House buy in Le Mans Pays de la Loire

Stone House With Guesthouses, Indoor Pool And Garden Set In 1.1 Hectares Of Land Period home steeped in character * Main house + 2 separate guest accommodations * Indoor pool and sauna * Enclosed grounds of nearly 3 acres * Several large and well appointed outbuildings As an experienced estate agent I try to look at all of 'our' properties from all angles. It is easy to see how warm and welcoming certain homes are but when it boils down to the 'nitty gritty' I need to know where the faults lie. When I visited this charming home yesterday, underneath the slightly hazy skies of a very warm summer's day, try as I might I was unable to locate any defaults - the roof is perfect, the windows are spotless, the quarry tiles are well laid, the views are superb and even the large barns are in great condition. I am sure there are faults and I'm afraid it'll be down to the future buyer to try and find them - good luck. The current owner has spent time (and a fair amount of money) creating this wonderful home and now recently retired they wish to downsize and travel. Many moons ago the property was rebuilt with the stones and various features from the original chateau that sat on the site prior to being destroyed and today the 'fortified mound' (Motte feodale) can still be seen in the paddock, the timber structure which stood atop is long since gone but this along with the rifle slots to be found in one of the barns give an indication as to the site's heritage. The formal entrance into the main house is front to back and features a magnificent oak chateau staircase leading to the upper 2 floors. To the one side of the entrance hall you will discover a large 'stately' dining hall with large working fireplace and again double aspect allowing plenty of natural light in. Beyond the dining hall you pass through the tower, round on the outside and square on the inside, with original stone sink and window oven (a stone built cradle part of the inside window sill with space for the embers and coals underneath and several recesses in the top for the pots to be placed to heat the meals). The tower leads to the kitchen, fully fitted, with breakfast table and direct access on the south side to the terrace. The door to the north takes you into another 'winter' hallway with access to the courtyard, storeroom/pantry on one side and boiler room (an efficient gas/condensation boiler for the central heating and water) on the other. Returning back the other side of the entrance hall we have a wc, downstairs shower room and large double aspect lounge with another super feature fireplace. From this lounge we have a solid oak door leading to another room (ideal for a small library) and then onto the games room with loft space above that could be exploited if required. Finishing off the ground floor a gated entrance from the games room takes you to the indoor pool and relaxation area. The pool measures 10 x 5m and is heated (heat exchanger), the sauna is infra-red and along with the surrounding area provides a fantastic place to unwind and enjoy. Up the wide oak staircase the first floor landing provides access to the family shower room, separate wc and two large double bedrooms both with double aspect and features galore. Up again the loft space is ripe for conversion into another two bedrooms and bathroom if further space was required. Surrounding the central courtyard we have the first of two self-contained accommodations with lounge and open kitchen and wc on the ground floor and then double bedroom, office space and shower room with wc on the 1st floor. The second self-contained accommodation is set up as loft with large lounge/kitchen, mezzanine bedroom and wc and separate shower room. In addition to these buildings there are also two large barns, the first open at one end with plenty of space for machinery, cars etc. and the second with attached garage, internal workshop, loft space and a very high pitch which has enormous scope for a multitude of projects if needed. There's also the former goat shed currently home to the baby chickens and rabbits. The property occupies a 1.1 hectare plot (nearly 3 acres) with roughly half as an enclosed paddock. The main gates are electric and the graveled drive leads to the courtyard and parking area. There is a sizable veggie patch and various lawn and seating areas. The nearby village can be seen in the distance. There are no close neighbours and the property is very private with excellent access to Le Mans, due East, in around 20 mins. A charming family home with plenty of space for guest (paying or otherwise) and with the pool area and superb characters and features throughout it'll take many years before you need to move on. Viewings are highly recommended as the photos will not do this property justice. Healey Fox Ref Number: HF53404 The Healey Fox Service With more than 30 years experience of the French property market the team at Healey Fox offer an efficient and professional service to anyone looking to buy a home in France. The company is based in Surrey in the U.K., where we are always happy to meet with prospective buyers. In France, we work with carefully selected bi-lingual agencies who have intimate knowledge of their areas and properties and will be on hand to assist you during your visits and throughout the purchasing process. The team in the U.K. is headed by Dan Brewer who was educated in France and has lived and worked there. We have huge knowledge of the country and are always happy to help you to choose the right area for your personal needs and to help you select properties to suit your requirements. Once all that is sorted we will make viewing appointments with our partner agents who will show you selected properties and help you find the right one to buy. Throughout the purchase process both the team in the U.K. and the agents in France will work with you to ensure a safe, efficient and pleasurable buying experience. If this is the service you are looking for, not only have you found it with Healey Fox but the good news is, it is free! You pay exactly the same commission to the French agent for the purchase as if you walked in off the street, the agent then shares that commission with us. If a professional, free service is what you would like, call us, email us or check out our houses online. The Healey Fox website has over 3,000 property listings across France, as well as a comprehensive news section covering the different aspects of buying, owning a property and living in France. There are also sections covering French mortgages, money transfers to France and other useful information about buying in this magical country. Pays de la Loire regional description The Pays de la Loire is the region south of Brittany and Normandy and stretches to the Atlantic coast in the west, south to the borders of Poitou Charentes and east to Centre. At Healey Fox we specialise mainly in the area known as the Golden Triangle, being focussed on the Loire valley and covering everywhere between Tours, Le Mans and Angers. Although it's name may suggest expensive property, and certainly there is some of that, the average price of property in this area is substantially less than in some other parts of France. There certainly are some very special properties but there are also lovely little cottages, farmhouses and village houses, away from the tourist beat, to tempt everyone. Search for property in Pays de La Loire on the Healey Fox web site and see the choice! The Loire Valley is a UNESCO world heritage site and the Loire river is the longest river in all of France. It is not only long but also extremely wide as it makes it way through the river plain to the sea offering good fishing, wonderful cycle trails and many stop offs at attractive riverside villages and towns. Live like royalty in the centre of France Mention the Loire and most of us think about magnificent chateaux situated along the famous river. Often referred to as the Valley of the Kings, the historical wealth of the region cannot be in doubt when you gaze at these beautiful buildings. A favourite of mine is Chateau Amboise where Francois 1 settled Leonardo da Vinci in the nearby Close-Luce with its tunnel to the chateau. All Francois wanted was companionship and conversation which left Leonardo plenty of time to create his inventions, replicas of which can been seen in the chateau. My other favourite is Chateau de Chenonceau which apart from being stunning to wander around has the exciting history of it being used by the Resistance in the 2nd WW to escape occupied France as the river Cher, which the Chateau spans was the dividing line between occupied and free France. Luckily most of us don't want to own a Chateau and are very happy to look for a more modest property in Loire but days out to see them are really worthwhile. The Loire valley, a place to call home This part of France has attracted people from all over the world looking for second homes and full time homes. It is an area well provided for in hospitals, schools and shopping centres and with good air and TGV connections via Tours. The climate is also mild, spring comes earlier than in the U.K., summers tend to be warm and sunny on most days, autumn is long and beautiful and winters are not too long, nor too cold. Apart from the tourist attractions there are many diversions to enjoy. Lovely woods, cycle tracks, and lakes. You can still find peace and quiet in the countryside and enjoy the rolling countryside and many small rivers away from the more popular River Loire.The many small towns in the area remain lively throughout the year with many markets, festivals and other activities to enjoy whether it be summer or winter. Tours, Le Mans and Angers are interesting large towns with museums, art galleries and sophisticated shopping. Being in the Loire one must not forget the vineyards for the famous Chinon, Saumer and Vouvray wines where you can always enjoy a few tastings while choosing some bottles to take to your house in Loire.