A remarkable dwelling and former bakehouse with outbuildings and a 7,200m² garden,
edged with a river and nestled in the countryside of Normandy
edged with a river and nestled in the countryside of Normandy
Vimoutiers,
ORNE
upper-normandy
61120
FR
Location
The property lies in Normandy, in an area that draws many visitors, between the beautiful Pays d’Auge and Pays d’Ouche provinces. The local village gets its name from the River Vie, which flows through it, and its church, which is listed as a historical monument and looks down over the valley. The village is part of the new town Gouffern-en-Auge, a grouping of villages. The Haras national du Pin, a famous stud farm built under the aegis of the 17th-century statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert, is close to the property. And the village of Camembert, well known for its namesake cheese, is not too far away. From the train station in the nearby town of Argentan, you can reach central Paris in 1 hour and 50 minutes by rail. There are shops in the local town of Gacé and craftsmen in the nearby village of Exmes.
Description
Above the house’s entrance door, a stone bears the year 1893. The edifice is made of brick and rubble stone. It has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. It adjoins another building on one side. Arrangements of red brickwork underline the floors and form patterns of contrasting colours. The windows and doors are set in arches with ashlar keystones that have diamond-point faces. Above them, darker brickwork runs along the facade, giving an impression of movement. Column-like patterns of dark-toned bricks form diamond shapes on the first floor up to the cornice. The house is crowned with a hipped slate roof that has a brick dormer with a triangular pediment. The garden-facing elevation is plainer, with seven windows that are slightly arched. On one side of the edifice, a driveway leads to a gate that takes you to the back of the property and to the house. A small building adjoins a cart shelter at a right angle. A vegetable patch and a meadow edged with wooden fencing stretches to a river, which flows along one edge of the property. A shed stands beside a vegetable patch and a former cowshed with timber framing faces the house.
The house
The ground floor
The south-facing entrance door leads to a staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade and an intermediate landing. Its banister is made of walnut. At the far end, there is a broad corridor bathed in natural light from two windows. It connects to a lavatory and a shower room. The rooms are laid out symmetrically. On one side, there is a double-size lounge with a fireplace insert and a doorway that takes you back to the corridor. Large windows fill this lounge with natural light. On the opposite side, there is a kitchen with oak furniture. Through an archway of exposed brickwork, it leads to the living room. A bread oven still stands here. Its iron door and cauldron have been preserved. On one side, a door takes you to a pantry. From the living room, you can reach a terrace and the garden. There is an unrivalled view of the countryside from this room. The floors are tiled.
The first floor
The first floor has four spacious bedrooms, one of which is smaller. Large windows look out at the village square or the garden, with a view of the river. Pinewood strip flooring extends across the rooms. There is a bathroom at the end of the corridor.
The loft
The roof space could be converted. There is another large loft above the pantry and bread oven. And above the cart shelter, there is a mezzanine floor that could also be converted.
The garden and meadow
A panoramic view draws your gaze over the surrounding hedge-lined meadows to a church at the top of the valley. The garden, which covers 7,200m², extends down to the River Vie. This river flows between trees at the bottom of the plot. Apple trees and cherry trees grow here and there. An enclosed grassy meadow, with a nearby watering place, could be home to a horse.
The bread oven
The wood-burning bread oven is built of brick. Its upper shaft, made by a Norman manufacturer, makes the label “wood-fired bread” possible for bread baked in it. This model of bread oven emerged in the late 19th century. It was a major development. The wood is placed on the baking surface, so the flame rises vertically, and an adjustable cast-iron part redirects the flame horizontally.
Our opinion
This unique house has authentic charm. Many years ago, local villagers would come here to get their wood-fired bread, baked in a remarkable oven that has been well preserved. The dwelling offers spacious, comfortable rooms bathed in natural light. It could become a holiday home or a guesthouse. The property offers an unrivalled view of the surrounding Norman countryside: a patchwork of hedge-lined meadows. And a river flows along the bottom of the vast plot. The place is ideally located, in a beautiful corner of France that draws visitors and is renowned for its local cuisine.
Reference 292500
| Land registry surface area | 7276 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 155 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 50 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.
