30 minutes from Angoulême, a 150-m² residence with a listed historical monument 13th and 15th century entrance tower linked by an enclosed gangway,
plus outbuildings, on 5,600 m² of land with the option of a further 3,000 m² planted with almond trees
plus outbuildings, on 5,600 m² of land with the option of a further 3,000 m² planted with almond trees
Angoulême,
CHARENTE
poitou-charentes
16000
FR
Location
This property is located in a hamlet, midway between and 15 minutes from two towns with plenty of services and shops, on the crossroads of two Roman roads: the Via Agrippa from Saintes to Lyon and the Angoulême to Bourges way. The surrounding countryside is brimming with tracks, paths along rivers, undulating meadows and forests. The N10 dual carriage way is nearby, putting Paris and Bordeaux respectively 4 hours 40 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes away by road. The high-speed TGV railway station at Angoulême is 30 minutes away, meaning Paris can be reached in 1 hour 50 minutes.
Description
The rectangular residence to the south and square tower to the north are linked by an enclosed gangway with a roof of flat tiles between their first floors. The walls are mainly made of ashlar and large rough-hewn rectangular limestone blocks, a material commonly found in many of the region’s old buildings. To the north, there is a 13th-century outer wall against part of which stands a covered area. To the east of the residence there is a summer house and to the west there is a small workshop. To the north, on the other side of the tarmac road, there is more than 3,000 m² of land planted with almond trees that can be optionally purchased as well.
The residence
This two-storey residence is topped by a hipped roof made of half-round terracotta tiles. Its western façade includes half-timbering and a set of French windows has been cleverly installed to include the cross-brace.
The ground floor
The main entrance opens into a large living room with a stone fireplace. To the left, the kitchen, which can be seen through a glass partition atop a coped wall, increases the feeling of volume. To the rear, in addition to a laundry room and utility room, from a small hallway a half-turn staircase with an intermediate landing climbs up to the upper floor. On this level, there is travertine stone flooring and exposed beams and joists on the ceiling.
The upstairs
The landing with oakwood stripped flooring leads to four bedrooms. The bathroom and shower room both boast travertine stone flooring identical to the ground floor. At the end of the corridor, a door opens into the enclosed gangway into the tower.
The entrance tower
This square tower was built in the 15th century on 13th-century foundations. At the bottom, a lancet arch vaulted passage runs through it from east to west. It has a gentle sloped pavilion roof, under which the walls of the third storey are partially covered by a shingle made up of wooden tiles. At its northwest corner, it is flanked by a 17th-century hexagonal tower containing a spiral staircase which can be reached from the courtyard through a rectangular door surmounted by a semi-circular tympanum featuring three weathered coats of arms. The tower’s pointed roof is made of flat tiles.
The ground floor
A door more than one metre above ground level opens onto a straight stone staircase leading to the first floor. Even though it is situated in the courtyard, its elevated position pays witness to the defensive architectural style of the site.
The first floor
This level is made up of a 20-m² vaulted room with stone mosaic floor and can be reached by the covered gangway from the first floor of the house. The entrance doors are made of oak and are decorated with drapery patterns. The room is bathed in light through small stained-glass windows.
The second floor
This storey is made up of a 20-m² room that can be reached via the staircase in the hexagonal tower. Its flooring is made up of small terracotta tiles and it boasts exposed ceiling beams and joists. Stained-glass windows on each side flood the room with light and a transom window boasts oakwood interior shutters adorned with drapery patterns.
The third floor
This 27-m² room can be reached by the spiral staircase, has a stone paved floor and boasts an exposed oakwood roof frame with chestnut wood battens. The views from this storey are far-reaching.
The outbuildings
At the rear of the residence, a small, single-storey, 20-m² building with a roof of half-round tiles has been converted into a summer house, equipped with a kitchen, shower room and lavatory. To the northwest of the tower, there is a covered area with a roof of half-round tiles, underneath which a stone staircase leads down into a vaulted cellar that was once the basement of former outbuildings.
The garden
The perimeter is planted with ordinary wild tree types. It has two old underground water tanks, one of which is next to the small summer house. In the centre of the courtyard, a well that is still visible today shows that in the 16th century the property was a fortified stronghold with a noble residence. The well is very deep and midway down, there is an opening into underground karstic cavities, some of which are as large as chapels.
Our opinion
This property strikes a perfect balance between the medieval spirit and modern comfort. As a result, the residence’s history can continue on a sound footing. Everything the house has to offer is designed to captivate and appeal to visitors, whether it is the underfloor heating powered by a latest generation heat exchange pump, stained glass windows, travertine stone floors and drapery-patterned shutters, not forgetting the brightness of the place, so well described by author Jacques Chardonne: “the light of the Charente is unparalleled in France, even in Provence. Yet such words hardly do it justice. Everywhere, nature radiates something inexpressible”. This property will not fail to enchant visitors.
477 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 550125
| Land registry surface area | 5618 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 150 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 20 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.
