Two traditional 19th century houses and their dovecote
in the heart of the Ouanne valley in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region
in the heart of the Ouanne valley in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region
Charny,
YONNE
burgundy
89120
FR
Location
Charny-Orée-de-Puisaye in the Ouanne valley, part of the Yonne department of central France. In the centre of countryside comprising valleys, springs, unspoilt and cultivated meadows, hedged farmland and forests. 40 km from Auxerre and close to the towns of Courtenay, Châtillon-Coligny and Château-Renard in the Loiret department. The village of about 1600 inhabitants comes alive during the summer months thanks to the "Estivales en Puisaye-Forterre” music festival, the St-Fargeau sound and light shows or the medieval construction site of Guédelon Castle. The region also offers a wide range of sporting activities, and its natural and architectural heritage is well worth visiting.
A stone’s throw from the Chateau Hotel and Golf de Roncemay, 150 km from Paris via the A6 and 15 km from the motorway junction.
Description
Surrounded by woods and cultivated plots of land, as though on an outcrop, the property overlooks the valley. In a hamlet of 65 inhabitants, 6 km from Charny-Orée-en-Puisaye, a small local road followed by a stone track leads to the main entrance which is tucked away from view. An automated metal gate opens onto a continuous stretch of lawned parklands that covers approx. 5,000 m². Set at right angles to each other, the old barn and the traditional house are surrounded by a terrace. The dovecote is slightly set back. The fully restored complex lies in the centre of the parklands. The grounds comprise on one side a few tall trees and planted hedges, and on the other side flowerbeds dotted here and there, extending the view over the wooded valley. The flowers blossom to the rhythm of the crops. A small outbuilding and a well complete the complex.
The traditional house
This rectangular, single-storey stone house with a floor area of approx. 200 m² is rendered in beige. The large-paned windows are double-glazed with brick window frames and wooden lintels and sky-blue shutters. The gable roof features two hip dormers and roof windows, two brick chimney stacks and period tiles.
An entrance hall serves either side of the house, as well as a separate lavatory. All the walls are painted and the ceiling joists are exposed. On one side, a corridor leads to a tiled bathroom and shower room, three bedrooms with parquet flooring, a storage room, as well as a living room with TV snuggery heated by a cast iron and metal insert. The floor is laid with large grey tiles. On the other side, the open-plan kitchen, sitting room and dining room form a single space. The flooring is square terracotta tiles. There is a large fireplace with a brick hearth and surround. Some walls are timber-framed. A lavatory and a laundry room follow.
The restored former barn
The two-storey main building is divided into two dwellings, with a floor surface area of approx. 260 m² and 70 m². The stone building is rendered, just like the traditional house. The surrounds of the numerous double-glazed windows and oeil-de-boeufs are of brick. The gable roof features local tiles, numerous roof windows and two chimney stacks.
The ground floor
The entrance door leads directly into the main room of the first dwelling with a total floor area of about 70 m². It comprises an open-plan kitchen with its stone fireplace with insert, a bedroom with parquet flooring, a shower room and a lavatory. The floor is tiled and the walls painted white. A doorway leads to the garage of approx. 20 m².
The second dwelling, with a floor area of approx. 260 m², has two levels. Its entrance leads to a kitchen, a large living room and a separate lavatory. The main room of approx. 65 m² has a dressed stone fireplace and a stove. An oak staircase leads to the first floor. All the walls are lime-rendered and the ceiling joists are exposed. The floor is tiled.
The upstairs
This floor forms part of the second dwelling, the landing is currently used as a small living room. There are four bedrooms, a shower room with toilet, a bathroom with toilet and a large room used as a study with a floor area of approx. 70 m². The ridge hight is roughly 4.5 m. The floor is straight strip parquet and the beams are exposed. Light pouring in from both sides provides optimum illumination.
The dovecote
Set back from the two dwellings, this monumental, stately dovecote stands behind an impressive tree. Beneath its tiled pepperpot roof enhanced by a brick stringcourse, the round facade is rendered with immaculate light-coloured plaster and features an entrance door and an œil-de-bœuf window with brick surrounds.
Our opinion
A simple, rural, authentic residence, with a layout that clearly offers the potential to accommodate family, friends or guests passing through. An ideal, unobstructed lookout post for spotting roe deer, foxes, kestrels and buzzards. The complex is in perfect condition. The living space is just right, and the boundaries of the park seem to vanish into a wooded valley.
Reference 370261
| Land registry surface area | 5040 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 528 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 8 |
| 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.
