A 15th century, renovated house, with an unobstructed view, a swimming pool
and a garden in the middle of the French department of Vienne
and a garden in the middle of the French department of Vienne
Poitiers, VIENNE
poitou-charentes
86000
FR
Location
In slightly undulating countryside composed of bocage, woods and fields. In addition to its invaluable TGV train station (1½ hour links to Paris), Châtellerault which is but 15 minutes away, boasts two cinemas, one of which is an art cinema, an Italian theatre with an extensive programme, and a market, held under the covered market place on Thursdays and Saturdays. The “Jazzelrault” and “Automne” festivals provide jazz and classical music enthusiasts with first-rate concerts. 25 minutes from Poitiers (TGV train station with 70-minute links to Paris), a student town with a national theatre and the first production of the contemporary and ambulatory “Traversées”. A multitude of small local farmers guarantee fresh produce all year round. A village, a 5-minute drive away, has doctors, bakers and all other local shops as well as a small Sunday morning market.
Description
In a hamlet with adjoining houses, creating both distance and proximity, this house stands at the end of a little road that turns into a footpath. From there, visitors can only see the 15th century walls, but can glimpse the terrace and the house if they lift their heads. The remote-controlled gates open into a courtyard, providing access to the house and some troglodyte areas. The garden is slightly raised, with a swimming pool out of sight of visitors.
The house
This house is composed of four sections united by a living room.
Ground floor
A coffered, wooden door opens into an entrance hall and a living room. The latter, T-shaped room, features a recess housing a 15th century fireplace, made spectacular by its extremely refined decoration. The whiteness of its stone is enhanced by a lightwell. In winter, this is a wonderfully cosy area whilst, in summer, the wide picture window encourages residents to go outside. Said south-facing window looks out over the surrounding countryside, creating a large, living picture, everchanging throughout the seasons. Running alongside this picture window is a terrace which can be reached via the kitchen. Two fireplaces adorn the walls in the kitchen: a first dating from the 15th century which houses the fire section, with a cooking range and roasting spit; the second, dating from the 18th century, fulfils its decorative role. This through kitchen looks out over the countryside through mullioned windows and over the courtyard via a second window. The floor is paved with stone tiles. (The Miele fixtures and fittings are included in the sale.)
A corridor leads from the entrance hall to a guest toilet as well as a bedroom, with its bathroom and its toilet. A door next to the living room fireplace opens into another corridor leading to another separate bathroom, with a toilet, a study, a laundry room and a boiler room. The second bedroom opens into the living room. Floors on this level are covered with terracotta tiles and ceiling beams are exposed. A spiral, stone stairway goes up to the first floor.
First floor
This level is reached via a spiral, stone stairway. Floors are covered with wooden planking. A landing leads to two bedrooms, a bathroom, a dressing room and a separate toilet. The bedrooms open on to a terrace, with a view over the countryside. This terrace provides access to the attic.
The garden
Laid out longwise, the garden slopes slightly and features a variety of viewpoints looking out over the surrounding countryside. Olive trees bestow this garden with a Mediterranean air. Near to the house, the gentle babbling of a fountain is like music to the ear and an invitation to take a summer nap under the lime tree. Other trees provide shade in addition to their fruits: figs, cherries, Mirabelle plums, walnuts, peaches, apricots and apples. Several troglodyte areas to be found in the courtyard are typical of this part of the Vienne department. One of them houses a bread oven, bearing witness to a specific way of life in the past. There is also a shed for storing garden equipment, a cellar and an area containing the oil tank. A covered swimming pool spans 12x6 m. And lastly, a garage is able to take 2 cars. This section is enclosed with fencing and spans approx. 6,000 m².
A plot of land, spanning 1,000 m² on the other side of the little, no-through road, was purchased to avoid any construction.
Our opinion
Restored with meticulous attention to detail, this house blends old decorative features and modern-day home comforts as it is filled with the light and spacious rooms which are sometimes lacking in 15th century houses. Equidistant from Châtellerault and Poitiers, it is in an ideal location. Near to a forest, paths for walking or bike riding are within easy reach. This property is also easily reached via a motorway, with slip roads 6 km away.
525 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 740422
| Land registry surface area | 7020 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 250 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
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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.
