads into a professional kitchen and staff quarters.

Accommodations include nearly 40 bedrooms spread across three wings. While some of the west wing requires restoration, the rest of the estate is in very good condition, blending medieval structure with later domestic additions. A barn nearly 45 metres long has been converted into a reception space complete with seminar rooms and an indoor swimming pool.

The dovecote itself is a standout medieval feature. Monumental in scale, it once supported more than 1,000 terracotta nesting cells, accessed by a rotating mast and ladders. At the time, the number of pigeons allowed reflected the owner’s status—yet another reminder of the estate’s former prestige.

Patrice Besse, the real estate agency handling the sale, offers this assessment:

“A testament to medieval defensive architecture adapted to the agricultural operations of Brie, the estate takes its name from the dense forests – the ‘époisses’ – that covered the region before the 13th century, its primary purpose having been logging and timber production. Its imposing silhouette, with its towers and moats, recalls the troubled times of the Middle Ages, while its monumental dovecote, which houses more than a thousand cells, illustrates the lordly power of its owners at the time. Its robust structural elements create beautiful volumes in various formats and protect sober and delicate ornaments that careful care has helped to preserve. A unique heritage that invites one to travel through the centuries, to be the guardian of its history and to write a new chapter.”

For anyone looking to own a piece of medieval history, Fief des Époisses offers a rare opportunity to steward a property of deep heritage and architectural grandeur. Please visit the Patrice Besse website for more details.

Top Image: Photo by Châteauform’/Wikimedia Commons