A 19th-century country house, within a gated residence,
in Marseille’s Château-Gombert neighbourhood
in Marseille’s Château-Gombert neighbourhood
Marseille,
BOUCHES-DU-RHONE
provence-cote-dazur
13013
FR
Location
Abutting the foothills of the Etoile mountain range, where limestone landscapes are carved out with small valleys, the village of Château-Gombert, today part of Marseille’s 13th arrondissement, has preserved the ambiance of a southern village, while its narrow lanes, lively squares and former country houses bear witness to an agricultural past still visible today in its architectural fabric.
Located within this breath-taking setting, not far from the many footpaths that traverse this mountain range with its wide vistas of the surrounding countryside, the property is within close proximity to the Château-Gombert tech hub, one of the metropolis’s main innovation centres, features engineering schools, research laboratories and tech companies. Last, but not least, the Marseille-Provence airport, the Saint-Charles train station and the city centre can be reached in approximately 25 minutes by car.
Description
Built in the late 19th century upon the commission of a rich Marseille merchant, this country house is now an integral part of a gated residence, without, however, having to bear any of its financial charges. An initial gate, reserved only for the residence’s co-owners, makes it possible to enter the grounds, and opens on to a gravel lane bordered by plane trees, the latter of which leads to the edifice, with approximately 285 m² of inhabitable floor area.
Featuring two floors, it includes seven bedrooms, while its southern exterior stands out thanks to a pediment decorated with a star, nine colourful square stained glass windows, arranged into three parallel columns, a balcony on the upper level accessible via glass double doors as well as several casement windows. As for its eastern façade, where the front door is located, it is cadenced by eight casement windows on its upper level and four on the ground floor, safeguarded by guardrails.
Featuring two floors, it includes seven bedrooms, while its southern exterior stands out thanks to a pediment decorated with a star, nine colourful square stained glass windows, arranged into three parallel columns, a balcony on the upper level accessible via glass double doors as well as several casement windows. As for its eastern façade, where the front door is located, it is cadenced by eight casement windows on its upper level and four on the ground floor, safeguarded by guardrails.
The Ground Floor
The wooden front door, topped with a glass fanlight, which is, in turn, decorated with an ornate wrought-iron grill, opens on to a foyer with a chequerboard-patterned tile floor. The latter provides access to the dwelling’s living rooms, on one side, and, on the other, to several bedrooms, while, facing south, a living room, with approximately 37 m² and a fireplace, gives on to a room of nearly 25 m², divided into a dining room and an open kitchen, which is then extended by a conservatory, followed by a patio.
Extending on from the living room, to the west, a door gives on to a bedroom that was once a dining room and still features its original tile floor as well as arched glass double doors, decorated with colourful stained glass, which open on to the patio. Lastly, to the north of the foyer, two additional bedrooms come with their own private shower rooms with lavatories.
The Upstairs Level
A double quarter-turn staircase from the foyer provides access to a narrow corridor, with approximately 20 m² and a window, which provides access to all of the rooms on this floor, while, to the north, a series of adjacent rooms include a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom and a wardrobe. To the south, there are three more bedrooms, including a large one, which represents the dwelling's main bedroom, and whose arched glass double doors open on to a balcony that overlooks, to the south, the ground floor patio. Most of the rooms on this level feature hexagonal terracotta floor tiles, interior and exterior shutters as well as window screens, whereas an attic is accessible via an inconspicuous trap door located in the wardrobe.
The Garden
Several bushes planted around the lot help preserve the property’s privacy, while the front of the edifice features a patio and, behind the dwelling, an enclosure wall, accessible via two doors, surrounds a heated swimming pool. In addition, sixteen plane trees line either side of the drive as well as the southern and eastern borders of the property, the shade of which is more than welcome during the summer months, while the gravel drive and the dwelling’s eastern side provide significant space for vehicle parking.
Our opinion
This sunny southern country house whose large spaces primarily look out towards its verdant exterior, is bathed in dazzling light all day long, which highlights the colourful nuances of its noble materials, while its hexagonal terracotta floor tiles, colourful stained glass and plethora of windows come together to create a particularly warm atmosphere whose contrasts produce a living environment that is both joyful and peaceful.
Its current layout requiring no specific renovations, except for any potential adaptations in usage, such as turning the ground floor bedroom back into a dining room or transforming the upstairs kitchen into a bedroom, the property with its seven bedrooms, sheltered from view within a gated setting, would provide an ideal setting for either an active family life or a bed-and-breakfast.
Reference 681650
| Main building floor area | 288 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.
