A 16th-century house with annexes and a garden with a sweeping view, nestled in the
town centre of Tinchebray-Bocage in an area of Normandy nicknamed ‘Norman Switzerland’
town centre of Tinchebray-Bocage in an area of Normandy nicknamed ‘Norman Switzerland’
Tinchebray,
ORNE
lower-normandy
61800
FR
Location
The undulating Norman landscape of hedge-lined meadows around the charming town of Tinchebray-Bocage is shaped by the meanders of tributaries that flow into the River Orne, which gave its name to France’s Orne department, where the property is nestled. The town of Tinchebray-Bocage lies beside an old Roman road that went to the town of Bayeux. In the 14th century, the town was occupied by the English. And during the French Revolution, it was a site of the conflict between republicans and royalist countryfolk of western France. Today, Tinchebray-Bocage is known for its vibrant town centre and popular market. It offers shops too. It is just 15 minutes from the town of Flers and its train station. From this station, you can get to central Paris in 2 hours and 20 minutes by rail. Access to the A88 motorway is 40 minutes away. And the Normandy landing beaches are an hour from the property.
Description
The house is nicknamed ‘La Lieutenance’. It stands in the historical centre of Tinchebray-Bocage, beside the fortified Saint-Rémi Chapel. The dwelling dates back to the 18th century. It was once the home of the Duchesnay family, who were royal advisors and prosecutors in the town. It also served as a lieutenant’s home. And in 1895, it became the home of Doctor Coulombe, a major republican figure of the pre-war period. The edifice has a ground floor and a first floor, as well as a basement and a loft punctuated with shed dormers. It is capped with a hipped mansard roof with four slopes covered with slate tiles. Three chimney stacks rise up from the roof, which is crowned with a weather vane. Rubble granite and schist with pointing form the elevations. Ashlar forms the door and window surrounds. On one side of the property, a narrow street slopes downwards alongside a tall enclosing wall that edges the property. There is a carriage entrance in this wall. This carriage entrance leads into a courtyard beside a terrace, where a tree towers, and a garden, which offers a sweeping view of the town’s rooftops. A caretaker’s dwelling stands opposite a former stable.
The upper-middle-class house
The ground floor
At the top of a front flight of steps, there is an entrance door beneath a fanlight. It leads into a spacious hallway. From this hall, an oak staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade leads upstairs. Beneath this staircase, a door leads to an office and the garden. On another side, the hall, which has a tiled floor patterned with a cubic motif, leads to a large lounge. There is a grey marble fireplace in one wall in this lounge. Tall windows on two sides bathe its herringbone parquet in natural light. Lime-hemp plaster coats the walls. On the other side, there is a kitchen with a dining area and an imposing granite fireplace. Soft natural light floods in on two sides through tall windows with small square panes. This light is reflected on the tiled floor. Lime-hemp plaster with a warm tone coats the walls. The fireplace stands opposite an open-plan kitchen. A scullery connects to a former stable.
The first floor
The staircase winds up to the landing, which is filled with natural light from a tall window. Beautiful wood-strip flooring extends across this first floor. Exposed rubble stonework with pointing forms the landing’s walls. A ceiling rose with fine mouldings adorns the ceiling. On one side, the landing connects to a spacious bedroom with a white coffered ceiling. There is a pink marble fireplace in one wall. This wall is coated with lime-hemp plaster. Natural light from two windows fills the bedroom. A shower room and a second bedroom adjoin the room. Opposite, the landing connects to a bedroom with a shower room, then to another bedroom with a bathroom. Tall windows bathe all the bedrooms in natural light. A door leads up to a loft space that could be partly converted.
The outbuildings
The outbuildings frame the court and terrace. On one side, there is a series of annexes: an old stable, a workshop and a cowshed that needs to be restored. Opposite this series of annexes, there is a caretaker’s house beside a maple tree.
The stable
The old stable adjoins the main house at a right angle to it. It has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. The building is crowned with an overhanging three-slope roof punctuated with three hipped dormers. The overhangs of this roof shelter the building's elevations, made of timber framing with cob filler. The ground floor has been turned into a garage and a workshop. A staircase leads up to the first floor where there is a French-style beamed ceiling. The lime-hemp plaster of the walls is brought out by natural light from four windows. The staircase ends up in the loft space, which could be entirely converted.
The outhouse
This building is made of rubble granite with pointing. It is crowned with a gabled slate roof with a wall dormer that has a door in it.
The caretaker’s house
The caretaker’s house has a ground floor and a first floor. Its elevations are made of granite with ashlar surrounds, beneath a four-slope pyramidal roof. A finial with a weather vane crowns the roof. Inside, there is a lounge with wood strip flooring, a bedroom and a shower room.
The garden
The garden lies at the back of the plot. It is entirely walled and enjoys absolute privacy. It slopes downwards slightly and it has been landscaped into three terraces that offer sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. A broadleaved maple tree provides shade on the summer terrace. And clusters of shrubs add relief to the whole outdoor space and its lush lawns.
Our opinion
The story of this elegant house follows that of France over the past two centuries. With its terrace and garden in a commanding position, this delightful property looks down over its charming town. The dwelling – ‘La Lieutenance’ – is in excellent condition. Its interior, bathed in natural light, is sumptuous in style yet unpretentious. The back of the house is not at all overlooked. It enjoys absolute privacy. From the outdoor haven here, the view stretches out over the surrounding landscape like a painting by the famous artist Guy Désert, who was from this town. With its historical backdrop, near Normandy’s beautiful Côte de Nacre coastline and famous hedge-lined meadows, this spacious, harmonious property would be the perfect pied-à-terre or the ideal family home.
Reference 524120
| Land registry surface area | 1048 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 250 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 150 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 40 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.
