A 19th century residence and its wooded garden
in the «Petit Montmartre» district of Nantes
in the «Petit Montmartre» district of Nantes
Nantes,
LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE
pays-de-loire
44100
FR
Location
Cultural and dynamic, less than an hour from the Jade Coast, Nantes is one of the most attractive cities in France. The property is situated in an area overlooking the town, with unobstructed views of the Loire. This historic quarter right next to the city centre reveals a little-known facet of the Loire town. Small squares and picturesque alleyways intermingle here, hence the nickname "Little Montmartre".
Description
The townhouse borders the street and is accessed from a discreet alleyway on the Butte Sainte-Anne hill. Built in 1880, the property offers roughly 135 m² extending over three levels. One wall is shared with the neighbouring property, while on the opposite side, a high stone wall extends the facade to a garage door opening onto a vast covered patio of approx. 45 m² providing parking space for two cars. A magnificent, protected chestnut tree extends its foliage over the perimeter wall. The building extends to the rear into a south-facing garden of almost 800 m², rich with tall trees and lush vegetation. An adjoining 6.60 m² workshop and a 5.80 m² shed, as well as a 12 m² outbuilding included in the land registry complete the property.
The residence
Built in the 19th century on a rectangular plan, the house faces north-west/south-east. The tall, rendered rubble masonry facade has three levels, one of which is a converted roofspace. The slate gable roof has a dormer window on either side. The front and back elevations feature three openings on each of the first two levels, surrounded by smooth rendering, similar to that of the corner quoins. On the garden side, the facade has tall large-paned French windows with light grey shutters. The first floor features balconies with wrought-iron balustrades. On the sunny side of the house, a double French window opens out to a small perron with steps down to the garden.
The ground floor
The main entrance is through an oak door with a transom window on the street side. It opens into a hallway serving a linen room on one side and a fitted kitchen on the other, and a wooden staircase leading to the first floor. The hall then leads to a double living room, where the large windows create wonderful vistas of the outdoors and push back the boundaries of the interior volumes. The garden forms an additional lounge, as it can be accessed from the sitting room and from the dining room, both enjoying plenty of natural light. The flooring is of square terracotta tiles and the original open hearth fireplace is of Burgundy stone. A small door leads from the dining room to a workshop and a shed.
The first floor
Served by the wooden staircase from the ground floor, this level comprises three simply decorated bedrooms. One enjoys a dual exposure and is illuminated whatever the season. The bedrooms share a bathroom with a large window overlooking the garden below. The floors and walls would benefit from a decorative refresh.
The second floor
The staircase leads to a bedroom under sloping ceilings with a study area, flanked by two small garrets awaiting conversion. The entire walls are panelled. Two windows let plenty of light pour in throughout the day. The dormer window on the garden side offers a view over the rooftops of the town in the distance and the Atlas cedar in the foreground.
The garden and the outbuilding
Accessed from the residence by a flight of four stone steps, the garden stretches over 786 m². Facing south-east, it is surrounded by high coursed schist masonry walls. The deep, enclosed grounds abound in lush trees and are sheltered from prying eyes.
A grassy area extending from the house is a "classified wooded area" and features a centuries-old chestnut tree officially listed as an outstanding specimen. There are also a large number of other decorative plants and shrubs: roses, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, etc.
Sheltered by a laurel tree, a 12 m² masonry outbuilding with a partly tiled roof, currently used as a shed, can provide additional space without interfering with the activity in the house.
The central driveway, only slightly narrowed by a slender cedar tree, is a direct extension of the house's hallway. It leads up to a surprisingly monumental hedge of several pruned yew trees. Through an opening in the hedge, a second garden space comes into view, featuring a Ginkgo biloba, cherry, raspberry, fig, apple and quince trees.
Our opinion
Climbing up Butte Sainte-Anne from the Loire is like rediscovering Jules Verne as a child, with his face turned towards the ocean and Captain Nemo's Extraordinary Voyages. This is the perfect location for a welcoming family residence, sheltered by a peaceful neighbourhood and a large garden planted with centuries-old trees. Although the interior will need some refurbishment and updating, the whole property already exudes the warm, endearing atmosphere of a house full of life, where indoor and outdoor spaces blend harmoniously.
832 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 113898
| Land registry surface area | 786 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 136 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 69 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.
