Réf. 4754 : Beautiful country house for sale near Argentan This elegant Norman residence is located at the northern edge of the Orne department, on the threshold of neighbouring Calvados, from which it is separated by only a few leagues. Set on the outskirts of a small market town of some 530 inhabitants, it enjoys a pleasant rural environment, punctuated by a tree-filled park partially bordered by water-filled moats. Everyday necessities are available within the village itself, which offers a local convenience store, while the towns of Falaise and Argentan, equidistant from the property, provide a wider range of shops and services. Road, motorway and rail links are all close at hand, allowing access to the capital in under three hours. A wealth of leisure activities—including hiking, climbing, canoeing, horse riding, fishing, golf and cycling along greenways—can be enjoyed throughout the remarkable sites of nearby “Norman Switzerland”. Human in scale yet offering multiple possibilities for extension limited only by the imagination, this property, rich in authenticity and understated elegance, lends itself equally well to private or professional projects, whether as a permanent residence or a country retreat. The property remains true to its origins, as evidenced by the sobriety and symmetry of its façades, which reflect an architectural quality worthy of the Grand Siècle. Built over three levels around a central entrance framed by two pilasters, and topped with a four-pitched tiled roof featuring an elegant pediment crowned with a finial, the main body reveals local stone construction coated with a striking and unusual “remarkable charcoal-rendered finish”. The openings are arranged in regular bays, of generous proportions, and fitted with shutters. The façades are perfectly symmetrical. It should be noted that the south-facing façade was most likely the original formal entrance, given the sculpted decorative elements adorning the doorway. Nevertheless, the ornamental garden is located on the north side, thus reversing the traditional layout. The main residence is flanked by two adjoining buildings of lesser height: one possibly intended as staff accommodation, the other originally dedicated to cider production. Offering an internal surface area of approximately 334 sqm, the main house is laid out as follows: Basement: A certain Bacchus would not have overlooked it: the basement is limited to a small wine cellar. Ground floor: A natural entrance on the north-east side, arranged in “double depth”, also allowing access from the south-west. North-East side: Entrance hall leading, on the right, to a small wood-panelled sitting room/library with a fine stone fireplace featuring an overmantel; generous ceiling height with exposed joists. On the left, access to a dining room with terracotta floor tiles, panelling, and a fireplace with an overmantel. South-West side: Entrance hall with a stone staircase. To the right, a kitchen with terracotta floor tiles, a monumental stone fireplace, and generous ceiling height with exposed joists. To the left, a large drawing room with tiled flooring in a cabochon style, a marble fireplace with overmantel, and painted wood panelling. Access to the upper floor is via an elegant stone staircase with wooden balustrades, leading to a landing and arrival area paved with terracotta tiles. The ceiling height on this level reaches an impressive 3.30 metres. First floor: A landing leads to four bedrooms of approximately 20 sqm each, with terracotta tiles or parquet flooring and exposed beams. Each features a stone fireplace with an overmantel. One of the bedrooms adjoins a storage room set beneath the eaves. There is a separate bathroom and WC on this level. One of the bedrooms provides a connection to the adjoining wing of the house via a staircase, leading to a half-landing and a small apartment comprising a bedroom, an ancillary room and a shower room with WC. Second floor: Accessible via a miller’s ladder, this level offers a vast convertible attic made up of three rooms of almost identical proportions, separated by load-bearing walls. Exposed roof trusses, insulated intermediate joists, existing electrical installation, and floors of cob or timber boarding complete this level, which offers significant potential for further development. Outbuildings : Adjoining the main residence, a small stone outbuilding under a tiled roof comprises, on the ground floor, a technical room of approximately 60 sq m housing the oil-fired boiler, the heat pump, electrical panels and the hot water cylinder. The upper floor has been converted into a self-contained apartment. 1/ A large barn of 112 sqm, featuring a “cathedral-style” roof structure, adjoins a former cider press measuring approximately 56 sqm. 2/ A row of three small stone outbuildings under tiled roofs, respectively used as: a fruit store (6 sqm), a byre (15 sqm), stables (22 sqm). 3/ A fine stone barn under a tiled roof, aligned with the main residence, currently used as a hangar (44 sqm) and garages (72 sqm). A miller’s staircase leads to a full-length attic above. The potential offered by the outbuildings is considerable, providing a wealth of possibilities likely to appeal to the most creative or ambitious projects. The welcoming main entrance, located to the North-East, is both understated and elegant, immediately revealing the harmony of an English-style landscaped park. From here, the eye is drawn in the distance to the fine proportions of this noble residence and its neighbouring outbuildings. No tree is left to the imagination, as all are present: sequoia, American red oak, maple, poplar, weeping beech, bald cypress, larch, lime, tulip tree, magnolia, liquidambar and pine, not to mention several fruit trees including walnut, plum and pear. The park features flower beds, bamboo, natural hedges and extends as far as the terraces of the house, attractively enhanced by hydrangeas. Beautiful water-filled moats, stone-lined and fed by natural springs, complete the setting, partially encircling the park. A charming former washhouse punctuates the natural course of the banks, also serving as an overflow outlet. Carp and eels share this aquatic haven. The South-facing façade is more restrained, structured around the outbuildings and remnants of old walls recalling the former presence of agricultural buildings that likely did not survive the ravages of war. It is worth noting the presence of what is now referred to as a “service” entrance, benefiting from a favourable right of way for the property. This entrance provides access to all the outbuildings. Set within a landholding of approximately 2.47 acres, the property offers the appeal of a verdant, open and charming landscape, while keeping maintenance requirements within a reasonable and manageable scope. 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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