One Hour From Paris, An Equestrian Estate Near the Forest of Fontainebleau Lists for €3,700,000
Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 6+ Interior: ~902 m² / ~9,710 ft² Land: ~3 hectares / ~7.4 acres
Amenities: Indoor swimming pool and hammam within a wellness area to be reimagined; riding arena with fibre footing; riding track; 11 horse boxes; 13 paddocks; caretaker’s house with 2 bedrooms; detached wooden chalet; tack rooms; preparation areas; storage facilities.
On the market with Polo Properties for €3,700,000, this equestrian estate is set within the rural commune of Saint-Martin-en-Bière, about an hour south of Paris, It is located near the Forest of Fontainebleau, a historic forest region long associated with horse riding, royal hunting grounds, and country estates. While the house itself dates to 1970, the surrounding area carries centuries of royal, artistic, and equestrian history tied to Fontainebleau and the nearby village of Barbizon.
Nearby Château de Fontainebleau was one of the principal royal residences of France for nearly 800 years before the rise of Versailles as the country’s main royal court. Photo by Carsten Steger
For centuries, the Forest of Fontainebleau served as hunting grounds for French monarchs including François I, Henri IV, Louis XIV, and Napoleon. Nearby Château de Fontainebleau was one of the principal royal residences of France for nearly 800 years before the rise of Versailles as the country’s main royal court. Fontainebleau was also considered Napoleon’s favorite royal residence and was the site of his farewell to the Imperial Guard before his exile in 1814.
Set near the Forest of Fontainebleau, the estate sits within one of France’s major equestrian landscapes.
Today, the Fontainebleau area is considered one of France’s major equestrian destinations, with more than 1,600 km / ~995 mi of forest roads and trails, including over 300 km / ~186 mi of marked routes, running through the forest alongside nearby equestrian training and competition facilities.
The commune of Saint-Martin-en-Bière itself has longstanding ties to riding culture. Olympic show jumper Roger-Yves Bost helped establish an equestrian center nearby.
Saint-Martin-en-Bière sits close to Barbizon, a village that became famous in the nineteenth century as the base of the Barbizon School. Painters including Jean-François Millet and Théodore Rousseau worked directly from the Fontainebleau forest, helping turn the area into one of France’s defining landscapes for art as well as riding.
This 1970 manor-style house includes 7 bedrooms, 6+ bathrooms, multiple reception rooms, an indoor pool and hammam within a wellness area to be reimagined, plus a caretaker’s house and detached wooden chalet.
Built across ~902 m² / ~9,710 ft² on ~3 hectares / ~7.4 acres of land, the property combines reception rooms, wellness areas, guest accommodation, and equestrian facilities within a wooded countryside setting close to Fontainebleau.
Built in 1970, the house looks more traditional than its date suggests, with pitched roofs, dormer windows, pale façades, and the proportions of a French country manor. The later build gives it the practical edge: larger rooms, better circulation, en-suite bedrooms, and wellness spaces planned into the house from the start.
Built in 1970, the house looks more traditional than its date suggests.
On the ground floor, a central entrance opens onto a double reception room and dining room alongside a large kitchen and utility areas. Three bedroom suites are also located on this level, each with a private bathroom or shower room, while a dressing room adds further storage and privacy.
The upper floor centers around a cathedral-height living room with exposed timber framing, giving the level its strongest architectural volume. The primary suite includes dual dressing rooms, a bathroom, shower room, two toilets, and air conditioning, while three additional bedrooms each include dressing rooms and private bathrooms.
The lower level houses technical and service areas, including storage, laundry, and boiler rooms, alongside a wellness area with an indoor swimming pool and hammam that the listing describes as ready to be reimagined.
The equestrian estate offers 11 horse boxes, 13 paddocks, a fibre-footing riding arena, riding track, tack rooms, preparation areas, and storage facilities.
The property includes 11 horse boxes, a riding arena with fibre footing, a riding track, and 13 paddocks spread across meadows, sand, and earth areas. Tack rooms, preparation areas, and storage spaces complete the equestrian setup.
Additional accommodation includes an independent caretaker’s house of about 80 m² / 861 ft², with its own living room and two bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, allowing separate accommodation for staff, guests, or extended family. A detached wooden chalet is positioned elsewhere on the grounds, adding further flexibility.
All photographs belong to the listing agency. See more on Polo Properties.
