A welcoming, freestone house in a garden with a view of the river Loire
on the outskirts of the medieval town of Chinon
on the outskirts of the medieval town of Chinon
Tours, INDRE-ET-LOIRE
center-val-de-loire
37000
FR
Location
In the midst of the Loire Valley, in the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park. Everything here is but countryside, heritage and tradition. Small local markets enhance each village, some of which are amongst the most beautiful in France. The river Loire cycle path winds its way between the river and the vines, offering breath-taking scenery that changes with every season. The nearby town of Chinon and Royal Fontevraud Abbey are all exceptional sites, waiting to be explored and hosting many large cultural events.
Shops and amenities are just a stone’s throw way from this property. Chinon and Port-Boulet train stations, a few minutes away by car, provide links to Tours, making it possible to reach Paris in 2 hours. Slip roads for the A85 motorway are 10 km away.
Description
This property is reached via a little picturesque road. The discreet entrance gates reveal an L-shaped, wooded garden which embraces a traditional, long farmhouse, made of freestone and dating from the 19th century. A parking area is able to take up to four cars. Small freestone houses, built on either side of the entrance gates, are used as storage space and as a garden shed. The garden gradually comes into view around the tall trees and extends so as to give an unobstructed view, looking down on to the river Loire and its verdant banks.
The neighbouring, friendly, four-legged daydreamer is, no doubt, an admirer of the performers from Saumur’s Cadre-Noir, the famous French national riding school.
The neighbouring, friendly, four-legged daydreamer is, no doubt, an admirer of the performers from Saumur’s Cadre-Noir, the famous French national riding school.
The traditional, long farmhouse
Constructed in 1889, this traditional, long farmhouse, built of freestone, spans two levels, one of which is under the rafters, topped with a slate, gable roof. The ground floor of the facade features four French windows and three windows, letting in copious amounts of light. Also on the facade side, the roof is embellished with five freestone, hanging dormers, with triangular or curved pediments. A modillion cornice borders the edge of the roof. Well-kept vegetation grows along the facade, enhancing the stone. This farmhouse is extended by an open barn of the same height, used as a woodstore and a workshop.
Ground floor
A French window in the centre of the facade provides access to the entrance hall, housing a wooden stairway going upstairs. Said hall leads, on one side, to a kitchen, followed by a back kitchen. Both rooms have direct access to the garden. The back kitchen is also used as a linen room and houses the boiler. A living room, on the other side of the hall, is laid out around a wide, freestone fireplace, in good working order. The floor is covered with rectangular terracotta tiles. Beams and joists have been left exposed. The door and window frames are made of wood.
First floor
The half-turning, wooden stairway goes up to the first-floor landing. The latter provides access to a bedroom, with a water supply point and strip pattern parquet flooring, a bathroom, a separate toilet and another two bedrooms at the end of the farmhouse. The beams and the roofing framework have been left exposed. This level, laid out under the rafters, exudes a cosy, muted atmosphere.
Our opinion
“It’s a green hollow, where a river sings … it’s a little valley sparkling with sunlight” are the words Arthur-Rimbaud uses in his brilliant sonnet “The sleeper in the valley” (Le dormeur du val) to describe the Loire Valley. Life there is pleasant and carefree, far from the world’s hustle and bustle. Visitors are soothed and willingly lose themselves in the region’s natural beauty and emblematic villages.
The house is immaculately kept outside and welcoming inside. With no extravagance or ostentation, this delightful home is ready to make some wonderful memories. This convivial place is ideal for family holidays, week-ends amongst friends, bursts of laughter and outings to explore the river Loire and the Vienne department.
Reference 877149
| Land registry surface area | 2130 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 145 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
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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.
