Ref.4881 : French manor-farm and its outbuildings for sale in Normandy This manor farm is situated in the heart of the Orne department, on the edge of the Argentan plain, the Pays d’Auge and the Alençon countryside. At the foot of the Gouffern Forest, a few miles from the state-owned forests of Le Pin au Haras and Les Ecouves, in the sheltered heart of a village of fewer than 200 inhabitants, stands an elegant residence steeped in Norman history, dating back to medieval times. Renovated and extended during the Renaissance, this property has retained all its rural charm, characterised by simplicity and elegance. It benefits from local heritage protection, linked to the proximity of a chapel dating back to the 13th century, the jewel in the village’s crown. Daily shopping needs are met locally, perfectly complemented by the town of Argentan, just a few kilometres away, which offers a full range of shops and services, including excellent rail links to Paris. A haven for horse breeding, epitomised by the nearby famous Haras du Pin stud farm, this property will wholeheartedly welcome lovers of nature and a civilised country lifestyle. Although it is the result of the juxtaposition of two buildings separated by probably more than two centuries, the main house now presents a harmonious and elegant whole. The complex is built over three storeys, in stone set with lime mortar, topped with a roof of flat, bevelled tiles. The windows are mullioned, of considerable size and arranged in bays in keeping with the period, or smaller in scale for those evoking the appearance of a medieval ‘fortified house’. A monumental chimney on the north gable elegantly tempers the building’s imposing appearance. The door on the west façade has lost its semicircular arch, replaced by a straight lintel. It led to a corridor running eastwards, where the original doors, known as ‘English doors’, still remain. The property is balanced, understated and on a human scale, having retained all the richness of its past. With a living area of 240 sqm, the layout is as follows: On the ground floor : a central entrance hall leading to the Renaissance staircase, a spacious, quarter-turn stone staircase designed for ease of use with its steps of decreasing height. There is a remarkable square double window featuring stained-glass panes in coloured diamond shapes. On the left, under the staircase, a spacious utility room featuring a remarkable stone sink and a small square window. Hallway and corridor (terracotta tiles), leading to a living room (32 sqm) with Anjou stone flooring, featuring a bookcase. Adjacent to a bathroom/WC and a dressing room, this living room meets all the criteria for a ground-floor bedroom. On the right, a living room (27 sqm), with hexagonal terracotta floor tiles; a former monumental, stripped-back fireplace, replaced by a contemporary stone fireplace. There is a vegetable garden. Ceiling height of 2.30 m with beautiful exposed joists. Adjoining kitchen, a 19th-century addition, of approximately 20 sqm, fitted with a modern fireplace with an insert. Access to a south-facing terrace. Access hatch to a small storage loft. Floor with square terracotta tiles. At the rear of the house, on the east façade, a storage room. On the first floor : north side, spacious room with parquet flooring (42 sqm), used as an office. Features a monumental fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove. Beautiful exposed oak beams, with a ceiling height of 2.70 m. The room is very light thanks to its skylight windows. Landing with wooden flooring and built-in cupboards, and continuation of the staircase to the second floor. South side: summer lounge (33 sqm), with rectangular terracotta floor tiles. Fireplace. Exposed stone walls. Library. Ceiling height 2.20 m. Note the presence of a small window with a single vertical mullion, dating from the late 15th century. The two rooms on this first floor are suitable for conversion into bedrooms; the missing bathroom facilities still need to be provided. On the second floor : accessed via a straight wooden staircase, leading to a landing serving two bedrooms: On the north side, a bedroom/dressing room with parquet flooring (17 sqm), under a ‘cathedral’ roof ridge, intended for storage. On the south side, a bedroom with a small en-suite shower room (24 sqm). Terracotta tile flooring. Features a fireplace insert. ‘Cathedral’ roof ridge and sloping ceilings. The outbuildings are situated on either side of the cobbled driveway leading to the manor house. Their presence and function confirm the self-sufficient lifestyle enjoyed by rural estates, conferring upon them the appropriate status of a ‘manor farm’. 1) The largest, situated to the west, is a stone building with a tiled roof, comprising two storeys: A clay-floored cellar (10 x 5.40 m); A double-entry garage with a clay floor (7.80 x 5.40 m); A clay-floored carport (6.80 x 5.40 m), designed to shelter two vehicles. Beautiful timber frame. The structure is sound, the roof is recent. The upper floor consists of a full attic. 2) The eastern outbuilding, of a more modest size, is a tall stone building topped with a tiled roof, featuring a loft hatch providing access to an attic likely intended for storing straw. From left to right: a workshop on a concrete slab (5.60 x 4.95 m); A cellar on a concrete slab (3.80 x 4.95 m) intended for the storage of materials; A room with a clay floor (3 x 4.95 m), intended for the storage of straw; A small adjoining building, built of stone with a tin roof, a former bread oven. 3) Detached stone building with tile roofing, likely former stables (4.50 x 4.10 m). 4) Small stone cottage with tile roofing, set off to the west, opposite the manor house. The property enjoys a rural and unobstructed setting. The Gouffern Forest forms the backdrop, bordering the property’s boundaries and therefore directly accessible on foot or on horseback. The area has been primarily set aside for horses, which benefit from the beautiful meadows, which are both spacious and perfectly drained. A sand arena (25 x 20m) has been created there; two wooden shelters ensure the horses can live comfortably and independently. The southern section is ideal for fruit trees (apple, pear, plum, cherry, fig and quince), whilst also providing privacy from the neighbourhood. The grounds around the manor have been laid out in the English style, with flowers and flowerbeds complementing the festive terraces created to the south and east. An avenue of lime trees completes this verdant setting, which is as refreshing as it is restful. A recently restored boundary wall ensures the necessary privacy and security on the village side. The property is free from any nuisance, benefiting from the protection zone associated with its proximity to a 12th-century building, listed as a historic monument. This protection imposes certain restrictions in the event of building works (requiring authorisation from Bâtiments de France). The entire property comprises a plot of 4.56 acres (1 ha 84 a 88 ca). Cabinet LE NAIL - Lower-Normandy - Mr Eric DOSSEUR : +33 (0)2.43.98.20.20 Eric DOSSEUR, Individual company, registered in the Special Register of Commercial Agents, under the number 409 867 512 . We invite you to visit our website Cabinet Le Nail to browse our latest listings or learn more about this property.
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