Location
On the plateau, the countryside, composed of fields and pastures, is punctuated by numerous woods and a public forest. The property is very easily accessible: the A13 Bourg-Achard exit is eight minutes away, which is where the A28 starts its descent towards the Atlantic Ocean. There are also many local shops and supermarkets nearby. To reach Paris by train in 1 hour and 20 minutes, the Oissel train station is 25 minutes away.
Description
The House
Built approximately fifty years ago, the house was constructed over two levels, attic space included. It is composed of two main buildings arranged in a V shape and oriented towards the south. The timber-framed walls are built over chequered flint rubble stone and brick foundations. The gabled flat tile roofs are punctuated with dormer windows topped with triangular pediments, three of which have French doors and a wooden balcony.
The ground floor
The entrance hall is located at the corner of the house. It provides access to a lavatory, kitchen and large living room, the bottom of the staircase, which leads to the bedrooms, as well as another set of stairs that descends to the basement, hidden behind a door. On the other side, the long hallway leads to an office, a double bedroom and its en-suite bathroom with shower for people with reduced mobility and a lavatory.
The first floor
With slightly sloping ceilings, a bedroom, bathroom and a lavatory are immediately accessible. Then, a hallway leads to a large bedroom and its wooden balcony as well as the mezzanine that overlooks the living room. A second hallway provides access to three bedrooms – including one with an en-suite bathroom and wardrobe – as well as another bathroom.
The basement
This extends under the entire building. It is mainly composed of two garages accessible from behind the house, a boiler room, cellar and storage spaces.
The Holiday Cottage and its Indoor Swimming Pool
Separated from the house and located next to the hard tennis court, the holiday cottage is hidden by large hedges and protected by tall-branching trees. It was built in an L shape with the house on one side and the swimming pool on the other. The same architectural codes were used for its construction: flint rubble stone foundations, timber-framed walls and gabled flat tile roofs with hipped dormer windows. The swimming pool’s gabled roof was truncated in order to insert a translucent roof, which allows light to enter. A wide paved walkway runs alongside both buildings on the garden side.
The ground floor
The walls are painted in a pale colour, while posts and their consoles frame wide picture windows. The ceiling’s beams and joists have been left visible and the floors are all covered in terracotta tiles.
The front door opens onto an entrance hall that leads to, on one side, a large sitting room bathed in light from large windows – including wide French doors that open onto the garden – and a room with a shower and a lavatory. On the other side, is a vast living room with its imposing ashlar stone fireplace and an open kitchen. Picture windows look out over the swimming pool, which is bathed in light by the translucent roof and a wall with three wide picture windows that provide access to the garden. Two showers and a lavatory are located in a large cloakroom.
The first floor
A very vast room with hardwood floors overlooks the swimming pool. On the other end, a hallway leads to three bedrooms – each with a sink – and a lavatory.
The attic
The attic contains two bedrooms, their sinks and a separate lavatory.
The basement
At the back of the sitting room, a door opens onto a storage cupboard, which is also accessible from the outside. A staircase descends towards the boiler room and the machinery for the swimming pool.
The Caretaker's House
A single-storey dwelling, it is well hidden by tall hedges and surrounded by its own garden. It includes a living room, kitchen, bathroom, lavatory, three bedrooms and two garages.
The Grounds, Woods and Outbuildings
The houses, facing southward, were built along the edge of vast lawns. These are scattered with horse chestnuts, resinous trees, beeches and maples and surrounded by large hedges regularly punctuated with voluminous rhododendron bushes. Rosebushes are scattered here and there; not far from the house, an arbour is enveloped in their heady perfume. Behind the houses, there is a large barn with a convertible level. The woods wallpaper the flank of the valley until they reach the banks of the Seine.
Our opinion
Halfway between Honfleur and Giverny, the property overlooks the realm of the Impressionists, surrounded by its many symbolic sites. The breath-taking view of the Seine’s meanders with the horizon far off in the distance recalls how the river, its meanderings and specific light marked 19th-century painting and eternally permeated this landscape.
Of course, some renovations will be necessary to bring the houses under compliance with their environment, standards of modern comfort and energy-related considerations. The renovations will be facilitated by their high quality construction and the organisation of the spaces that has been imagined for all generations. The consequential revenue generated by the rental of the holiday cottage will be able to cover the cost of the renovations as well as the property’s general upkeep.
1 315 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 994197
Land registry surface area | 15 ha 58 a 45 ca |
Main building surface area | 624 m2 |
Number of bedrooms | 11 |
Outbuilding surface area | 86 m2 |
including refurbished area | 86 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.