A stately 18th-century dwelling and its estate of nearly 7 hectares, perched up in the heights of the royal city of Blois - ref 743325
A stately 18th-century dwelling and its estate of nearly 7 hectares, perched up in the heights of the royal city of Blois.
Two hours from Paris, between Sologne and Touraine, Blois is the administrative centre of the Loir-et-Cher department, located within the greater Centre-Val de Loire region. Sought out for its dolce vita, the city is famous for its royal chateau and Saint-Louis cathedral, while its narrow medieval streets are scattered here and there with café terraces, cinemas and theatres. As for the dwelling, immersed within a peaceful setting, only a few minutes from the city centre, it overlooks grounds blanketed in meadows and woods.
Set back from a quiet road, the property's entrance is flanked on either side by a low wall topped with a white lattice fence, while, framed on either side by small annexe wings, the 18th-century dwelling features two floors under an attic level, as well as doors, windows and upstairs dormers surrounded by tuffeau stone. With plaster-coated exteriors and a slate roof, redone ten years ago, on either side, the two wings include a winepress to the south and a storeroom to the north, while their stone exteriors are lined with Virginia creeper and topped with local flat tiles, providing a nice contrast with the main dwelling.
As is often the case in the region, the building suffered from clay soil movement following the 2018 drought, before significant structural work was then carried out in 2024, which involved reinforcing the foundations using resin injections under the dwelling's load-bearing walls as well as installing tie rods under the first floor.
With a flower garden in the front and two other outbuildings in the back, including a garage facing the gate created for vehicle access, past the dwelling, meadows descend all the way to a seasonal stream as well as a village road, while a large wooded parcel extends on from here.
The Dwelling
The ground floor
The dwelling's central front door opens on to an entry hallway, which provides access, on one side, to a living room and, on the other, to a dining room, as well as a lavatory in the back. As for the dual-aspect living room, it features visible ceiling beams, a stone fireplace with Louis XVI-inspired fluted décor, while smaller in size, the dining room boasts a black cast-iron stove/fireplace, topped with a column and a gilded brass capital.
From here, a door leads to a staircase followed by the dual-aspect kitchen, which opens on to the garden and includes a stone fireplace decorated with a motif of sculpted flower baskets, typical of the bucolic style of the 18th century, whereas original terracotta floor tiles and painted walls can be found throughout this level.
The upstairs
With gently sloping ceilings, the entire floor has been insulated, while a small landing, with a parquet floor and a skylight, first communicates with a suite composed of a bedroom, also with parquet floors, as well as a pink marble fireplace and a private shower room.
In addition, in the middle of the landing, another bedroom, with original terracotta floor tiles, is currently used as a library, whereas a hallway then leads to a shower room, a separate lavatory and three more bedrooms, two of which were created recently above the annexe's wine press.
The south wing
Reconverted into a workshop, the former wine press abuts another room with a fireplace and two windows, which is currently used as a storeroom and practically doubles the initial's room length, while the other spaces, still unfinished, could be reconfigured and connected to the living room.
The north wing
Also unfinished, the former storeroom provides direct outdoor access thanks to a door on its gable end, while another entrance could be created from the kitchen.The ...
