A grand neo-Norman house with absolute privacy in a calm, bucolic backdrop,
between the towns of L’Isle-Adam and Auvers-sur-Oise, just north of Paris
between the towns of L’Isle-Adam and Auvers-sur-Oise, just north of Paris
Butry-sur-Oise,
VAL-D'OISE
ile-de-france
95430
FR
Location
The home lies in France’s Vexin province in the River Oise valley, between L’Isle-Adam and Auvers-sur-Oise in a region known for built heritage. Its calm residential area is near the historical sites of France’s Val-d’Oise department. Paths run through the woods. You can practise water sports on the river and stroll along its banks. Paris is around 30 kilometres away. You can get there via a motorway. Trains get you to central Paris in 45 minutes. The local station is a 10-minute walk away, so you can get around the region via public transport. Shops, amenities and schools – a primary school in the town and secondary schools nearby – form a convenient area and add to the quality of life here. The local towns of Auvers-sur-Oise, tied to impressionism, and L’Isle-Adam, known for its vibrancy and holiday charm, underline the appeal of this part of the Vexin province.
Description
Beside the road, an enclosing stone wall edges the plot. A gate, framed between two pillars crowned with decorative features, leads onto the main driveway. Immediately next to this spot, there is a garage in which two vehicles can be parked. A first flight of steps leads up to an intermediate terrace with an old-style greenhouse. Then a second flight of steps leads up to the house, which stands in a commanding position yet is set back in absolute privacy. The grand house was built in 1905 as part of a trend of neo-Norman-style dwellings that appeared in the River Oise valley at the start of the 20th century when holiday homes first emerged. Its architecture combines timber framing with stonework and steep roof slopes. The roof is crowned at one end with a finial in the form of a dragon. The facade and soffits were recently renovated. The house offers a 220m² floor area and stands on a tree-dotted plot that covers around 8,000m² and is embellished with different shrubs. This plot is terraced and follows the natural slope of the land. A lawn that covers around 1,000m², in front of the house, forms a viewpoint that faces the valley. Indeed, the clear vista that you can admire here, in absolute privacy, is one of the property’s major assets. In the upper section, an excavated stone cave, integrated into the garden, is used as a wine cellar.
The ground floor
Steps lead up to a front terrace beside the lounge. Here you step through the entrance door. The hall connects to all the rooms and to a lavatory. A door here leads down to the cellar. Stairs lead up to the first floor. On one side, there is a high-ceilinged lounge with exposed beams. Its pale stone flooring has a patina of time. The lounge has large windows that face the garden. There are bookshelves and a fireplace. The fireplace’s hearth of brick is set in a wood-panelled mantel with a broad, plain timber shelf. This design recalls the interwar style. The bookshelves frame the fireplace, forming a continuous wall of storage, designed as a feature of interior architecture. Beyond the entrance hall, a dining room connects to a kitchen. A partition separates the two spaces and could be opened up, depending on the use you seek here. The kitchen leads straight outside.
The upper floors
This level has wood floors. The stairs lead to a bright landing, extended with a second landing leading to two bedrooms, a bathroom and an office. Steps lead to a corridor connecting to a second bathroom and a bedroom with sloping ceilings. A door opposite leads to stairs to the top floor. Each room has a plain fireplace with a stone or marble mantel – an early-20th-century style. One room has kept remarkable historical features, with wood panels with mouldings, decorative painted panels and an alcove in the wall decor. Sculpted surrounds, friezes and bas-reliefs show close attention paid to the decor. The top floor has a corridor with sloping ceilings. It connects to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Wood floors extends across this level too. One bedroom offers a clear view of the valley. The basement has a storeroom, a fitness room and a utility room with a boiler.
The garden
At the top of the steps that lead up from the street, an openwork fence marks a viewpoint where you can admire a clear vista of the surrounding countryside. Immediately next to the house, there is a garage in which two vehicles can be parked. The tree-dotted garden follows the natural slope of the plot over a course of terraces. One of these terraces, a vast space where a tennis court once was, could be built upon with planning permission. In front of the house, a lawn punctuated with groves and shrubs, forms an ornamental garden. A path runs through the whole plot.
Our opinion
A remarkable neo-Norman house of this style is rare to find in the local region. This delightful early-20th-century edifice forms a unique shape with its red shutters and timber framing. Indeed, this shape is timeless in its elegance, standing in harmony with its garden and surroundings. Inside, the layout is clear and practical. The interior has kept many original features that add to the home’s charming atmosphere. Bathed in natural light, the rooms look out at the valley, but they enjoy absolute privacy at the same time. The calm, the woods and the commanding position of the house underline a splendid sense of seclusion here, yet the property is not isolated. This characterful dwelling would suit family life well or would be an ideal second home – with the added advantage of being close to Paris.
Reference 444778
| Land registry surface area | 7650 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
