A 17th-century house with an adjoining tower and outbuildings, arranged around a court and
walled garden, nestled in France’s Vexin regional nature park, less than an hour north of Paris
walled garden, nestled in France’s Vexin regional nature park, less than an hour north of Paris
Pontoise,
VAL-D'OISE
ile-de-france
95000
FR
Location
The property lies in France’s beautiful Vexin regional nature park, just north of Paris. It is located in a small town with medieval origins, noticeable in Saint-Martin church, which dates back to the 13th century. Nearby, the Château de Dampont, a 19th-century home rebuilt on an older construction, reminds us of the town’s feudal past. You can find shops and amenities for everyday life in the nearby towns of Vigny, Sagy, Marines and Ableiges. There is a primary school in the village and there are lower and upper secondary schools in the neighbouring towns. There is a train station less than one kilometre away. From this station, you can reach central Paris directly by rail (Transilien Line J). The A15 motorway is easy to reach too. It takes you quickly to the towns of Cergy and Pontoise and to the western suburbs of Paris in around 40 minutes. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is only around 50 kilometres away. And further north, the town of Beauvais with its remarkable cathedral is less than an hour away. The natural surroundings form a patchwork of meadows, woods and cultivated fields. This bucolic backdrop invites you to enjoy open-air activities. Walking trails snake through the landscape. And in Ableiges, there is even a golf course.
Description
The collection of buildings is like a hamlet. You go through a covered carriage entrance made of stone. A gate then takes you into a central court where the main house and its outbuildings lie. This property was once the Manor of Bouard, the former house of a neighbouring farm – now a small commonhold. It used to belong to the Marquis of Dampont. Today’s plot covers 4,930m². The plot is entirely enclosed and centred on a court, annexes and a lush garden. The main house offers a 266m² liveable floor area. It was built in the 17th century and has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. It stone facade is punctuated with evenly sized windows. It has kept the traditional appearance of feudal edifices of France’s Vexin province. A round tower adjoins the main section and dates back to the time of construction. The building’s roof of old flat tiles is punctuated with dormers and brings out the stonework. A large conservatory adjoins the house too. It extends the reception rooms out towards the garden. The garden is dotted with tall trees and clusters of flowering plants. A swimming pool, set back, enjoys absolute privacy. Four self-contained dwellings, including one in a former chapel, are spread out among different areas of the plot. The layout of these dwellings preserves the manor’s privacy. Indeed, there is no shared foot traffic right beside the main edifice. Moreover, each dwelling is reached separately, with separate car parks too. Three of these dwellings are currently being rented out. The fourth one serves as a guesthouse. Several vehicles can be kept beneath two large shelters. And old outbuildings, once used for farming, serve as storehouses.
The ground floor
Beyond the entrance hall, several connecting reception rooms extend beneath ceilings of exposed beams. They have terracotta-tiled floors. On one side, there is a first lounge with a large stone fireplace. It is filled with natural light from several garden-facing windows. Beyond it there is a second lounge with dark red walls and a more hushed atmosphere. It has a large in-built series of wooden bookshelves. This room connects straight to the conservatory, which forms an intermediate area leading outside. This entirely glazed room extends the reception rooms and leads out to the walled garden and vegetation. On the other side of the entrance hall, there is a dining room in a central position. It connects to a kitchen via a passageway created in the adjoining round tower. This round space showcases the old stonework and the true thickness of the walls. The kitchen is spacious and filled with natural light. It leads straight outside. A scullery, which serves as a utility room, lies beside a lavatory. Beyond it, a corridor connects to a vaulted cellar and leads to the lounge with a fireplace. From this lounge, a wooden staircase leads upstairs.
The first floor
From the lounge, the stairs lead up to a small landing that connects to a lavatory on one side and to a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom on the other side. The bedroom is remarkable for having integrated the round tower, in which there is an office in a unique space that underlines the place’s original architecture. A little further up, the stairs lead to a corridor that connects to all the rooms on the first floor. To keep the levels separate, a door hides a passage to the second floor from this corridor. The bright corridor is lined with large storage spaces. Wood strip flooring extends across it and goes well with the old woodwork. The first bedroom is remarkable. It stands out for its wooden panelling, exposed ceiling beams and windows. A fireplace with a wooden mantelpiece underlines its character. This bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom too. Further on, there is a second bedroom that is comfortably spacious. It also has an en-suite bathroom.
The second floor
The staircase, with wooden steps with terracotta tiles, leads up to a corridor that connects to the rooms, which all lie behind a door. The first room is bright and practical. It could easily serve as an office, a games room or a relaxation room. Next, there is a large room with a sloping attic ceiling and exposed roof beams. A last bedroom, a bathroom and a separate lavatory complete this level and could be used to host friends or family. At the end of the corridor, a door leads to the third floor in the roof. This top level is only used for storage.
The garden
In front of the entrance, an orchard extends along the edge of the plot. There are two looseboxes here, beside one of the outbuildings. A covered carriage entrance leads to a space where the grand dwelling with its adjoining tower stands. The outbuildings, lower down, punctuate the edges and suggest the layout of a little farm complex. The self-contained secondary dwellings are positioned so as to preserve privacy. Their doors and facades face the outside of the plot and the sides of the court, yet without being overlooked and without gazes directed at the main house. Only the small guesthouse stands near the main edifice. The garden is divided into several sections with a lawn, clusters of plants, shrubs and tall trees. A terrace edges the wall of the main house and extends to the conservatory. Lastly, a swimming pool, hidden behind hedges and the surrounding vegetation, is set back within the garden.
Our opinion
This characterful property is remarkably welcoming. Its series of buildings recalls a farming hamlet. The constructions form a harmonious whole, where you at once feel at home. The subtle beauty of the exposed stonework gives the place a reassuring dimension. The property's self-contained dwellings are a real asset too. They could generate income from rent, host family and friends, or be part of a business in attractive tourist accommodation, yet without ever disturbing the privacy of the main house. Moreover, the nearby road is very quiet, never troubling the calm of this site and the high quality of life it offers. As soon as you step onto this enchanting plot, you get the sense of a well-preserved oasis of tranquillity, set back from the world, where you can unwind in the lush garden. Indeed, everything here lends itself to a wide range of promising projects.
Reference 312305
| Land registry surface area | 4930 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 6 |
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.
