with lounges for artistic and gastronomic projects, 15 km from Deauville

Location
Paris, 190 km away, can be easily reached via the A13 motorway. With several daily links, the train journey takes 2 hours. On the edge of the Auge Country, Pont-l'Evêque has been in a key position, where the Bayeux-Rouen road meets that going from Lisieux to the sea, since the 12th century. It is also a large administrative and judicial centre. This explains the large numbers of half-timbered manors as well as brick and stone mansions belonging to the leading citizens. Furthermore, important buildings were built in the 19th century such as the Restoration court, a prison with neo-classical architecture which has, amongst others, housed René-la-Canne as well as the distilleries.
Description
The 16th century manor and its 18th century extension
It spans three levels, one of which is under the rafters. Laid out in an L-shape, the long facade extending along the street features seven bays. It is constructed entirely from half-timbering, built on quarry stone block lower sections. The protruding second level is supported on corbels, some of which still top a sculpted scroll. The openings are rectangular, that of the porchway slightly arched. A wing at the back stands at right angles. A brick extension was added in the 18th century. It features three semi-circular carriage openings on the ground floor. The manor house can be accessed via two entrances. One, under the porchway, opens directly into one of the two reception rooms. The other, set in the corner of the two buildings, was redesigned in the 19th century.
The ground floor
The entrance door is typical of the Restoration era, with a fanlight and coloured rectangular stained-glass windows. The hall is paved with cement tiles. It gives access to a little study, the reception rooms and a corridor which leads to a living room. A stairway, with elm wood steps, goes upstairs. The decor of the two rooms overlooking the street is characteristic of the 18th century. Parquet flooring with inlaid squares or laid in a herringbone pattern, floor-to-ceiling panelling as well as arch moulding and cornices on the ceiling. A large decorative feature, including cherubs, horns of plenty and birds of paradise amongst other things, adorns the centre. Three openings have been made in the wall separating the two rooms to create transparency. A 19th century fireplace is made of a moulded, very rare, copper veined, black marble. The living room, with windows overlooking the courtyard, awaits restoration. It can be reached via a wooden door, typical of the Renaissance era, with carved pilasters in the uprights, the carved heads of the initial builders and scrolls supporting a console. It houses a Renaissance style, monumental dressed stone fireplace. The jambs, sculpted in half columns with Corinthian order capitals, support moulded corbels. The hearth is lined with small brick. The three reception lounges pay witness to a rich past and are ideal for cultural or gastronomic activities, as they were once previously used for such purposes by the owners of the property.
The first floor
The stairway goes up to a landing which gives access to both wings. On the road side, a lounge, a bedroom, an anteroom, a shower room, a toilet, a small dining room and a kitchen. The many period features include French ceilings, with original decors, alternating grain, herringbone pattern parquet flooring and tall, 18th century cupboard doors. The anteroom has an impressive, richly decorated coffered ceiling, whilst the lounge and the bedroom both have marble fireplaces.
On the courtyard side, an old wooden door conceals the stairway going up to the attic space. One door opens into a laundry room and another into a lounge. The floor is laid with herringbone pattern parquet flooring. The walls are lined with pitch-pine wood floor-to-ceiling panelling. A ceiling painting, depicting a sky and clouds, is framed with wooden moulding. A medallion in each corner represents a nautical theme. This painting is attributed to Gillotin, a naval officer residing in the house, who was also a great explorer. A door opens into a vast converted room on the first floor of the 18th century brick extension. It is widely illuminated via large windows. The floor is laid with strip pattern wooden flooring. A long central unit separates a kitchen from the rest of the room. A contemporary stairway goes down to the entrance hall, reached via one of the three carriage entrances.
The attic
Spanning a surface area of approx. 150 m², the attic space could be converted. It is currently composed of rooms, the floors of which are made of plaster or laid with old square or hexagonal terracotta tiles.
The stairway in the 18th century brick extension goes to a landing, an anteroom, a shower room, a toilet and a bedroom. The decoration is resolutely contemporary.
The courtyard, the garden and the outbuildings
The courtyard, paved with polished quarry stone blocks, is bordered by the L-shaped manor house, the perimeter walls and the old stables. In the middle, two old palm-laurel trees have been trimmed so as not to block the views. It is very large and can take several parked cars.
The old stables are used for storage purposes. The two-storey building is topped with a gable roof, covered with flat tiles. The first level is composed of brick. A straight stairway goes up to a gallery protected by wooden railings that run alongside the second, half-timbered level. Both gallery and railings are in dire need of restoration. Another little outbuilding, constructed from brick and half-timbering, stands near to a pond. A long stretch of stone coping, vestige of a farm building, borders a flowerbed, lined with boxwood.
The garden is composed of vast grassy areas, with one section given over to a vegetable garden. A small, open copse is planted with lime trees. There are also a few hornbeam as well as old apple trees and, above all, some purple hazel bushes, with their delicious nuts.
Our opinion
Everything indicates the high social standing of the initial builder. The long facade, the vast, high-ceilinged rooms on the ground floor given over to business matters and the magnificence of the Renaissance decor, right down to the two little sculpted heads depicting a very serious man and a very plump lady. The restoration works, carried out by a heritage enthusiast also open to a touch of modernity, have enhanced the memory of this manor house. Not forgetting its 19th century features, with their discreet architecture, and its renowned history with Flaubert, a regular holidaymaker very fond of this corner of Normandy who probably haunted these premises.
1 490 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 479965
Land registry surface area | 2516 m2 |
Main building surface area | 390 m2 |
Number of bedrooms | 4 |
Outbuilding surface area | 50 m2 |
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.