A large, vinegrower’s house and its garden, planted with trees hundreds of years old,
35 km from the sea in the midst of a vine-growing village in the centre of the Var department
35 km from the sea in the midst of a vine-growing village in the centre of the Var department
Roquebrussanne,
VAR
provence-cote-dazur
83136
FR
Location
The village of La-Roquebrussanne is to be found in the middle of a vine-growing region at the foot of the Loube mountain range, ideal for all types of hiking. The river Issole goes through the village, enhancing the Provencal charm bestowed by its old houses. Toulon, its TGV train station and the sea are 35 km away, Brignoles, with its slip roads for the A8 motorway, is some 20 km away, whilst Aix-en-Provence takes an hour and Marseille-Marignane international airport 70 minutes by car.
Description
A few steps lead from the street to a metal gate opening on to a garden, extending some 40 metres in front of the house’s main entrance door. The latter is topped with a stone balcony, supported on two columns.
A first garage stands next to this gate, whilst a second, reached via a side street, gives direct access to the house.
Constructed in the late 19th century, this house is characterised by its 13 doors and windows spread over three levels, facing south over the garden, and its impressive facade, some 25 metres long.
A tiled terrace in front of the house is bordered, on one side, by a lean-to for barbecues and a bread oven and, on the other, by a small, above-ground swimming pool, built over a rainwater recuperation tank.
A first garage stands next to this gate, whilst a second, reached via a side street, gives direct access to the house.
Constructed in the late 19th century, this house is characterised by its 13 doors and windows spread over three levels, facing south over the garden, and its impressive facade, some 25 metres long.
A tiled terrace in front of the house is bordered, on one side, by a lean-to for barbecues and a bread oven and, on the other, by a small, above-ground swimming pool, built over a rainwater recuperation tank.
The house
This house was probably constructed at the end of the 19th century. The accommodation was initially limited to the east section, whilst the central section housed four wine vats, a well and a garage. Outbuildings took up the far west side. Some ten years ago, two of the vats were removed to make way for a large kitchen, created in keeping with the style of the house and enhancing the fronts of the two remaining vats. One of the latter still bears the year of its installation in 1917.
The ground floor
The front door to the house opens into a vast vestibule, housing the main stairway. On the right-hand side, a lounge, with a marble fireplace and cement floor tiles, is bordered on one side by a large sofa set in an alcove. A little door at the end of the vestibule leads to a storeroom. Another door opens on to a stairway going down to the 20 m² cellar. The latter still has the wooden framework that supported the barrels. Two doors on the other side of the vestibule open into a long dining room, with exposed wooden beams, terracotta floor tiles as well as a brick and copper fireplace that can be used as an oven. It also features a stone sink, typical of Provence. The old kitchen, on the north side, is now used as a laundry room, whilst the new kitchen is a real living room with a central unit. Its stone sink, its large flagstones, its door out to the terrace and the fronts of its two wine vats all bear witness to the initial vocation of the house. From here, it is possible to access a storage area that once opened on to a well. A garage opens into a side street. A little corridor, housing the stairway leading to the upper floors, provides access to a vast room, with its vestibule and toilet. This section, currently rented as a music room, could easily be reintegrated into the house.
The first floor
The main stairway, with terracotta tile steps, wooden nosing and wrought iron railings, goes up to a vast landing which opens on to the stone balcony looking down on to the entrance. Four bedrooms are laid out on this level, one of which has its own bathroom and separate toilet, whilst the other bedrooms share another two bathrooms and toilets. Some of the bedrooms have grey marble fireplaces and three of them face south over the garden; another, facing north, is lovely and cool in the hot summer months. The bedrooms have terracotta floor tiles and some have wash-hand basins as well as a bath. They all still feature the style dating from the beginning of the last century. A door in the last bathroom opens on to the landing of a back stairway which also leads to a small flat, comprising a living room with an open-plan kitchen, surrounded by two bedrooms, spanning some 10 m², one of which has its own bathroom and toilet.
The attic
The top floor can be reached not only via the main stairway but also via the back stairway. It provides access to two bedrooms, one small one that could be used as a dressing room and a second, spanning more than 15 m², with no toilet facilities. This is, strictly speaking, where the attic space, spanning almost 150 m², begins. It is divided into several rooms, some of which are partially converted into a games room and a lounge. The roofing framework, completely redone some 10 years ago, is exposed and goes up to a height of 3 m, which would make it possible to create some additional living space. Three rooms, each spanning 10 m² and occasionally used as bedrooms, are laid out at the other end. All three have a window looking out over the garden. Another room could be converted into a bathroom.
The garden
Extending on the south side of the house, this garden is enhanced by the presence and the shade of three tall, centuries-old trees, a plane, a lime and a Lebanon cedar. A pathway links the entrance gate to the house, the terrace of which could accommodate some 20 guests for a few moments of relaxation or, even, for an outdoor meal, prepared in the summer kitchen, fitted with a grill, a pizza oven and an earthenware sink.
In addition to the garage which is an integral part of the house, a second garage stands near to the entrance to the garden. Communicating with the latter, it is currently used as a woodstore.
Another two storage areas are also available, one of which spanning some 40 m² flanks the outside of the house.
And lastly, a small swimming pool, spanning approx. 10 m², has been created above a water tank. A lateral flight of steps provides access to this small private, open-air area, with the hues of a lagoon.
Our opinion
This robust, authentic, vinegrower’s house blends the charm of the old: its first-class floors, its superb wooden doors, its stone pillars, the fronts of its wine vats and its period fireplaces, with the quality of a well-designed, immaculately kept house whose the roof was completely redone and a new kitchen created, in keeping with the initial style, some ten years ago. The garden is a haven in which to relax or cultivate a timeless art of living, in the shade of trees hundreds of years old. The swimming pool constitutes an original, private area and, for those seeking a larger one, authorisation to install a pool on the east side of the garden’s central pathway has already been granted. The village shops are near to hand. The magnificent landscapes of vines that blaze with bright colours in the autumn are just a 5-minute walk and the regional mountain ranges can be reached without having need of a car.
795 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 543592
| Land registry surface area | 980 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 460 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 110 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.
