In the heart of a hamlet near Rambouillet, an old farm comprising the family house,
barns converted into 7 dwellings and barns awaiting restoration
barns converted into 7 dwellings and barns awaiting restoration
Rambouillet, YVELINES
ile-de-france
78120
FR
Location
On the border of the Yvelines and Eure-et-Loir departments, the distinctive landscape benefits from both the proximity of one of the most remarkable woodlands in Île-de-France and the view of the vast wheat fields of the Beauce. Between the trees of Clairefontaine and the fields surrounding Chartres cathedral, the hamlet witnessed the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, the occupation of Rambouillet, an imperial city, seat of Louis XVI's Bergerie Nationale (national sheep farm) and of a royal, imperial and then presidential castle, and Ablis, a neighbouring town, which was razed to the ground on 8 October 1870.
The Rambouillet train station, 8 km away, allows you to get to Versailles in just under 20 minutes and to Paris in about 30 minutes. A few kilometres away, the N10, the trunk road to Versailles, connects to the A10 motorway to Paris or to the châteaux of the Loire Valley.
Description
Once isolated in the middle of agricultural plots, the farm is now in the centre of the hamlet. The buildings, covering approximately 7,400 m2, are arranged around a vast central gravel courtyard with a lawn, once a place of work and exchange.
The buildings form a U-shape, with the exception of a modest workshop and barn at the western entrance to the farm. A barn and two more recently built garages outside the enclosure also belong to the property. A pond is lined with local trees and a projecting parapet.
Two entrances lead to the courtyard. For practical reasons, they probably replaced a carriage gate that has now disappeared.
Over time and as required, the farm was successively enlarged by juxtaposing and combining simple rectangular volumes, built over one or two levels plus attic.
The buildings are constructed with local materials, pointed coursed rubble masonry and bricks.
The buildings form a U-shape, with the exception of a modest workshop and barn at the western entrance to the farm. A barn and two more recently built garages outside the enclosure also belong to the property. A pond is lined with local trees and a projecting parapet.
Two entrances lead to the courtyard. For practical reasons, they probably replaced a carriage gate that has now disappeared.
Over time and as required, the farm was successively enlarged by juxtaposing and combining simple rectangular volumes, built over one or two levels plus attic.
The buildings are constructed with local materials, pointed coursed rubble masonry and bricks.
The family house
The building is quite unique in that the interplay of the roofs and volumes attests to the successive additions made over the years. Topped with flat tiles and pierced by two-sided dormers set into the facade walls - with the exception of the barn near the west entrance, which has a slate roof - they are completed by a conservatory, added a few years ago, with zinc roofing. The carefully restored two-storey house opens onto the courtyard to the south and onto a walled landscaped garden to the north. The eastern facades offer elegant views of the pond, the gable facade features coloured render. On the first floor, a small balcony is decorated with a delicate wrought iron railing. Like those of the older outbuildings, the facades of the family house, with their French windows and painted shutters, are composed without any order or symmetry. The stone foundation and window frames as well as the dressed stone corner joints are exposed. The small entrance on the north side has a dressed stone surround, it stands out for its architecture without bricks. It is lit by a lantern emerging through the foliage of a climbing plant.
Ground floor
From the central courtyard, once through the conservatory door, a vast open space becomes visible which unites the full-width dining room and the conservatory. The ceiling joists and beams are exposed, while the floor is paved with hexagonal terracotta tiles. From the living room, a first door opens directly on to a spacious equipped kitchen, featuring wooden furniture, brick walls and ceramic tiles, connected to a small dining room. Again, the beams and joists are exposed and the floor is paved with old terracotta tiles. A second door leads to the drawing room, which is lit by a large picture window overlooking the garden. This room has a stone floor and fireplace. Near the entrance, an open flight of stairs leads to the first floor, a toilet and a utility room are located behind the staircase.
First floor
A wide corridor with seagrass flooring, illuminated by a French window opening onto a balcony with a view of the pond, leads to three bedrooms and a bathroom. Two of the bedrooms have oak parquet floors and one features a marble fireplace. A second wooden staircase, accessed via the drawing room, leads to the master suite in the attic. It consists of a spacious bedroom with wardrobe and a shower room with toilet. The floor is light-coloured parquet, the beams are visible. A dormer window and a large window opening onto a terrace provide light.
The first outbuilding
Following on from the family house is a first barn. The ground floor is used as a garage, the first floor under the roof, accessed by a wide wooden staircase, has been converted into a storage room. The walls and eaves are insulated and roof windows have been installed. The ground floor has rough concrete flooring, the first floor offers a parquet floor.
The 19th century outbuildings
They are typified by their articulation, pilasters and brick window frames, and were built in the same spirit as the older buildings. In this part of France, the use of brick on the symmetrical facades was very popular until the end of the 19th century. In the roof, wall dormers and carriage doors emphasise the property's agricultural past. The first part serves as storage space, the attic space is not used. Further on and turning towards the street, the second part of the building was divided and converted into seven flats, which are currently rented out. Some of them feature a small garden on the street side. The window frames, corner quoins and arched windows punctuate and give rhythm to the buildings.
The barn
To the west of the courtyard, the former barn with a slate roof is built of coursed rubble masonry and rises to a height of 9 m without an intermediate floor. In the past, it was probably used to store agricultural machinery.
The workshop
Built with a timber frame and brick, it is currently used as a storage area.
The metal barn and garages
Outside the farmyard and accessible from the street are a barn and two attached breeze-block garages.
Our opinion
The spaciousness of the property reflects the vastness of the Beauce. Here, everything seems vast. From the pond, in the windy fields or the cool forest, everything is just a deep and soothing breath. The interior, with its simple and welcoming composition, is the finishing touch to this 19th century rural portrait.
A remarkable farmhouse so close to the capital, it obviously lends itself to a range of conversion opportunities while already offering a very comfortable family home and substantial rental income.
2 421 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 676768
| Land registry surface area | 7337 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 250 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 1726 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 628 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.
