House buy in Chateau-du-Loir Pays de la Loire

A River Runs Through It Period Maison de Maitre * Fully restored in 2007 * Beautiful park over 1 hectare * Pigeonnier/dovecot, 6 caves + stables * River, pond and stream * Excellent location This is one of the those properties that unless you knew what lied beyond the impressive gates you'd spend a lifetime driving past and missing it (as I have for the last 16 years). Tucked away from prying eyes yet still retaining excellent access to local amenities this charming fully restored Maison de Maitre provides ample accommodation for family and guests. The mature park of over 1 hectare enjoys a river, stream and pond (source fed) within its boundary. The impressive 6 caves (20 x 7m each) provide the clues to the origins of this home linked closely to wine production with signs of the former wine press and grape chute still evident along with the workers accommodation complete with working bread over and of course wine cellar all housed within the caves. These caves today are used as garaging, wine cellars, storerooms and anything else you wish (sport room, artist studio, jacuzzi room, etc. etc.). Above the caves the path leads you past the former stables to a strategically placed bench which allows the well deserving 'climber' a super valley view. The Maison de Maitre follows the typical layout of central front to back entrance hall. To the right the dining room (double aspect) with beamed ceiling and original tiled floor (with less so original suit of armor). This leads directly to the well equipped kitchen with breakfast table (overlooking the park to the rear) and easy access to the terrace (ideal for late evening dining the owner tells me). Across the hallway from the kitchen is the laundry/boiler/technical room and back towards the front door and opposite the dining room you have the lounge a large room with original marble fireplace and tiled floors. Added on to the maison de maitre possible in the early 1900s we have what is now the study with direct access from the lounge either side of the fireplace. The study benefits from being triple aspect and quite how one would expect to get any work done with those great park views is beyond me. Upstairs the 1st floor is home to three bedrooms, a dressing room and two shower rooms and up again to the 2nd floor another 2 bedrooms, bathroom (bath and shower) and large bedroom/lounge area providing plenty of space for all. Outside the maison de maitre offers terraces front (south facing) and rear allowing al-fresco dining a day long. The mature park measures a little over 1 hectare with vegetable area, graveled paths and parking, lawns and formal flower beds, a sizeable pond with natural source, the local river (both banks in some parts), stream (bypass from the river believed to be for providing water to the horses on site) and various bridges over. The large caves are in good condition and have been well looked after offering today numerous possible uses and the former dovecot provides an ideal hideout for the children to enjoy. An excellent location in a spread hamlet a short distance from the leisure lake at Marcon and all the commerce, restaurants, schools, etc. you could want at both Chateau du Loir and La Chartre sur le Loir. A28 autoroute junction is 10 mins away and you're circa 40 mins to either Le Mans or Tours. A very nicely presented property of standing in a super location - viewing it highly recommended. Healey Fox Ref Number: HF83256 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.