at the gateway to the Forest of Argonne, near Verdun
Location
Just 15 kilometres from Verdun and the motorways that bring Reims and Metz within an hour's drive and 30 minutes from the Meuse TGV high-speed train station connecting to Paris Gare de l'Est in only 59 minutes.
This charming small village on a hillside surrounded by undulating countryside has 175 inhabitants. It is not on a busy thoroughfare and traffic is limited to local residents.
Description
According to the archives, the parsonage dates back to 1820, but this was probably the conversion of an earlier building. The last parish priest left in 1972.
The parsonage
The house is of lime-rendered rubble masonry, topped with mechanical tiles laid in 1994.
The front elevation is sober, featuring a triangular pediment with oculus. A stone stringcourse underlines the separation between the two main storeys, where large and symmetrical windows let the light flood in.
The semi-circular entrance door, framed by stone pilasters, is topped by a niche. The secularisation of religious property since the French Revolution has had its toll on the statue of the Virgin Mary that once graced the facade.
The ground floor
This level features openings on all three sides, with the main entrance leading via the semi-circular doorway on the courtyard side into a curved, dressed stone hallway. This connects to two rooms on either side. To the right, there is a sitting room with an Empire-style stone fireplace adorned with a floral motif and topped with a brick flue, followed by a study. It features green-painted wainscoting and a section of wall fitted with large cupboards concealing the study area. Continuing on, there is a vast full-length hall that opens onto the street and the terrace preceding the garden. To the left of the hallway, the dining room has an Empire stone fireplace also topped by a brick flue. This links to a corridor with flagstone flooring and the start of the staircase to the first floor, before joining the full-depth hall.
Opposite the study are a lavatory and a bathroom with a double washbasin, a bath and a shower. The fully equipped kitchen is opposite the dining room and opens onto the terrace. It connects to the linen room, the boiler room with its condensing boiler and the former barn sheltering a garage for three cars at the rear of the parsonage. A small building for storing gardening tools is located in a corner at the back of the terrace.
The first floor
The staircase leads to a landing serving a lavatory and three bedrooms, the largest of which (approx. 28 m²) has a closet and an Empire stone fireplace. All the chimneys in the house are lined. It would be possible to add further living space of approx. 66 m² by creating a passageway to the second level of the barn. Work to this effect has already started but will need to be completed.
The cellar
The stone staircase is located under the flight of stairs staircase to the upper floor. It leads to two splendid vaulted cellars designed for the presentation and tasting of wine. The floor is covered with white gravel.
Our opinion
This parsonage, built shortly after Napoleon's defeat, is like an ancient temple enshrined behind its walls, yet it has retained all the architectural and stylistic grandeur of the French Empire.
In this region hard hit by history, the residence has become a sanctuary that nothing disturbs, save for the sound of the church bells watching over it.
Reference 800098
Land registry surface area | 1522 m2 |
Main building surface area | 350 m2 |
Number of bedrooms | 3 |
Outbuilding surface area | 109 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.