An Anglo-Norman style seaside villa, enclosed garden and outbuilding
in Ouistreham Riva-Bella in Calvados, to the east of the Mother-of-Pearl Coast
in Ouistreham Riva-Bella in Calvados, to the east of the Mother-of-Pearl Coast
Caen,
CALVADOS
lower-normandy
14000
FR
Location
Situated in Normandy, in the Calvados department, to the north of the Caen plain, Ouistreham offers many different facets: D-Day beach, fishing and yachting port, dynamic market town and seaside resort. The fine sandy beaches and their famous dunes form part of a town where sporting activities and nature are ever-present.
By road, Caen is 14 km away and Cabourg 19 km. Caen railway station, with services connecting to Paris in 2 hours, is 20 minutes from the property, and so is the airport. It takes a 10-minute bike ride to reach the Pointe de Siège nature reserve and the Orne estuary, and a 3-minute walk to get to the sea. Visitors to the region will want to see the D-Day landing beaches of Sword Beach and Riva-Bella to begin their tour, which can extend as far as the Mont Saint-Michel, 1 hour 10 minutes away.
Description
The villa is located in a quiet tree-lined street leading to the artery running along the beach, whose name evokes the Italian seaside at Rimini, famous for its sunsets. A late 19th-century painter compared these to those at Ouistreham. It was he who changed the name of "Belle-Rive" to "Riva-Bella" for the area around the beaches. The property enjoys an ideal location, just a stone's throw from the beach, local shops, restaurants, a casino and a spa complex.
The Anglo-Norman style street facade, with its subtle, colourful decoration, draws the eye over the hedge and the low, white-painted wooden gate that mark the entrance to the property. The walled garden, planted with a large number of shrubs and tree species such as maritime pines, yews and palms, a raised terrace to the west and an outbuilding covered in Irish ivy complete the setting.
The 1930 villa is built in the Anglo-Norman style on a stone foundation. The slightly raised ground floor facade is of dressed stone with rectangular openings of varying sizes. The upper floor features a half-timbered facade painted in a brick colour, forming different geometric motifs that emphasise the symmetry of the elevation, punctuated by five casement windows and a French window. It has a flat tile roof with three decorative staggered eaves. The villa comprises seven main rooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen and four bedrooms.
The Anglo-Norman style street facade, with its subtle, colourful decoration, draws the eye over the hedge and the low, white-painted wooden gate that mark the entrance to the property. The walled garden, planted with a large number of shrubs and tree species such as maritime pines, yews and palms, a raised terrace to the west and an outbuilding covered in Irish ivy complete the setting.
The 1930 villa is built in the Anglo-Norman style on a stone foundation. The slightly raised ground floor facade is of dressed stone with rectangular openings of varying sizes. The upper floor features a half-timbered facade painted in a brick colour, forming different geometric motifs that emphasise the symmetry of the elevation, punctuated by five casement windows and a French window. It has a flat tile roof with three decorative staggered eaves. The villa comprises seven main rooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen and four bedrooms.
The villa
The ground floor
From the courtyard, the central approach stairs to the house lead directly into the main room. Thanks to its large windows and sunny aspect, the living room is very bright. A fireplace with a carved wooden surround encircling a brick frame takes pride of place on the left-hand side of the room. The dark wooden ceiling beams are exposed. All the walls feature similar woodwork, reflecting the care with which the living room has been adorned. To the left of the front door is the first bedroom, with en-suite bathroom and closet. On the other side of the entrance door to the villa, there is the dining room offering views over the patio and leading to the kitchen with direct access to the terrace and garden. The floors are laid with large cream-coloured tiles and black cabochons.
The upstairs
The wooden staircase leads to a corridor which is illuminated by several windows on the left, affording extensive views over the garden. A central balcony on the western façade emphasises the architectural balance of the villa. Its red and white painted wooden balustrade matches the half-timbered wall forming the upper half of the elevation. On the right, the corridor leads to three bedrooms. At its far end, there is a shower room with toilet, lit by a large window. With the exception of the tiled shower room, the flooring on this level is of wide strip hardwood. All the windows in the house are fitted with electric shutters.
The small dwelling
The outbuilding, which is covered in Irish ivy creating a somewhat mysterious appearance, is currently used as a laundry room, but could be converted into an independent lodging to welcome visiting friends or tourists.
Our opinion
This residence immediately stands out for its harmonious proportions and the uniqueness of its colourful facade. It bears the hallmarks of traditional Norman architecture combined with an English cottage touch, a style popular in the region from the mid-19th century onwards. In perfect harmony with its seaside setting, ideally situated between the beach and the town, it boasts a number of attractive features: uninterrupted views, plenty of natural light, peace and quiet both inside and out, a garden planted with trees and shrubs, beaches, shops and amenities just a stone's throw away. Inside the villa, with its marked lines and clean geometrical layout, everything is spacious, elegant and functional. The property has been meticulously maintained, with only the kitchen and two bathrooms needing a refresh.
A restful, almost timeless place, close to the ocean breeze and all the other pleasures associated with the sea, as varied and changing as the seasons.
590 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 710695
| Land registry surface area | 750 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 141.50 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
