A former sixteenth-century presbytery and outhouse in a walled garden, nestled in the
heart of a village surrounded by tree-lined meadows, twenty minutes west of Le Mans
heart of a village surrounded by tree-lined meadows, twenty minutes west of Le Mans
Mans,
SARTHE
pays-de-loire
72000
FR
Location
The property lies just outside Le Mans, thirty minutes from the city centre and its high-speed rail station, from where you can get to the French capital in only fifty-five minutes. Central Paris is 220 kilometres from the dwelling. Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is one hour and forty-five minutes away, Lyon less than three hours away, Marseille five hours away and Rennes an hour and a half away.
The historical, picturesque heart of Le Mans is charming. This famous old Plantagenet city stands only an hour from the Loire Valley and France’s Anjou province. Le Mans offers many events and regular markets where fine local producers have stalls. Essential shops can be found in several villages and towns dotted five to ten kilometres from the property.
Description
The house needs to be restored. It is nestled in the village centre, behind old walls in a garden with tall trees. The dwelling dates back to the sixteenth century, but it has been transformed since then. It is currently semi-detached. In recent years, a family used the property as a holiday home. An entrance gate stands flanked with old stone pillars. Beyond it, a track leads up to the house. Trees gives this track complete privacy. There is an outbuilding in a first section, at the edge of the property. The house lies on the south side. A large walled garden extends in front of it. Behind it, there is another annexe that is smaller. It stands in a tree-filled garden. You reach it through an open passage between the house and the first outbuilding.
The house
beneath the dwelling. The building forms a rectangle, with an additional section used as a kitchen that adjoins its east side and has a single floor. At the back, another section stands out: a rectangular part that is likely a modified staircase tower. Inside it there is a flight of stairs and two adjoining rooms. The house’s walls are made of rendered rubble masonry with quoins of Bernay stone. Its slate roof is in good condition. A sun dial features on the south face. Beneath it there is an opening in the wall that dates back to the sixteenth century. It is in a Renaissance style. There are two vertical sets of more recent windows. These windows are large, bringing in much natural light. Old tomette tiles from different periods cover the floors beneath French-style beamed ceilings. Marble fireplaces stand in the reception rooms and one of the bedrooms. The Louis XV-style fireplace in the living room is made of stone. The similarly styled wooden panelling and door frames inside all date back to the eighteenth century.
The ground floor
The ground floor covers around 105m². From the front of the house, you enter the dwelling via the kitchen in the small adjoining section, or straight through a double door that leads into the living room. On this side lie three rooms in a row: the kitchen, the dining room and the living room. You reach a hallway at the back of the building from the living room. There you find a staircase rising upwards, a little room, and steps that lead down to the cellar. A back door takes you out into the garden behind. In the living room, a whole wall is made up of cupboards, opposite the fireplace.
The first floor
From the stairs, a landing leads to a passage at the back of the house and to three bedrooms, one of which includes an antechamber.
The second floor
From the stairs, a landing leads to a smaller passage that connects to two bedrooms and a storeroom. There, a second staircase climbs up to the loft.
The attic
The loft reveals the roof’s original framework, which dates back to the sixteenth century.
The cellar
You can reach the cellar from outside, but also from inside, beneath the staircase.
The outbuilding
The outbuilding
The main outbuilding stands at the property’s entrance. It is rectangular and made of local stone with a good-quality slate roof. It covers around 60m². It includes a garage, a storeroom for gardening equipment and a room with a fireplace. There is a loft upstairs.
The wood store
This annexe lies in the back garden. It used to serve as a woodshed. In one corner, you can still see a former latrine that stands along the wall.
The garden
The garden covers around 1,000m². It is surrounded by tall old walls. At its entrance, two pillars flank the main gate. Towering decorative trees dot the garden. They include lime trees, spruces, cypresses, birches, maples and palms. Fruit trees can be found here too. These include fig trees, hazel trees, viburnums, quince trees, peach trees and pear trees.
Our opinion
This charming house enjoys complete privacy behind its tall garden walls. It also benefits from a central location in the heart of a quaint village. Time stands still in this old dwelling, settled in a bucolic backdrop of eternal calm. Authentic architecture in a lush backdrop of decorative trees and plants offers the thrilling prospect of seeing a historical property fully restored. Here, you can reach the French capital in barely two hours and you are well connected to the rest of France too. This wonderful spot has all the ingredients for writing an exciting new chapter in life.
157 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 463346
| Land registry surface area | 1287 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 266 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 6 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 100 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.
