A 17th & 19th century country house in a village
in the heart of the Orléans forest in the Centre-Val de Loire region
in the heart of the Orléans forest in the Centre-Val de Loire region
Vitry-aux-Loges,
LOIRET
center-val-de-loire
45530
FR
Location
In the centre of the Loiret department, this small town lies at the heart of the Orléans national forest. It is crossed by a waterway 78km long, which was built nearby in the late 17th century to transport various goods to Paris, including wood to heat the city. This artery linked the Loire and Seine basins for over 200 years. The moorlands surrounding the estate are interspersed with rivers, ponds and arboretums of national renown.
The village has a population of around 2300 and offers all day-to-day shops, services and facilities.
The towns of Sully-sur-Loire and Orléans are 30km away. Paris can be reached in two hours via the N20 or the A77/A6 motorways. The nearest train station is located 26km from the property.
Description
Standing in a prominent, elevated position in the centre of the village, the property was built on the former feudal motte belonging to a fiefdom of King Henri IV in the 17th century. Surrounded by three chateaux, a 16th-century parish church and traditional townhouses, the property extends over approx. 2,730m² and is surrounded by an impressive perimeter wall, high hedges and an ancient moat. Two automatic gates and a wicket gate mark the main entrances.
From here, the three buildings that make up the property come into view, with their rendered facades roofed with local flat tiles.
The main residence features dressed stone window surrounds and corner quoins, the barn, which has been converted into a studio flat, has timber-framed walls and the small farmhouse, set back at right angles from the main building, is covered with wisteria.
Facing south-east/north-west, the house is divided into three sections of decreasing height, starting at the south-west gable. It extends over a total floor area of approx. 260m², excluding the attic. The main section, the furthest west, has three stories over a cellar. All the windows are double-glazed and protected by wooden louvered or plain shutters. Green and white awnings protect the interiors from excessive heat. Two approach stairs with wrought-iron railings lead to the entrance doors, the northern entrance being topped by a canopy. There are several French windows opening out to the garden. The roof features a hip and a wall dormer and is clad with period tiles on one side and slate on the other.
Boasting a swimming pool measuring approximately 4m x 7m, the residence is surrounded by paved terraces and gravelled areas linking the houses to the secluded, wooded garden.
From here, the three buildings that make up the property come into view, with their rendered facades roofed with local flat tiles.
The main residence features dressed stone window surrounds and corner quoins, the barn, which has been converted into a studio flat, has timber-framed walls and the small farmhouse, set back at right angles from the main building, is covered with wisteria.
Facing south-east/north-west, the house is divided into three sections of decreasing height, starting at the south-west gable. It extends over a total floor area of approx. 260m², excluding the attic. The main section, the furthest west, has three stories over a cellar. All the windows are double-glazed and protected by wooden louvered or plain shutters. Green and white awnings protect the interiors from excessive heat. Two approach stairs with wrought-iron railings lead to the entrance doors, the northern entrance being topped by a canopy. There are several French windows opening out to the garden. The roof features a hip and a wall dormer and is clad with period tiles on one side and slate on the other.
Boasting a swimming pool measuring approximately 4m x 7m, the residence is surrounded by paved terraces and gravelled areas linking the houses to the secluded, wooded garden.
The dwelling
The ground floor
This level has a floor area of approx. 140m². A double wooden door with glass panes protected by elaborate wrought ironwork and topped by transom windows leads from the south-eastern side into the entrance hall. In the hall, the floor tiles are laid in a chequerboard pattern, as throughout most of the ground floor, and the painted walls are adorned with a frieze and decorative mouldings. The entrance hall leads first to a lavatory on one side and the main rooms on the other. There is a study with an inset fireplace with a brick mantelpiece, followed by a living room, also with a marble fireplace topped by an overmantel mirror. It connects to a passageway housing a double quarter-turn oak staircase leading to the first floor. A reception room of approx. 40m² with a ceiling height of more than 3m features a floor of old quarry tiles, a beamed ceiling and a third fireplace. Next follows a fully equipped kitchen and scullery. The units are finished in beige polymer and the countertops are granite. The bluish cement floor tiles echo the exposed and painted ceiling beams.
The upstairs
This floor extends over roughly 115m². A long corridor serves all the rooms. The floors are of straight strip hardwood and the bathrooms and lavatories are tiled. Most of the walls are painted. This floor comprises five bedrooms, three of which have stone fireplaces, plus a closet, a bathroom and a former shower room that has been converted into a linen room.
The attic
With a floor area of approx. 50m², the attic space is currently used for storage and could be converted.
The outbuildings
The barn has a floor area of approx. 80m² and spans two stories. A metal staircase abutting the outer gable wall provides access to the first floor. The ground level, with a floor area of approx. 50m² and a ceiling height of 3.5m, comprises a vast workshop-garage with a concrete floor. The upstairs studio flat of around 30m² is heated by a gas boiler or stove.
A few roof windows illuminate the space, which includes a living room with a modest kitchen, a shower room and a lavatory. The beams are exposed and the walls have been painted white to bring out the light.
Finally, at right-angles to the main house, there is a small farmhouse with two rooms featuring a bread oven and a workshop.
The garden
The garden boasts a diversity of species and colours, fruit and ornamental trees, as well as lush green bushes, flowerbeds and climbing shrubs. Blue cedar, yew, maple, ash, lime, quince and Japanese hornbeam alternate with camellia, philadelphus, rhododendron, wisteria, lilac, hibiscus and palm trees. Around fifty varieties can be found side by side, including heather, juniper, spindle, tulips, roses, iris, wild primroses and dahlias.
Our opinion
A residence without any pretence or artifice, which nonetheless stands out in the local architectural landscape by virtue of its distinctive character. It has stood up to the trials of history and endured the passing of time while retaining its authentic silhouette. The colourful, overflowing garden is undoubtedly an exceptional place to unwind and find inspiration.
With no work required, the property could easily be divided in two, whilst retaining a harmonious distribution of interior and exterior spaces.
Reference 888668
| Land registry surface area | 2732 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 277 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 116 m2 |
| including refurbished 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.
