A renovated former water mill built in the 14th century, with outbuildings,
in the Loir Valley, near to Chartre-sur-le-Loir, with 6 hectares of wooded meadows
in the Loir Valley, near to Chartre-sur-le-Loir, with 6 hectares of wooded meadows
Chartre-sur-le-Loir,
SARTHE
pays-de-loire
72340
FR
Location
This property is located at the border between the former provinces of Maine and Touraine, in the Loir Valley, a small tourist region that stretches for 60 km to the north of the Loire Valley. Its mild climate is conducive to winemaking, including the Coteaux du Loir and Jasnières PDO wines. The Bércé public forest, renowned for its coppices of oaks, is around ten kilometres away. The surrounding villages include essential services, schools and a medical health centre. A small town just over ten kilometres away boasts more shops and bric-a-brac stores. The property is 45 km from Le Mans, 60 km from Tours and 40 km from Vendôme. Tours - Val de Loire airport is 40 km away. Several motorways are within approximately twenty kilometres. High-speed TGV trains to Paris can be caught in Le Mans and Vendôme, taking 55 and 45 minutes respectively to reach the French capital.
Description
This property is tucked away in the countryside, in a wild but peaceful valley through which a small road winds. Set back from the road, after the entrance gate, a lane crosses a bridge under which a first category fishing stream flows. Behind thick vegetation, the southern gable end of the residence comes into view, as well as a large patio opening out from a lounge. A stream runs alongside the patio. The main house can be reached via the western side through a courtyard around which all the buildings stand. The two-storey watermill has been restored using local materials. The L-shaped building has a slate roof and walls that are made of exposed rubble stone, rendered with limewash on certain sections.
The door and window frames are made of tuffeau stone or old local bricks. Double glazed wood or aluminium windows and doors make up the openings. On one side of the main house, a former bakehouse is made up of two rooms and a passage between these two buildings leads to a track heading towards the meadows. There is a large patio at the rear of the mill facing the wooden waterwheel. After the waterwheel, the mill race leads towards the tree-filled grounds dotted with wooden fences from which views of the surrounding woodland and meadows can be enjoyed. On one side of the outbuilding, the mill race passes by the foot of a wooden barn.
The door and window frames are made of tuffeau stone or old local bricks. Double glazed wood or aluminium windows and doors make up the openings. On one side of the main house, a former bakehouse is made up of two rooms and a passage between these two buildings leads to a track heading towards the meadows. There is a large patio at the rear of the mill facing the wooden waterwheel. After the waterwheel, the mill race leads towards the tree-filled grounds dotted with wooden fences from which views of the surrounding woodland and meadows can be enjoyed. On one side of the outbuilding, the mill race passes by the foot of a wooden barn.
The former mill
The mill’s façades face east and west. It boasts many preserved and renovated original architectural elements: tuffeau stone fireplaces, exposed beams, half-timbering, the mill’s workings, etc. The flooring is made up of old terracotta tiles or paved with more modern tiles. There are six to seven bedrooms, two of which are on the ground floor. The former mill still boasts the workings that activate the waterwheel.
The ground floor
The entrance on the western façade opens into a glazed room called the “Japanese bath”. It is a bright, dual aspect room with views of the mill race and coppices of maple trees. On one side of the entrance, a corridor leads to one of the staircases leading upstairs, as well as to a lavatory, laundry room and garage. On the other side, up a step, there is a dining room bathed in light through west-facing windows. Against one of the walls stands a fireplace in which a Jotul wood-burning stove has been installed. An open-work half-timbered wall separates the dining from the kitchen which opens out to the east onto a large patio. This is followed by a vast, south-facing lounge with large windows that open onto a patio at the foot of a small waterfall. Next to the lounge, there is a room fitted out as an office that could be transformed into a bedroom. It also opens out onto the patio. In the main lounge, a staircase leads upstairs. There is also a door leading to the room containing the mill workings. Another west-facing room communicates with the dining room.
The upstairs
Two staircases lead upstairs. Near to the entrance door, the first leads to a lounge with a sloped ceiling and a bedroom. The second, which climbs up from the main lounge, leads to a walkway partially overlooking the lounge that in turn leads to three bedrooms. The walkway opens onto a landing room from which the mills former workings can be seen. It also leads to a large bedroom, a recently installed shower room and a lavatory. This level has a warm ambiance, with wood stripped flooring and wood panelling on the slopes and upper part of the ceiling.
The outbuildings
The rectangular, two-storey former bakehouse has a surface of approximately 46 m², with a loft that can be reached via a stone staircase on the gable end of the building. The renovated roof is made up of local tiles. The walls are made of exposed rubble stone, rendered with limewash on certain sections. The frames of the openings are made of tuffeau stone or old local brick. There is an old tuffeau fireplace in one of the rooms which is used for storage. The other room is used for storing logs. Near to the stream, another building with a slate roof is used as a workshop and garage for gardening equipment. The property also boasts a washhouse, an old hen coop and a small scullery, all built in rubble stone.
The grounds and meadows
Near to the house, the grounds have been extensively landscaped. The large patios make it possible to relax at the water’s edge of the stream and mill race. The grounds boast a wide variety of tree types, including many Japanese maples, and are enclosed by chestnut wood fences, beyond which stretch out wild, wooded meadows.
Our opinion
This waterside property, from the mill race to the stream, in a wild valley tucked away from prying eyes, has been renovated with care and has retained its fully authentic character. The current occupants have taken care to preserve the old mill, which is emblematic of the Loir’s local dwellings, as well as its entire ecosystem. The residence is bright and welcoming, boasting large flexible volumes that are ideally designed for a large family seeking space. The outbuilding awaiting restoration could provide the opportunity to create bed and breakfast accommodation, or a place for passing guests to stay. The property is tucked way behind the lush vegetation, which has been remarkably landscaped, and boasts many views over the woodland and meadows stretching to the horizon.
595 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 626588
| Land registry surface area | 6 ha 7 a 9 ca |
| Main building surface area | 262.50 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 129 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.
