A 15th and 18th-century former priory, in grounds of more than 6 hectares, in the former Anjou province, on the outskirts of a village - ref 417137
A 15th and 18th-century former priory, in grounds of more than 6 hectares, in the former Anjou province, on the outskirts of a village.
This property is located 20 minutes away from Saumur. The shops and services are less than 10 minutes away, as is a station with trains to Le Mans. Angers is within 45 minutes' reach. The French capital can be reached by high-speed TGV train from Le Mans, Angers and Saumur. The banks of the River Loire and the picturesque villages located along them are 15 minutes away. Lastly, the Monnaie-Pontmenard public forest is nearby, as is a junction on the A85 motorway.
A tree-lined lane from the road leads up to the property and arrives at a gravelled courtyard, with a barn on one side and a farm shed on the other. Opposite, the residence is preceded by a raised patio and surrounded by a former moat. The original priory was erected on the remains of a former castle and dates from the 15th century. It was considerably altered and enlarged in the 18th century, as demonstrated by the layout of the front facades with arched window and door openings. Today, it is made up of two sections that join at a right angle, the largest of which is oriented south to north and the smaller east to west. The two three-storey edifices, each with their upper level in the attic space, are built with rubble stone coated with lime rendering. They are topped with steep, half-hipped, slate roofs punctuated with dormer windows in the centre. The window surrounds, dormers, cornices and quoins are made of tuffeau stone. The inscription "D.O.M. 1732", marked above the entrance door, pays witness to the religious origins of the property.
The priory
The ground floor
There are two entrance doors leading into the priory from the partially cobbled patio.
The first opens into the main section and leads to a lounge, office and a staircase to the upper floors. Both rooms boast tuffeau stone fireplaces, each topped with an overmantel and cupboards, next to which there are closed alcoves, fitted with washbasin. There are exposed beams on the ceiling and the floors are paved with terracotta or ceramic tiles. The double-flight wooden staircase has an intermediate landing and a balustrade boasting balusters. The hall also leads to an approximately 14-m² boiler room and an around 15-m² cellar, from which there is an exit to the outside.
The other door opens into a hallway leading to a kitchen, dining room, lavatory, shower room and a staircase to the upper floors. In the dining room, there are exposed beams and chessboard style floor tiling. A brick and tuffeau stone fireplace stands against one of walls. The hallway also connects with the office.
The intermediate level
The intermediate landing on the main staircase leads to a laundry room.
The upstairs
In the main section, there are two bedrooms with tuffeau stone fireplaces and closed alcoves, as well as a bathroom and a lavatory. There are exposed beams on both of the bedrooms' ceilings. The first floor in the second section is divided into three bedrooms, one of which adjoins a lavatory and provides access to all the rooms on the level. The period terracotta floor tiles still in place are covered with carpet.
The intermediate level
The intermediate landing on the main staircase leads to the first-floor bathroom and lavatory.
The attic
The attic level boasts a surface of approximately 117 m² and is awaiting conversion.The outbuildingsA first, approximately 50-m² stone building with a slate roof is used for storage. There is also an entirely enclosed, around 300-m² farm shed which is currently used as a garage and for storage space. The ridge of the roofing is approximately 8 metres high and there is concrete floor.
