An 18th-century house with outbuildings and over two hectares of grounds, nestled in a
village near the town of L'Isle-Adam in France’s Val-d’Oise department, just north of Paris
village near the town of L'Isle-Adam in France’s Val-d’Oise department, just north of Paris
Presles,
VAL-D'OISE
ile-de-france
95590
FR
Location
The village is tucked away in France’s beautiful Val-d’Oise department, nestled among the wooded hills of the towns of L’Isle-Adam and Viarmes. It lies at the edge of Carnelle and L’Isle-Adam forests. The village, here in this richly wooded backdrop, dates back to the Middle Ages. It bears witness to the local history of working the land and exploiting the surrounding forests. This village’s character has been well preserved, with age-old stone dwellings and other constructions discreetly integrated. The enchanting landscape takes precedence. Indeed, this natural backdrop has not been overrun by rapid urbanisation. Developments here have been harmonious. The village is highly sought-after for its calm atmosphere and subtle charm. It offers all amenities needed for family life, including two nursery schools and three primary schools, as well as school transport for nearby secondary schools. You can easily reach Paris in just 35 minutes via Line H on the regional rail network. Paris Charles de Gaulle international airport is around 30 kilometres away. And the town of L’Isle-Adam is only a few minutes from the property. This town is renowned for the high-quality lifestyle that it offers, with shops, a market, cultural amenities and a golf course in a tree-dotted valley that is barely two kilometres away.
Description
Nestled in its village, the dwelling is hidden behind a discreet double door and is surrounded by outer walls. In front of it there is a paved inner patio. This patio is entirely enclosed and enjoys absolute privacy. The 18th-century dwelling seems to have gone through time without losing any of its calm dignity. It is L-shaped and has a layout that was often used in architecture at its time of construction, when cosiness and protection against wind were given the most attention. The elevations are coated with bright white rendering and punctuated with lattice windows. Their design is plain and each part has a particular purpose. The roof has flat tiles and has kept its traditional form. The house has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor. A cellar, which you reach from outside, extends beneath part of the dwelling and also bears witness to the property's past. A paved terrace edges the main building and looks out over the grounds. A broad gravel path, framed between small box hedges, leads to a kitchen garden, lawns, a small wood, a stream that snakes across the grounds, and a swimming pool set back from the house for greater tranquillity and built beside shrubs and plants of different varieties.
The house
A white double door, framed between two wall lamps and capped with a serrated metal canopy, leads into an entrance hall with a floor of stone tiles patterned with black square inserts. The beautiful flooring and the exposed ceiling beams set the tone. The timber and walls have warped a little over time, as if to underline the unique charm of this historical edifice. From the hallway, a staircase of terracotta tiles and solid oak, smoothened by time, leads upstairs. On one side of the entrance hall, there are two connecting lounges with well-balanced proportions. They form a refined reception space, extended with a dining room, which has an old fireplace with a timber mantel. The dining room has wood strip flooring. It leads out through a large glazed door to an east-facing terrace – an ideal spot for sun-kissed mornings and family lunches. Beyond the dining room, there is a guest lavatory beside a kitchen with painted ceiling beams and a tiled floor. This kitchen faces the patio. Back in the entrance hall and opposite the above-described series of rooms, there is a third lounge, bathed in natural light. It offers a reading corner and features a fireplace. Throughout this ground floor, high-quality materials have been well preserved. There are terracotta tiles, wood strip floors, Versailles parquet, fine doors and exposed ceiling beams. On the first floor, a landing leads to a broad corridor that connects to four spacious bedrooms. All these bedrooms are filled with natural light and have in-built storage spaces. Three of them look out at the grounds. They share two shower rooms and two bathrooms, one of which has a bathtub with lion-paw feet. A storeroom completes this first floor. A shower room is cleverly placed between the first and second floors. The second floor has an office and two spare bedrooms, one of which has an adjoining bathroom. These bedrooms are slightly smaller than those on the floor below them. The last bedroom, beneath the exposed beams of the roof frame, has impressive dimensions. A loft space serves as a storeroom and offers possibilities for development.
The outbuildings
Beyond the kitchen, there is a discreet utility room beside a small garage. Both lead out to the patio. When you walk around the house and across its paved terraces, you reach an outbuilding on one side. It has been turned into a workshop. Further on, beyond a few steps, you reach a gravelled area that takes you to a series of four garages cleverly hidden away. Beside them there are two sheds where you can store gardening tools.
The grounds
Two beautifully designed terraces follow the lines of the house and lead out to the grounds, where there are trees of different varieties and flowerbeds edged with neatly trimmed box hedges. The terrace beside the lounges and dining room lends itself to lunches in the shade of trees, in front of the shimmering stream. A large swimming pool is set back, hidden behind vegetation. Near it lies a kitchen garden on the right, then a wood further away. The grounds alone form a backdrop to an enchanting voyage and an arena for the passing of the seasons, which you can admire through the house’s many windows.
Our opinion
This refined, discreet dwelling, nestled in a village centre behind tall stone walls, is a delightful haven that enjoys absolute privacy. It evokes the upper-middle-class elegance of the 18th century but combines well with contemporary touches of comfort that have been subtly integrated. The rooms have been well preserved and the original materials create a noble backdrop for a timeless art of living. The hushed atmosphere here would be ideal for a family looking for authentic charm. The property promises a peaceful lifestyle but is close to shops, amenities, forests and fast routes to Paris. Indeed, the calm home is set back from bustle yet is certainly not isolated.
1 771 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 150006
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 17 a 61 ca |
| Total floor area | 400 m2 |
| Number of rooms | 12 |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Possible number of bedrooms | 8 |
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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.
