A spacious family residence with swimming pool and mill
set in 9 ha of meadows and woods in the Orge valley, 1 hour from Paris
set in 9 ha of meadows and woods in the Orge valley, 1 hour from Paris
Dourdan,
YVELINES
ile-de-france
91410
FR
Location
In the south-west of Ile-de-France, on the edge of the Beauce region, 5 km from the dynamic medieval town of Dourdan, the property is close to a national forest where the kings of France used to go hunting. The region abounds in small chateaux, historic ruins, country lanes to explore on foot or by bike and discreet villages.
Public services, shops, amenities and leisure centres can all be reached by car in only a few minutes. The RER C train connects to Paris in 1 hour. And the A10 motorway is just 10 minutes away.
Description
Situated on the banks of the River Orge, the unoverlooked property is accessed via a small road only used by local residents.
At the front, the first gate opens onto a vast gravel area with parking space for several vehicles. A cobblestone path leads to the building's main entrance. Originally part of an old farmhouse, it has been sympathetically restored.
A little further on, behind the residence, the impressive silhouette of the mill can be made out, now devoid of its paddle wheel, which was once powered by the River Orge. Vast and partly inhabited, it still offers considerable potential for development.
At the end of the cul-de-sac, a second gate in line with the mill serves the property from the rear.
At the front, the first gate opens onto a vast gravel area with parking space for several vehicles. A cobblestone path leads to the building's main entrance. Originally part of an old farmhouse, it has been sympathetically restored.
A little further on, behind the residence, the impressive silhouette of the mill can be made out, now devoid of its paddle wheel, which was once powered by the River Orge. Vast and partly inhabited, it still offers considerable potential for development.
At the end of the cul-de-sac, a second gate in line with the mill serves the property from the rear.
The main house
The two-storey pointed stone building is L-shaped. In the angle formed by the two wings, a lower section houses the entrance and links the two buildings.
The right wing, facing east-west, is partly built over a vaulted cellar accessed by a few steps from the garden level. The main entrance is protected by a flat-tiled, timber-framed canopy. The second entrance, projecting from the facade, leads up a flight of steps to a small split-level terrace, which opens into a sitting room / library. A paved terrace runs along the south side of the building, flanking the main facade of the left wing.
The roofs are clad with flat or interlocking tiles. The south-facing pitch of the roof features three large hip dormers. There are numerous rectangular small-paned windows and glass doors with blue-painted louvred or plain shutters.
The ground floor
In the corner of the L, a spacious central hallway overlooking the garden leads to the two wings of the house. It is accessed via a small-paned glass door framed by two large windows and has a Burgundy stone floor. There is a mezzanine, underpinned by exposed beams and accessed via a step ladder. The furniture and woodwork are of oak. The hallway leads to a full-width library / sitting room with a sisal-covered floor and a large stone and brick fireplace. Opposite, a large drawing room, lit by several French windows opening onto the garden, also features an impressive stone fireplace topped by an overmantel mirror. This room, half of which extends up to the exposed roof frame, is overlooked by a mezzanine that can also be accessed via a dark wooden staircase. Following on from the large drawing room, a second passageway leads to the dining room, which opens onto the garden and is separated from the kitchen area by a bar. The ceiling joists are exposed, and the floor is laid with hexagonal terracotta tiles. The walls are lined with numerous storage units with light oak doors. A boiler room, a linen room and a lavatory complete this level.
The first floor
Following on from the sitting room / library, on either side of the fireplace, two flights of steps lead up to two bedrooms. Each of these has a large closet with enough space to create a children's bedroom, if needed. The entire level is floored with hardwood and each room has its own tiled bathroom or shower room with toilet. The mezzanine in the large drawing room, which has been converted into a study, leads to an extensive master suite comprising a bedroom, a closet, a shower room, a separate lavatory and a bathroom with half-height panelling. As on the lower level, large windows let the light pour into every room, enhanced by light-coloured wooden floors and white walls.
The caretaker's house
Built in the same architectural style and adjoining the main residence, the caretaker's lodge has two entrances: from the hall linking the large sitting room to the kitchen, and from a door near the entrance to the property. The house comprises a large room connected to a shower room and lavatory on the ground floor, and a bedroom on the upper floor.
The mill
This striking stone building features pointed facades covered in climbing plants and a roof with interlocking tiles topped by a finial. The windows are fitted with sky-blue wooden shutters. Having lost both its feed water from the River Orge and its paddle wheel, the building is now partly used as a dwelling.
On the ground floor, a section of the mill has been converted into a spacious studio flat for guests, complete with bathroom and lavatory. The walls are clad in wood and the floor is of Burgundy stone. The remaining part of the ground floor is used as a garage.
An external dressed stone staircase, which also serves a terrace, leads to a heavy wooden double door providing access to the first floor. The entire space is currently used for storage. However, its considerable ridge height would provide space for a two-storey conversion. The roof has already been insulated in anticipation of such a scenario.
The swimming pool
Situated to the south-west of the property, slightly set back from the main house, the swimming pool measures roughly 4 x 11 m and is surrounded by a wooden decking terrace. Majestic trees, positioned back from the pool surround, provide shade for bathers.
The grounds
A carefully mown lawn surrounds all the buildings and the swimming pool. A few fruit trees and noteworthy varieties provide ample shade, offering freshness and protection to the residents. Beyond, meadows and woods stretch out alongside the River Orge. The layout of the complex and its vegetation clearly reflect the choice that has been made here: to encourage the conservation and contemplation of natural areas.
Our opinion
Light, clean lines and a high-quality renovation triumph in this well-kept property set in 10 ha of verdant grounds. The former farmhouse and its mill, whose life was once punctuated by the stream of the Orge, are now governed by other leitmotifs: comfort and pleasure. In addition to the vast house, the impressive outbuilding that is the mill offers a wealth of potential conversion possibilities. By extending at a good distance the main residence so as to encapsulate the history of the site, it bears witness to a past that is now fading away, leaving in its wake a discreet heritage that deserves to be brought to the fore.
1 650 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 401949
| Land registry surface area | 8 ha 95 a 47 ca |
| Main building surface area | 358 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 178 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 29 m2 |
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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.
