Stamford’s 1906 ‘Château Rochamore’ in Connecticut Listed For $2.15 Million

271 Hunting Ridge Rd, Stamford, CT 06903

Château Rochamore stands as one of Connecticut’s most captivating early-20th-century estates, a French Normandy stone manor built in 1906 and resting quietly on 3.25 manicured acres in North Stamford. Listed for sale at $2,150,000, this extraordinary home embodies a rare blending of European romanticism, American craftsmanship, and century-old architectural integrity. Designed by Gustave Steinbeck—renowned architect and cousin to John Steinbeck—Château Rochamore was not a commission for a client but a personal undertaking. Built as Steinbeck’s own residence, the manor reflects the meticulous detail, structural ambition, and romantic sensibility only an architect creates when designing a home for himself. Over a century later, it remains one of the most beautiful stone houses for sale in Fairfield County, a true landmark estate preserved with deep respect for its original design.

The gated entrance, flanked by stone pillars and framed by mature trees, creates a ceremonial transition from the everyday world into an environment reminiscent of the French countryside. At first glance, the manor seems lifted from the pages of a storybook: a sweeping stone façade, steeply pitched roofs, dormered windows, and a play of turrets and chimneys that capture the essence of Normandy architecture. French Normandy style, popular in the United States between 1890 and 1930, borrowed heavily from medieval rural manors and fortified farmhouses of northern France. The hallmarks of the style—stone or stucco exteriors, massive chimneys, conical towers, half-timbering, and sculptural rooflines—evoke history and permanence. Steinbeck’s interpretation of the style achieves a delicate balance between rustic charm and refined elegance, resulting in a home that feels both grand and warmly human in scale.

The approach to the residence passes through a landscape designed to complement the architecture rather than compete with it. The sweeping lawns, mature plantings, and curated natural scenery create a park-like setting that enhances the estate’s sense of tranquility. The property’s 3.25 acres are situated in North Stamford, an area long favored by artists, diplomats, and New York professionals seeking country living within commuting distance of Manhattan. Less than an hour from the city, this home offers the rare opportunity to own a historic estate that feels worlds away yet remains perfectly accessible for those who balance life between the countryside and the urban center.

Crossing the threshold of Château Rochamore is an architectural experience unto itself. The great hall, designed to impress, rises to a breathtaking 30-foot vaulted and beamed ceiling. The space is anchored by a monumental stone fireplace—one of the defining features of the home and a hallmark of medieval-inspired design. Large fireplaces were not merely functional elements in early-20th-century homes of this scale; they served as emotional centers of the house, symbols of warmth, hospitality, and security. Here, the fireplace’s scale, stonework, and proportion create the effect of entering a European lodge or ancestral estate.

A Juliet balcony overlooking the great hall introduces one of the home’s most romantic touches. Juliet balconies were popular architectural embellishments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, intended not for function but for atmosphere. Their presence in grand homes added a theatrical quality, suggesting scenes of music, poetry, and quiet observation. In Château Rochamore, the balcony reinforces Steinbeck’s European sensibility and the home’s connection to a dreamier, slower-moving era.

Wide plank oak floors stretch throughout the home, grounding the space with a tactile reminder of its early-20th-century origins. These floors, selected for both aesthetic value and durability, reflect the craftsmanship typical of Steinbeck’s work. Their presence across nearly 6,000 square feet emphasizes the continuity and authenticity of the manor’s interior. Real estate from this period often features details that cannot be replicated without tremendous cost today, and the original oak flooring is one such example—testament to the quality of materials chosen over a century ago.

The great hall transitions effortlessly into the principal living spaces: a series of inviting, well-proportioned rooms designed for both formal gatherings and everyday life. French doors open to the grounds, drawing the outdoors into the heart of the home and allowing natural light to animate the textures of stone walls, wooden beams, and arched openings. As one moves through the house, the architectural vocabulary remains consistent—rounded doorways, carved wood details, original windows, and subtle European flourishes that give each room character without overwhelming functionality.

One of the home’s most enchanting spaces is the greenhouse sunroom, a jewel box of light that captures the essence of the Arts and Crafts movement. Featuring a fountain and expansive windows, the sunroom exemplifies early-20th-century ideals of connecting interior life to the natural world. Greenhouse rooms were coveted features in manor houses of this era, offering a space for winter gardens, contemplative afternoons, and a connection to the seasons. Here, the fountain adds an auditory dimension—gentle, calming, and timeless. For a buyer seeking a historic home that integrates nature, artistry, and architecture, this sunroom stands as a highlight.

The main-floor bedroom suite offers serenity and practicality for modern living while maintaining compatibility with the home’s historical narrative. Early American mansions often included guest suites or owner’s retreats on the main floor, especially in country estates where long-term guests, travelers, or family might stay for weeks at a time. Today, a main-floor suite remains a highly desirable feature in real estate, offering accessibility and privacy. The suite at Château Rochamore provides a peaceful retreat overlooking the grounds, making it ideal for homeowners or visitors.

As one ascends the staircase—crafted with solid woodwork and gentle curves that echo European manor designs—the upper floors unfold into additional living spaces, including multiple bedrooms, baths, and quiet alcoves perfect for reading, writing, or reflection. The five-bedroom layout creates flexibility for families, guests, or those who desire home offices, creative studios, or libraries. The bathrooms, updated for comfort, remain in harmony with the overall character of the home, ensuring that modern conveniences do not disrupt its architectural continuity.

Throughout the upper levels, the home’s craftsmanship remains evident in every detail. From the wood paneling to the original doors to the intricately designed windows, the manor shows the care of generations who preserved its integrity. Historic homes that have been continuously cherished often possess a certain atmosphere—an intangible sense of continuity. Château Rochamore carries this aura, offering future owners the opportunity to join the home’s historical lineage.

The estate grounds are equally significant to the property’s architectural story. French Normandy manors traditionally existed in harmony with their landscapes, often placed in pastoral settings or atop gentle rises that offered panoramic views. At 271 Hunting Ridge Road, the 3.25-acre parcel includes rolling lawns, stone walls, mature trees, and outdoor spaces that invite leisure. Whether one imagines garden parties, quiet evenings under the trees, or simple daily enjoyment of the scenery, the property offers a level of privacy and natural beauty seldom found so close to a major metropolitan area.

Real estate buyers searching for a historic home for sale often seek more than architecture—they look for a sense of place, a connection to history, and a unique emotional resonance. Château Rochamore embodies all these qualities. Its stone construction, a hallmark of permanence, reflects a period when homes were designed to endure for generations. The rooflines, chimneys, and carefully crafted stonework evoke an older world, conjuring images of European manors standing through centuries of change. Even the arrival sequence—from the gated entrance to the drive through mature landscaping—carries a narrative: this is not merely a house but an experience.

For buyers working with a realtor who understands both historic preservation and luxury real estate, this property represents a rare opportunity. Homes of this caliber, with nearly 6,000 square feet of original architecture, elegant proportions, and a landmark pedigree, seldom come onto the market. When they do, they attract a special kind of buyer—someone who appreciates craftsmanship, cherishes history, and seeks a home that offers more than square footage. This is a property where the past enriches the present, where European design traditions meet American landscape, and where artistry meets livability.

Though built in 1906, the manor functions beautifully for contemporary life. The layout provides generous space for entertaining, quiet retreats for work or reflection, and architectural continuity that enhances every room. The greenhouse sunroom, great hall, and main-level suite are particularly suited to modern living without compromising historical authenticity. The property is large enough to feel like a secluded country estate yet located close to the conveniences of Stamford and within reach of Manhattan—an ideal combination for those balancing professional commitments with a desire for peaceful, refined living.

Château Rochamore’s significance extends beyond architecture. Homes designed by architects for their own families hold special value in the world of historic real estate. Such properties often reveal the fullest expression of the architect’s artistic vision, unrestrained by the demands of clients or budget limitations. Steinbeck designed this manor not as an assignment but as a personal statement—a home that embodied his ideals, influences, and passion for European architectural traditions. The result is a masterwork of the French Normandy style, deeply rooted in its period yet timeless in appeal.

Living in a home like this means becoming part of its story. It means walking across oak floors that have been polished by over a century of footsteps, standing before the same stone fireplace that warmed families across three generations, listening to the gentle trickle of the fountain in the sunroom, and looking out at grounds that have matured into a private landscape of tranquility. It means preserving a cultural and architectural treasure while experiencing the pleasures of a home designed with true artistry.

For buyers seeking a historic house for sale in Connecticut—one that blends scale, craftsmanship, artistry, and location—Château Rochamore stands unmatched. In an era where many modern homes prioritize efficiency over beauty, this manor reminds us of a time when architecture was poetry in stone, wood, and light.

As the stone-pillared gates close behind you and the manor rises against the trees, it becomes clear that this is not just a property listed for sale; it is a legacy. A work of art. A sanctuary. A rare offering in a world where such homes are increasingly scarce.

This is Château Rochamore—an enduring testament to old-world craftsmanship, an exceptional opportunity in the real estate market, and a home whose beauty and history continue to captivate, just as they have since Gustave Steinbeck first imagined it over a century ago.

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