A former 12th-century mill and its outbuildings surrounded by two hectares of grounds, traversed by a river, not far from Fontainebleau and Bourron-Ma
A former 12th-century mill and its outbuildings surrounded by two hectares of grounds, traversed by a river, not far from Fontainebleau and Bourron-Marlotte.
Located approximately one hour from Paris via the A6 motorway, the property is five minutes from a train station, which provides service to the capital in one hour, while Fontainebleau and Bourron-Marlotte are only 11 and 6 kilometres away, respectively. As for the mill, it is located in a medieval village, recognised as a "Village of character" and part of the French Gâtinais Regional Natural Park, which features charming cobblestone lanes as well as stone houses along its riverfront. Once an important artistic hub between 1860 and 1914, painters, writers, musicians and sculptors from all over the world congregated here in order to capture its unique light, which they dubbed the "grey of Grez".
A long forested lane leads to a wooden gate, which opens on to a stone humpback bridge, the guardrails of which are festooned with St John's wort. Appearing as though it was built up against the bridge itself, the edifice unfurls its thick walls above the Loing River all the way to a small private island on which the mill's east gable end was constructed. As for the outbuildings, to the right and in the centre of the cobblestone entrance courtyard, they include: a former kennel, a small garage, a workshop, a chicken coop and a bakehouse, while, in addition to the property's two small islands, an immense space extends behind the outbuildings, which is bordered to the west by a small river.
The MillDating from the 12th century, the mill once belonged to the commandery of the Templars of Beauvais-en-Gâtinais and was completely operational until after World War II.
With walls built out of coursed local limestone blocks, the edifice is anchored to the riverbed thanks to arched foundations, while the two main buildings come together to form a re-entrant angle facilitating the water's access to the mill's wheel. Featuring a flat tile gable roof for the right wing and a fibre cement one for the left wing, the latter is taller and more massive than its counterpart given that it houses the main dwelling as well as the machinery for the former mill.
As for the right wing, built over a cellar, its ground floor contains a large study of approximately 47 m² with square terracotta floor tiles and pointed stone walls cadenced by many windows facing both the Loing River and the cobblestone courtyard, while, the attic level, in need of a renovation, has the same floor area and is illuminated by gable dormer windows.
The ground floor
The ground floor of the left wing is structured around an immense corridor, which starts in the entrance hall and provides access, on the left, to the former mill's machinery and waterwheel, followed by a large living room of approximately 49 m² where the staircase to the upstairs level is located. In addition, the living room also provides access to a sitting room with a brick and stone fireplace, while, after the living area, comes a lavatory with a washbasin, as well as a kitchen, a pantry and, finally, a dining room.
With square or hexagonal terracotta tile floors, pointed stone walls and dual-aspect light in each of the rooms on this floor, the river provides a stunning backd-rop through all of the house's many windows, whereas several patios and a balcony adorn the different sides of the mill and provide a variety of charming spaces for relaxation and alfresco meals. Last, but not least, directly opposite the dining room's patio, on the neighbouring island, a small stone fish tank was once used to keep these animals alive until they were needed for sustenance.
The first floor
A solid oak three-quarter-turn staircase provides access to the upstairs landing, which leads to six bedrooms, three shower rooms, three ...
