A renovated 15th century country house on the borders of the Vienne
and Charente regions, with its gîte, outbuildings and parklands of over 5,000 m2
Poitiers, VIENNE poitou-charentes 86000 FR

Location

In western France, close to a village nestled in a valley along the river Charente, the property forms part of a rural hamlet and stretches over 5,000 m². The area abounds in small rivers. The residence is located not far from a water catchment area. Although close to the river Vienne, the landscape is still typical of the Charente, with its steep, wooded valleys. The mimosa in the garden proves that the property is situated in a transition zone between oceanic and semi-continental climates.
Ruffec is only 10 minutes away on the Angoulême - Poitiers road and offers all the necessary shops and services. With the TGV high speed train to Poitiers or Angoulême, the property is only 2h30 from Paris.

Description

From the large open carriage entrance, the unobserved two-storey residence becomes visible behind a large magnolia tree. To the right of the main entrance, there is an arched pedestrian door. The short wing of the L-shaped building next to the pedestrian entrance has small windows beneath the roof and houses the bread-oven. The main residence is extended on the southern side to the left by a barn with a convertible attic.
The swimming pool with its terrace lies to the rear. At the bottom of the parklands, an outbuilding is used as a workshop and for storage. The grounds are planted with large trees such as a cypress, fir trees, a monumental cedar, a cherry tree, lime trees and a mimosa. They include an orchard with cherry, apple and fig trees as well as a vegetable plot.
The property is well maintained, with recent improvements including new roofs, new insulation, double glazing throughout, fibre broadband and 4G, and a renovated swimming pool.

The country house

The two-storey house has a terracotta monk-and-nun tiled roof and is of exposed rubble masonry with locally dressed stones. The house reveals its age, which could date back to the 15th century, as can be seen from its structure, with old low doors and mullioned windows. The window frames are of dressed stone. The wooden windows have small panes. On the ground floor, the horizontal lintel stones are adorned on the outside with segmental arches. Following on from the dwelling, on the southern side to the left, the barn part of the house has wood-framed windows. To the right, at right angles, are the gîte and its bread oven.


The ground floor
The entrance opens into a large full-depth hallway with access to the park at the back. On the left-hand side is an exposed stone wall with a toilet and washbasin, whilst on the right-hand side is the start of a wooden staircase with double pear balusters. Its dark colour contrasts with the light tones of the wall and the oak ceiling beams. A door under the stairs provides access to the cellar. The floor is laid with flagstones. A door on the left leads into the fitted kitchen, which is equipped with a hood above a Falcon range cooker, a terracotta tiled floor and a fireplace with a wood-burning stove. The oak ceiling beams contrast with the light-coloured walls. The small-paned windows feature tongue & groove moulding. A French window next to the fireplace opens onto the garden. From the main entrance, a door on the right leads into a large room boasting an imposing fireplace with a straight hood and stone jambs. Its ceiling is supported by a large, long oak main beam, above which rests the mezzanine. The floor is terracotta-tiled. A small paned French window opens onto the courtyard adorned with a magnolia tree. At the back are the boiler room, the swimming pool and the laundry room with its sink.
The first floor
The landing serves four bedrooms, a bathroom, a shower room and a toilet. The straight strip parquet floors have acquired a patina over the years. The mezzanine with its simple balustrade and oak beams overlooks the large sitting room.
The guest house
Set at right angles to the east, extending as far as the pedestrian gate, the small gîte comprises a room with an open-plan kitchen. The bread oven is built into the end-wall. Above this, a small set of stairs leads up to a modest room used as a bedroom. The walls are of exposed stone. The shower room is at the back. The large room with its terracotta-tiled floor stretches up to the roof. Exposed oak beams and trusses are enhanced by three skylights. The windows face south.
The garage
Following on from the house, the garage is accessed via a large door, with a pedestrian entrance to the right.
The attic
Situated above the workshop-garage, the room is illuminated by windows overlooking the courtyard.

Our opinion

The house is well maintained and offers all the comfort of traditional masonry. A welcoming base with a view of the fruit-laden foliage of the orchard or the green horizons of the Charente, the building has been renovated with simplicity and elegance to brim with both character and finesse. The building has been renovated with simplicity and elegance, it is brimming with both character and finesse.
Another house with almost 100 m2 of living space and its barn on grounds of more than 2600 m2 are available as an option.

490 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense


See the fee rates

Reference 776301

Land registry surface area 5438 m2
Main building surface area 365 m2
Number of bedrooms 4
Outbuilding surface area 70 m2

French Energy Performance Diagnosis

Consultant

Ariel Dormeau +33 1 42 84 80 85

contact

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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.

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