A dwelling with terraced gardens and a small lot across the street,
zoned for construction, in one of the Seine-et-Marne's most beautiful villages
zoned for construction, in one of the Seine-et-Marne's most beautiful villages
Donnemarie-Dontilly,
SEINE-ET-MARNE
ile-de-france
77520
FR
Location
The property is located in the southeast of the Ile-de-France region, 92 kilometres from Paris, within the Seine-et-Marne department’s “golden triangle”, an area nearly equidistant from Fontainebleau, 35 kilometres away, as well as Melun and Coulommiers, both 40 kilometres away. In addition, the small village is also less than 20 kilometres away from both Montereau as well as the charming medieval city of Provins, recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
As for the village, founded in the late Middle Ages with a church from the 12th and 15th centuries, which has received national Historical Monument status, it features all essential shops for daily life, as well as a pharmacy, several physicians, a solicitor’s office and a regionally renowned restaurant.
Description
Nestled between a garden and a quiet street, this family dwelling features a rectangular cobblestone courtyard extended by two terraced gardens, accessible via several steps, while the upper garden also boasts direct access from another street winding its way up the hillside. On its courtyard-facing side, the dwelling’s central building is flanked by two asymmetrical, perpendicular wings: the one on the left is shorter and narrower than the one on the right, which is taller in stature and stands out thanks to its pointed gable end and irregular proportions, whereas, set back and to the right of the latter, an adjacent outbuilding, lower in height, is accessible via a small passageway and faces the courtyard.
With three storeys, including one under the eaves, as well as two half-floors, the semi-detached dwelling features a main façade with plaster-covered stonework and a local flat tile gable roof, while its arched and partially glazed, front double-doors are accessible via a symmetrical limestone double staircase, creating an eye-catching and elegant entrance. In addition, straight and symmetrical small-paned windows, painted louvred shutters and ornate wrought-iron guardrails come together to make, along with a stringcourse, cornice and the front door’s entablature, all moulded, a balanced and subtly colourful composition.
Lastly, on the other side of the street, a lot, zoned for construction, provides a nice coda for this stunning architectural and landscaped tableau.
With three storeys, including one under the eaves, as well as two half-floors, the semi-detached dwelling features a main façade with plaster-covered stonework and a local flat tile gable roof, while its arched and partially glazed, front double-doors are accessible via a symmetrical limestone double staircase, creating an eye-catching and elegant entrance. In addition, straight and symmetrical small-paned windows, painted louvred shutters and ornate wrought-iron guardrails come together to make, along with a stringcourse, cornice and the front door’s entablature, all moulded, a balanced and subtly colourful composition.
Lastly, on the other side of the street, a lot, zoned for construction, provides a nice coda for this stunning architectural and landscaped tableau.
The Central Building
Built over a masonry foundation, the dwelling’s nearly perfect symmetrical façade is made up of four orderly bays, central front steps, a solid oak double-door main entrance, whose moulded panels, glazing and wrought-iron grills are surrounded by ashlar stone and topped with a moulded arched lintel, as well as tall, small-paned windows safeguarded by louvred shutters. As for its steep, local flat tile roof, it is crowned by two brick chimneys and two dormers with pediments, while the only symmetry on the dwelling’s rear exterior, facing the courtyard and punctuated with several windows in various shapes and sizes, comes from the central building’s pair of ground-floor double-door entrances.
The ground floor
The dual-aspect entryway, with a stone tile floor, provides access to four doors, one of which opens on to the garden, while, to the left, a living room, with original terracotta floor tiles, crown moulding and a central coffered ceiling beam, faces the street thanks to a small-paned window and a glazed fanlight. In addition, an operational sculpted stone fireplace, topped with a trumeau panel decorated with a mirror and a painting, acts as an eye-catching centrepiece for this room, whereas, an alcove creates a cosy ambiance and confirms, along with an adjacent lavatory and wardrobe, in need of a makeover, that this was once used as a bedroom.
On the right, a dining room features a black and white chequered tile floor, wainscoting as well as other floor-to-ceiling painted wood panelling, which are decorated in the same green tones as its coffered ceiling beams and cornice, whereas a window, topped with a fanlight, faces the street and a stone fireplace with a trumeau panel, similar to the one in the living room, rounds out this room’s remarkable décor.
Directly opposite the front door, a small sitting room, with a large cupboard and ceramic floor tiles, opens on to the interior courtyard via glass double doors, while a small corridor provides access to the dwelling’s left wing, with a pantry and kitchen, as well as its right wing, directly opposite, with an ancient bakehouse.
The intermediate level
This level, which will need some remodelling, is accessible via a spiral masonry staircase, bordered by a timber-framed wall and topped with visible ceiling beams, and includes a bedroom with original terracotta floor tiles, a window facing the courtyard and an adjacent shower cubicle, as well as a second bedroom whose window looks out on to another smaller courtyard.
The first floor
Directly opposite a landing, accessible via the same staircase, an antechamber, with straight-plank pine parquet floors, opens on to the main bedroom, with the same flooring as well as two arched, small-paned windows with cremone bolt locking devices, a sculpted stone fireplace with a trumeau panel framed by two built-in cupboards with moulded panels, while an adjacent lavatory, with original terracotta floors tiles, abuts a small room, to be renovated, where a wardrobe could be created if need be.
In addition, a hallway provides access to a fourth bedroom, almost as large as the third, with an immense fireplace and tall cupboards, whereas its antechamber, with terracotta floor tiles, opens on to a bathroom with the same flooring. Lastly, a bedroom, smaller in size, with an adjacent lavatory, gives on to a small storeroom with a sloping ceiling, which can be used as a wardrobe, while another lavatory is located at the end of the hallway.
The intermediate level
Between the first floor and attic level, a half-floor under the eaves includes a small room used as a guest bedroom, preceded by an antechamber with original terracotta floor tiles, a sixth bedroom with the same kind of flooring and an adjacent lavatory, as well as an attic space.
The attic
On the top floor, an unconverted attic is used for storage and features visible wooden rafters, in good condition, as well as two dormer windows.
The Left Wing
This narrow edifice, perpendicular to the main building, was once used as a utility room and a kitchen, featuring such rustic decor as a painted wood and brick fireplace, a terracotta tile floor, a farmhouse sink and an earthenware tile backsplash. Illuminated by a window and abutting a lavatory, this entire wing will need to be renovated.
The Right Wing
Also at a right angle to the main building, but larger in size, it faces the left wing, and features a ground floor with a former bakehouse, located in a room with original terracotta floor tiles, which may have once been the kitchen, given the presence of a hot water tank, while, in the back, a storeroom also has terracotta floor tiles. As for the upstairs level, it is part of the main dwelling and includes two of its bedrooms.
The Stables
Featuring a carriage house as well as stables, they were constructed behind the dwelling’s right wing and face a small courtyard, set back from its cobblestone counterpart that connects the main building to its different wings, while, today, the stables have been converted into a garage, topped by a former hayloft and accessible from the street at the bottom of the property by ascending a lane that runs along the left side of the dwelling.
The Cellar
Now that its former underground entrances have been sealed, it is accessible from the back of the garden via a stone staircase. Like many cellars found in medieval villages, it was the subject of local lore regarding both where it led and its use: was it a sort of landmark, a shelter, an escape route or a secret passage from one place to another? Still featuring its terracotta tile floor, visible ceiling beams, electric lighting and a sufficient floor-to-ceiling height, it could be turned into a game room, for example.
The Courtyard, Gardens and Grounds
Extending over three terraced levels in all, near the dwelling’s ground floor, the house is organised around a cobblestone courtyard extended by a gravel area with a well, which has today been sealed. In the back of the courtyard, a small stone staircase provides access to a stone archway with a door, topped with an original tile roof, before continuing on to a central grassy area, enclosed by walls, and furnished with a stone bench.
Lastly, this section is topped by another immense swath of lawn, partially surrounded by a wooded area and accessible from the street that runs next to the property, while facing the dwelling and on the other side of the street, a small lot, of approximately 700 m² and zoned for construction, is currently used as a garden.
Our opinion
This charming dwelling, nestled within an enchanting, peaceful and pleasant landscaped and architectural environment, boasts high-quality materials, rather well preserved over the years, a wide range of décor as well as rooms, which would benefit greatly from a thorough renovation. With its roof and electricity redone, this family dwelling, in its original state, provides many possibilities for an interior redesign that would greatly enhance the whole, while the lot across the street, zoned for construction and currently used as a garden, not only ensures peace and privacy for the dwelling, but also offers a wide variety of projects for further development.
As for its outdoor spaces, rather uncommon in their terraced configuration, they offer a number of surprises as well as areas to sit and marvel at the surrounding beauty, while their undeniable cachet also highlights this delightful and one-of-a-kind dwelling.
Reference 532157
| Land registry surface area | 2925 m² |
| Main building floor area | 279 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 132 m² |
| including refurbished area | 132 m² |
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.
