A 19th century dwelling, restored in an elegant Italian style, within a small and charming, Venice-like village in Brittany - ref 940536
A 19th century dwelling, restored in an elegant Italian style, within a small and charming, Venice-like village in Brittany.
Located on the heights of Pontrieux, the property enjoys a privileged location. In the 19th century, it was a major commercial crossroads because of its port, the main maritime trade point north of Guingamp. The prosperous industry of the past has left a refined architectural heritage behind. The town owes its nickname of the "Little Venice of the Trégor" to the boat trips on the River Trieux that crosses it, and to its many flower-filled wash-houses, built in the 19th century. All essential shops and services are just a stone's throw away, and the train station, which is less than 5 minutes away, has trains linking the town to Paris in 3.5 hours. The fine sandy beaches and 240 km of Brittany's coastline can be reached in 25 minutes. The RN12, which is 30 minutes away, makes it easy to get to the region's major economic and tourist centres.
The property is located in a street adjacent to the main road, overlooking the River Trieux. The house stands out from its immediate surroundings thanks to its wide façade with eight windows, each fitted with wooden shutters painted a blue-grey. The house is rectangular in shape and has a slate gable roof. The façade, which is rendered in light grey and features fourteen windows set at regular intervals, each set off by a granite frame. A wide pavement separates the house from the street. The main entrance door, which is solid wood, is topped by a glass transom decorated with five lozenges, a beautiful final touch. On the right, a second carriage entrance, with a basket-handle arch, enhances the looks of the façade. An old wooden door which has recently been faithfully restored to its original design, opens onto a porch that runs along the building. The floor, which has been recently remade, is decorated with a central span of dark grey pebbles. Access to a separate flat is here, after climbing a few steps. The house faces west on the garden side. The outbuilding, one wing of which has been converted into a fully-equipped summer kitchen, faces the house. On this side, the house's exterior is in granite rubble and ashlar with wooden window frames. There are two balconies on the first floor, which is on the ground floor on the street side. The garden level adds to the already substantial living space. The outdoor spaces, planted with trees and flowers, slope gently down to the river. One of the town's 50 historic wash-houses, built on the water's edge, marks the property boundary, which is in the middle of the River Trieux.
The house
The ground floor
The main door opens onto a small hall with a high ceiling. The old wooden parquet flooring is remarkable. The colours used here alternate between blue-grey and white. An old, half-glazed wooden door with translucent windows decorated with blue rhombuses halfway up, lets in plenty of light. The parquet flooring runs through all the rooms on this level. It shines, showing the wood grain and sometimes making a slight creaking sound underfoot. The immaculate walls contrast with the blue-grey of the door frames. To the right, the dining room stretches out and opens onto the sunken garden. A partition wall, embellished with large-paned glass windows, separates the space and opens onto a vast kitchen and a small lounge facing the main façade. Light shines through the room. The kitchen is of excellent workmanship. The floor and worktop are covered in Kerlite, an innovative laminated porcelain stoneware that has a low environmental impact and is more resistant than natural stone. To the left of the entrance hall, a door with double round wooden handles opens into a large living room. A wall of horizontal light-green panelling sets off a classic fireplace in brilliant white. A small balcony, which is ...
