An old, 1890 farm and its outbuildings, with some 2 ha of land,
2 hours from Paris in the Berry region countryside
2 hours from Paris in the Berry region countryside
Bonny-sur-Loire, LOIRET
center-val-de-loire
45420
FR
Location
This property is near to a verdant village to the south of Paris, where the Puisaye, Sologne and Berry regions meet. In the centre of the village stands a 19th century neo-gothic style church, topped with a “Jericho weathervane” featuring an angel blowing a trumpet. A wealth of exceptional monuments is dotted throughout the local surroundings, rich in history and legends. With hiking trails starting from or passing through it, the village bustles with an infant school, several eating places and a few local shops, ensuring that the property is not isolated. Furthermore, Briare, Cosne-sur-Loire and Gien SNCF train stations provide 2-hour links to Paris-Bercy.
Description
Undulating, wooded countryside and hamlets, with green open spaces as well as budding gardens, open on to a lane leading finally to this property. Away from the house, car parking spaces are followed by a paved driveway leading to an enclosed courtyard, lined in the summer season with flower beds enhancing and embellishing the main house, surrounded by its outbuildings, exuding a cottage air. A well-kept vegetable garden contemplates the first category river, bordered by several species of trees. A wooden bridge spans the river, with its abundance of trout and roach. Behind the old farm, the land features a pond and a small boat. Welcome shade is provided in the summer by a little wooded area near to the buildings.
The main house
This three storey building features numerous windows, letting in copious amounts of light. Some of the windows are framed with regional brick surrounds. A facade, enhanced with half-timbering on the second floor of the second half of the house, highlights the original features. The gable roof, covered with traditional local tiles, includes five gable-fronted, masonry dormers with brick pediments. A wisteria, with its white flowers, runs along the facade. A glazed veranda adjoins the gable end of the main building. Its round architecture is topped with a bull’s eye window on the second floor.
Ground floor
A vast entrance hall makes it immediately possible to appreciate the layout of the main rooms on the ground floor. All are enhanced with light coloured beam systems and ceramic floor tiles, sometimes with inlaid diamond-shaped decoration. On one side, a fully fitted kitchen, with a central unit, is illuminated via a glazed veranda. The latter benefits from a view over the surrounding countryside and is used as a dining room. On the opposite side, an opening combining stone and half-timbering gives access to a living room, with exposed beams and a robust grey stone wood-burning stove. White-painted, wooden pillars open and enclose the various areas. Laid out near to a stairway, with metal railings adding a contemporary touch, is a spacious dining room. And lastly, a bedroom has an adjoining shower room and a separate toilet.
First floor
The mezzanine, also a reading room, is illuminated via a wide picture window, with half-timbering enhancing the strip pattern oak wood parquet flooring. The latter extends throughout all the rooms, with the exception of the bathrooms. The wood and metal guardrail gives a view down into the ground floor living room. Two stone alcoves provide access to two vast bedrooms, with their adjoining, fully-tiled shower rooms, renovated in line with modern-day tastes. One of the openings leads to a straight stairway going up to the attic.
Second floor
The attic, fully converted, with an exposed roofing framework and wooden flooring, could be used as a games room. It is accompanied by two bedrooms, one of which has its own shower room, as well as a separate toilet.
The holiday accommodation rental unit or guest house
Another house, currently used as a holiday accommodation rental unit, stands near to the main house. Its well-kept architecture is enhanced with a half-timbered facade, featuring sections filled with diagonally-laid tiles. Glazed windows provide an unobstructed view over the countryside and its seasonally-changing luminosity. Facing the pond, a paved terrace, laid out around the guest house, includes a shelter housing a barbecue.
Ground floor
The front door opens into a vast living room, looking out over the surrounding countryside. Original features such as the exposed beams and the terracotta floor tiles have been left intact. A winding, wooden stairway goes upstairs.
First floor
A spacious bedroom looks out over the river through a pentagonal-shaped window, set in the gable wall and divided by half-timbering. With an exposed roofing framework and parquet flooring, it features an open-plan bathroom, enhanced with a freestanding, lion-claw, cast iron bath. There is a separate toilet. Wood is omnipresent on this harmonious, beautifully laid out level.
The third house (also a holiday accommodation rental unit)
Adjoining the outbuildings, the sober and classical profile and contour of this guest house is in keeping with the other buildings. Wood and stone are, therefore, omnipresent.
Ground floor
A large, sober, rustic room, with exposed beams, includes a fully fitted, functional kitchen area. A door conceals a shower room and a separate toilet, both completely renovated.
First floor
Two bedrooms, enhanced with half-timbering, are reminiscent of those on the ground floor of the main house. Fitted with cupboards, they look out over the river.
The outbuildings
Four garages, some of which could become workshops, span approx. 17, 25, 29 and 29 m². Above these garages is a function room, spanning approx. 130 m², with a separate toilet and a kitchen area. In addition to these outbuildings, there is also a utility room, spanning approx. 12 m², as well as an area, spanning approx. 34 m², for storing equipment.
Our opinion
The undeniable romanticism of this area and the Berry region countryside unquestionably makes this property a tourist asset for those seeking to continue renting the current holiday accommodation units.
Possibly inspired by English cottages, it is quite reasonable for such architecture to return to France as of 1890 until now, as the term was originally borrowed from medieval Anglo-Norman. And, the word “cotagium” in the second half of the Middle-Ages meant “the land or garden attached to a small peasant home”, reminiscent of the property’s former vocation as a farm and its current vegetable garden. In the midst of nature, far from urban hustle and bustle, but easily reached from the French capital in just two hours, this estate, just like the Berry region, is a combination of the wealth of its past, its traditions and its culture with future dynamic, innovating projects.
695 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 675347
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 6 a 17 ca |
| Main building surface area | 360 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 1316 m2 |
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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.
