In the Loiret department, a village house, its outbuildings built up against the side of a church
and gardens in the heart of the Rimarde Valley
and gardens in the heart of the Rimarde Valley
Pithiviers,
LOIRET
center-val-de-loire
45300
FR
Location
In the Loiret department, the property is located in a community of 680 people, which includes the villages of Yèvre-la-Ville and Yèvre-le-Châtel. It is 7 km away from the small town of Pithiviers and 100 km from Paris via the A6 or N20 motorways. The small SNCF train station in Malesherbes, about twenty kilometres away, provides access to the capital via the RER in 1.5 hours. On the outskirts of the Orléans forest and the banks of the last wild river in Europe, the house benefits from an exceptional location near remarkable gardens such as Javelière or the Grandes Bruyères arboretum. The village has been named one of the most beautiful villages in France and awarded the “Remarkable garden” honour. No less than three hundred rosebushes fill the small streets of the medieval city and its fortress, the former royal domain of the Capetian dynasty in the 13th century. Its natural heritage can be discovered via hiking paths that crisscross the region, connecting the small towns with one another. All essential services, shops and facilities are less than 10 km away; many local growers and market gardeners also sell directly to customers.
Description
The entire property extends over a surface area of approximately 1,200 m², while the buildings constructed along the east end of the Saint-Brigide parish church, endowed with three apses from the 11th and 12th centuries, have been perfectly restored.
Located in the upper part of the village, the house’s main entrance is perpendicular to the religious edifice’s forecourt. A second entrance, through a large wooden gate, opens onto the garden and all the buildings facing it, namely a main house and a guest house for a total surface area of approximately 160 m², a restored 120-m² barn equipped with a Finnish soapstone wood stove, as well as a workshop and a lean-to.
Reorganised into a square plan in the 19th century, and built over much older foundations, the house in lime-pointed exposed stone is crowned with an antique tile gabled roof. A few stone steps highlight the two glazed front doors. The main façade is perforated with windows overlooking the garden topped with wood or stone lintels.
The whole is enclosed by the church’s lateral wall and low stone walls, which still reveal views of its stained glass windows, apse, bell tower as well as the verdant valley below. Separating the property from the neighbouring house is a high stone wall as well as a wall of one of the outbuildings covered in Virginia creeper or wisteria. The group of buildings is articulated around two tree-filled gardens, one of which is bordered by the apses. The view over the Rimarde Valley is remarkable.
Located in the upper part of the village, the house’s main entrance is perpendicular to the religious edifice’s forecourt. A second entrance, through a large wooden gate, opens onto the garden and all the buildings facing it, namely a main house and a guest house for a total surface area of approximately 160 m², a restored 120-m² barn equipped with a Finnish soapstone wood stove, as well as a workshop and a lean-to.
Reorganised into a square plan in the 19th century, and built over much older foundations, the house in lime-pointed exposed stone is crowned with an antique tile gabled roof. A few stone steps highlight the two glazed front doors. The main façade is perforated with windows overlooking the garden topped with wood or stone lintels.
The whole is enclosed by the church’s lateral wall and low stone walls, which still reveal views of its stained glass windows, apse, bell tower as well as the verdant valley below. Separating the property from the neighbouring house is a high stone wall as well as a wall of one of the outbuildings covered in Virginia creeper or wisteria. The group of buildings is articulated around two tree-filled gardens, one of which is bordered by the apses. The view over the Rimarde Valley is remarkable.
The Village House
With a surface area of approximately 100 m², the building contains two floors built over a vaulted cellar.
The ground floor
A living space with a surface area of approximately 55 m² contains an open kitchen, as well as a bathroom with lavatory. A wooden staircase with antique terracotta tiles leads upstairs. The floor is covered in antique octagonal tomette tiles, which are highlighted by the painted walls. A brick fireplace with an open hearth brightens up the room.
The upstairs
With a surface area of approximately 55 m² and 3.9 floor-to-ceiling heights, this level includes a vast bedroom and a lavatory with sink. Wide skylights bathe the room in light. The framework of beams has been left visible and the floors are covered in terracotta tiles. A portion of the white walls has been left in exposed stone.
The Guesthouse
With a surface area of approximately 45 m², the exposed stone two-storey house is crowned with a gabled roof made of local tiles. The wooden doors and windows open onto the garden. A verdant pergola is attached to one of the house’s gable ends.
The ground floor
This is composed of a living space of approximately 25 m² and a lavatory. The walls are partially in exposed stone and the floor is polished concrete. The framework of beams has been left visible. A painted wooden staircase leads upstairs.
The upstairs
With a surface area of approximately 20 m², this includes a bedroom and a shower room with lavatory. The hardwood floors highlight the stone walls and exposed sanded ceiling beams.
The Barn
With a surface area of approximately 120 m² and a floor-to-ceiling height of 7 metres, it is topped with an antique tile gabled roof pierced on one side by skylights. Built out of exposed stone, a large porch followed by a gigantic oak door open onto the living space. The front doors give onto the two gardens and a small portion of the space has been converted into a workshop. It has a polished concrete floor, high stone walls, a Finnish soapstone wood stove and a light well providing plenty of luminosity. The wooden framework has also been left completely visible.
In addition, on the outside, a garden shed has been converted into a workshop with a surface area of approximately 10 m². A lean-to, adjoining the neighbouring outbuilding’s wall, has a floor surface area of approximately 40 m². Wood is currently being stored here, but it could also be used to park a vehicle.
The Gardens
The first lawn-covered garden is scattered with flowers. Here and there, honeysuckle and wisteria brighten up the space with their colours. There is also an acacia, lime tree, lilacs and a bay laurel.
The second grassy garden, more hidden than the first, is surrounded by the adjoining buildings. From this garden, there is a great view over the valley and, beyond an area of sloping pastures, over the woods and river as well. A few fruit trees have been planted here such as cherry, quince and apple.
Our opinion
With its atypical location abutting the wall of a church, this authentic village house was adeptly restored by its current occupants who preserved the integrity of the premises within a historical and natural perimeter. Perfect as either an investment property or a country home, the property is located in a bucolic, restorative and calm setting.
The whole is sold partially furnished.
And incidentally, the Ping-Pong table was used by Stanley William Hayter to create his illustrious paintings!
Reference 978715
| Land registry surface area | 1194 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 112 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 1 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 176 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 45 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.
