An 18th-century presbytery, its outbuildings and 2,600 m² of tree-filled grounds,
near Livarot, along the Calvados Cider and Cheese Route, in the Pays d’Auge
near Livarot, along the Calvados Cider and Cheese Route, in the Pays d’Auge
Lisieux,
CALVADOS
lower-normandy
14100
FR
Location
Located in the centre of a rural village, along a route that takes hikers from villages to legendary forests, the property is only a stone’s throw away from the city of Orbec, within the functional area of Lisieux and part of the Calvados department. Monasteries and church steeples built during the Renaissance as well as the 16th and 18th centuries, have endowed this small town with a significant religious heritage, including, in particular, a sculptural group and a pulpit.
Legendary neighbouring villages draw their fame from rich pasturelands and world-renowned cheese production sites, while the nearby town of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives is the starting point for discovering the many chateaus and manors that are littered throughout the surrounding countryside: Grandchamp, Canon, Vendeuvre, Livarot. The main food businesses and services essential for daily life are all located nearby in addition to farm co-ops that also sell their local produce. The Lisieux train station makes it possible to reach Paris in two hours, while the A13 motorway provides access to the capital in less than two hours.
Description
A forested road bordered by hedgerows leads to the property with its parish house, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the 13th-century “ad sanctos” parish church. Popularised in the Middle Ages, intra-mural burials were a way to benefit from the monks' constant prayers on behalf of the dead, guaranteeing their protection and rest in the afterlife. This “house of God” also seems to have been rather renowned judging by the amount of ancient graffiti on its walls from time immemorial, including Calvary scenes, crosses, cup and ring marks, Maltese crosses and other sailing boats.
Built in the 18th century on self-sufficient land that met the needs and well-being of the parish priest, the presbytery’s two main buildings – one of which was once used as a bakehouse – form an inverted L. Representing an architectural and stylistic unit with half-timbering and cob infill, these two buildings, in addition to a scullery and shed, are accessible via an entrance gate flanked by two brick pillars, which marks the entrance to the estate and opens onto a gravel courtyard facing west.
Built in the 18th century on self-sufficient land that met the needs and well-being of the parish priest, the presbytery’s two main buildings – one of which was once used as a bakehouse – form an inverted L. Representing an architectural and stylistic unit with half-timbering and cob infill, these two buildings, in addition to a scullery and shed, are accessible via an entrance gate flanked by two brick pillars, which marks the entrance to the estate and opens onto a gravel courtyard facing west.
The Presbytery
The building’s main façade is highlighted by a horizontal stringcourse at its centre, which visually separates the ground and first floors from one another. On each side of the central front door, two small-paned windows with white shutters are delicately crowned with wooden lintels. Upstairs, five windows are aligned with their downstairs counterparts, while the hipped roof is covered in vintage tiles and adorned with three gabled dormer windows with stone or zinc finials. In addition, there are three chimneys, one of which extends up from the house’s west gable, which has two windows with shutters on the ground floor and is clad in half-timbering on the first floor. The house’s rear façade repeats almost the same architecture, except the entrance on the garden side is preceded by a couple of steps and the scullery slightly juts out from behind the main façade. All around, past the planted hedges and as far as the eye can see, are old farms, valleys and verdant forests.
The ground floor
A large vestibule provides access to the different rooms on this level. On the left is a vast living room that abuts a smaller sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen and a reconverted scullery, while a small rustic bedroom faces the oak staircase, which dates from the end of the 17th century or beginning of the 18th. This level has glazed red rectangular terracotta-tile floors as well as marble fireplaces topped with Louis XV chimneybreasts in all the rooms, which are entirely or partially wood panelled and painted with pastel or russet tones. The meticulous décor perfectly matches the cool and warm hues used throughout, which are highlighted by the house’s many windows. Completing the house’s decorative elements is wainscoting, painted in Trianon grey, as well as faux-marble skirting boards, which was a common feature in upscale houses from this time period. The recently modernised, fitted kitchen is bathed in light by two windows, while a lavatory and several alcoves can also be found on this level.
The first floor
A quarter-turn staircase, accentuated by a mid-floor window, leads to the first-floor landing with hardwood floors, wainscoted walls and two windows. Three large bedrooms, facing different directions and meticulously decorated, each have a Directoire-style fireplace. In addition, they all have wood-panelled cupboards from the same era, while two renovated shower rooms, one of which communicates with a bedroom, are also located on this floor.
The second floor
Following practically the same layout as the lower floor, a landing leads to three large bedrooms, which were created in the attic space. With hardwood floors and exposed beam ceilings, their Louis XV doors correspond to the rustic ambiance and warm tones found throughout this level.
The Former Bakehouse and Shed
Once a self-sufficient estate, the presbytery is attached to a second, perpendicular house whose architectural design mimics that of the former. Connected via the former scullery, it was once used as a bakehouse and is now covered by a vintage tile hipped roof. Built at a right angle to the main house and formerly used for practical purposes, the timber-framed house now proudly displays its affinity to the region’s architectural heritage and includes two cellars and a furnace room, while further on, there is a shed and a former lavatory.
The Garden
With 2,600 m² and mainly facing east, this verdant and fragrant labyrinth weaving through the dense lime trees provides countless views and includes avenues of yews and box trees as well as hydrangeas and a majestic American oak. On the courtyard side, to the west, shrubs are given pride of place, including peonies and climbing rosebushes, which stand next to clumps of irises and cypresses with their woody bouquet. In addition, aromatic thyme and a fig tree could be used for practical purposes as part of a cottage garden, a fitting homage to this property’s history.
Our opinion
Although more than 300 years have past since this presbytery was built, it seems as if time has stood still on this property. Located in the middle of the woods, this ecclesiastical dwelling where the priest and his curates once lived, exudes a wonderfully bucolic and timeless air, while its remarkable timber-framed façades carefully conceal the sophistication of its wood-panelled walls and the patina of its glossy terracotta-tile floors. Without a doubt, the property, whose current owners had the presence of mind to preserve, still benefits from the protective aura of its ancestors. Today, this quiet little world, steeped in authenticity, proposes the ideal combination – heritage, comfort, tranquillity and a panoramic view – and could be adapted for many uses: a main or secondary residence as well as a seasonal rental.
636 000 €
Negotiation fees included
600 000 € Fees excluded
6%
TTC at the expense of the purchaser
Reference 231568
| Land registry surface area | 2665 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 202 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 30 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.
