An 18th-century chapel, transformed into a dwelling with
a holiday cottage, between Veules-les-Roses and Varengeville-sur-Mer, on the Alabaster Coast
a holiday cottage, between Veules-les-Roses and Varengeville-sur-Mer, on the Alabaster Coast
Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer,
SEINE-MARITIME
upper-normandy
76740
FR
Location
In Normandy’s Seine-Maritime department, the property, located four kilometres, as the crow flies, from the coast, is nestled within a rural countryside typical of the Pays de Caux region, which is characterised by large farms surrounded by embankments. As for the closest town, it features breath-taking heritage, which is highlighted on the many tourism routes through the Dun River valley, while the nearest shops and services are close by, as is Dieppe and its train station, 20 kilometres away. Lastly, Paris is accessible in 2 hours and 15 minutes via the train and 2.5 hours by car.
Description
Set back from the village, at the end of a lane bordered by verdant hedges and tall beech trees, the property exemplifies one of the most emblematic features of the Pays de Caux region: the “clos-masure” or enclosed farmstead, protected from the sea winds thanks to its verdant screen of vegetation. As for the chapel, its exteriors are decorated with stripes of brick and flint rubblestone, while bricks also frame its large windows, some of which are rounded. With two storeys under a soaring attic illuminated by skylights, the chapel is topped with a slate roof, whereas, on one side there is a single-storey extension and, further on, a thatched cottage, with timber framing and rubblestone foundations, has been transformed into a holiday cottage.
The Chapel
The ground floor
Small-paned, slightly arched glass double doors open on to an immense living room, which features a stunning contrast between its large, light-colour square floor tiles, white walls and ribbed vaulted brick ceiling, the latter of which is supported by ashlar stone columns. Very sunny thanks to its tall arched windows, this room also contains a spiral wrought-iron staircase, located between two columns, whereas an open kitchen, completely integrated into a section of wall, boasts wooden cupboards that provide a certain warmth, which helps offset the minerality of the dwelling’s brick and stone details. In addition, a contemporary fireplace was installed on the wall directly opposite the kitchen and a door provides access to the extension, in which the scullery is located.
The first floor
The staircase ascends to a landing where floor-to-ceiling bookshelves have been added, while this space provides access to three bedrooms, a shower room and a lavatory. Extremely sunny thanks to rectangular small-paned windows, this floor features straight-plank parquet floors, white walls and visible ceiling beams.
The attic
With steeply sloping ceilings, this floor includes an immense landing, a bedroom and a shower room. Decorated in the same way as the first floor, with visible ceiling beams, this level is illuminated by skylights as well as both rectangular and bull’s-eye windows.
The Thatched Cottage
With a floor area of approximately 30 m², it has been completely restored and includes a living room, with a fireplace, a shower room and lavatory, while a bedroom is located on the mezzanine level and the roof was redone in 2022.
The Garden
Blanketed in lawn, the latter of which is separated from the chapel by gravel areas, the garden is entirely enclosed by shrubby hedges and planted with many tall trees including beeches, gingkos, as well as several fruit trees, while a number of flowerbeds, featuring hydrangeas and rosebushes, are scattered throughout and a small brick outbuilding with a slate roof is used for storage.
Our opinion
This former chapel, whose reconversion into a dwelling was able to deftly preserve the property’s architectural singularity, features brick ribbed vaults, stone columns and tall arched windows, which endow the spaces with a stunning ambiance, as do its more contemporary furnishings, which have been discreetly added here and there.
As for the independent thatched cottage, it would undoubtedly find plenty of uses for a family or as holiday accommodations and recalls the traditional organisation of Pays de Caux estates, whereas, only a few kilometres from the Alabaster Coast, the property combines the architectural identity of the Pays de Caux region with a living environment that looks out towards both the countryside and the sea.
Reference 590092
| Land registry surface area | 1983 m² |
| Main building floor area | 176 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 30 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.
