House La Rochelle (17)

A luminous, early 20th century villa, facing Cordouan lighthouse between Royan and La-Palmyre.
This property, near to Royan, is at the end of a no-through road in a very quiet, residential district. Shops are but a 7-minute walk away. The two golf courses in the 5,000-ha La-Coubre forest are respectively 5 and 10 minutes away. A little further north, Marennes, a town renowned for its oysters, can be reached within 30 minutes. Children will be delighted with Palmyre Zoo, just 10 minutes away. And lastly, the beach is in a cove, where the sea washes between rocky cornices, on which are perched several of the local, square, fishing nets.
The gateway opens on to an area covered with gravel and white marble-coloured pebbles. On one side, a garage and, on the other, umbrella pine trees, all protecting the cars from the sun. The house is entered from the west side. Two short flights of white stone steps enhance the property. One goes to the south-facing terrace, looking out over the sea; the other leads to the villa’s front door. The entire south side of the house is surrounded by a large, white stone balustrade. With its half-moon shape, the sea-facing terrace appears to embrace the villa.
The gable, slate roof comes to an end on the terrace side in a half-hip above the uppermost balcony. A more recent, protruding section on the east side, also topped with a gable roof, is covered with imitation stone rendering, with rock-finish pointing similar to that of the oldest section
The villaThis villa is noted as an outstanding building in the local “SPR” (Site Patrimonial Remarquable/Outstanding Heritage Site) classification. With its millstone grit, its balconies and their balustrades as well as its slate roof, it contributes along with many other residences to the seaside charm of the entire region. At the entrance, a tiled scene set in a wall, depicting five whales, symbolises the family that used to live in the property. The coastal path provides a glimpse of the house’s rooftop, peaking like a ship’s figurehead through the pine trees.
Ground floor
In the entrance hall, a wall cupboard and a small toilet, with a wash-hand basin, precede an oak wood stairway which links the various levels of the house. Two doors at the end of the vestibule provide access, on one side, to a kitchen and, on the other, to a dining room. A farm door in the fully fitted kitchen opens at the back of the villa on to a terrace with a pergola, its olive-green hue resembling the verdant surroundings, composed of pine and evergreen oak trees as well as bamboo and other phormium species. On the other side, facing the sea, the dining room, with its large picture window leading out on to the terrace, opens into a lounge, featuring an intricately sculpted, limestone fireplace, typical of the region. These rooms are extended as it were on to the large, half-moon shaped terrace, paved with Italian, frost-resistant tiles, and are steeped in light. Steps lead down from the terrace to the swimming pool below.
First floor
The landing provides access to three bedrooms. The biggest, known as the “blue room” because of its sea blue walls, has its own bathroom and opens on to the balcony. An adjoining dressing room also includes a toilet. The two other bedrooms adjoin a shower room and a separate toilet.
Second floor
The top floor of the house is enhanced with two bedrooms, a shower room, a toilet and a small room used for storage purposes. The two main rooms share a large arched window that opens on to the balcony.
Garden level
Steps go down to one room, laid out as a laundry room and to another in use as a cellar and boiler room. The two following rooms have been converted: one into a study and the other into a bedroom, with a view over the garden. These are adjoined by a toilet and a bathroom. This section is …