A former silkworm farm transformed into a charming dwelling, with its walled garden et view of the chateau, 200 m from the Place aux Herbes, in Uzès -
A former silkworm farm transformed into a charming dwelling, with its walled garden et view of the chateau, 200 m from the Place aux Herbes, in Uzès.
The property is located in Uzès, whose history remains closely linked to silk production and the rise in sericulture experienced by the whole region between the 18th and 19th centuries. Famous for its dolce vita, multi-century weekly green market, boutiques and the patrician nature of its preciously preserved architectural heritage, the town, with less than 10,000 inhabitants, includes three lower secondary schools, a polyvalent upper secondary school, a hospital and many shops, while, erected on a promontory, it is nestled within a countryside blanketed with grapevines, olive trees and garrigue.
As for the Nîmes-Pont-du-Gard and Avignon high-speed rail stations, they are 25 and 40 kilometres away, respectively, whereas the major motorways can be reached in less than 20 minutes.
With two floors over a garden level and facing north-south, the former silkworm farm, with a floor area of approximately 420 m², was built by the wealthy bourgeoisie of Uzès on an avenue that was created and designed for grand occasions, while the surrounding dwellings, with coursed Vers stone façades, were reserved for the city's local nobility or wealthy merchant class. As for their cornices, which separate the edifices' different floors, and window/door surrounds, they are also in sculpted Vers stone, the latter of which is immediately identifiable thanks to its luminous blonde colour.
Cadenced over its three levels by wide, distantly spaced double-glazed windows, safeguarded by white bi-fold wooden shutters, the former silkworm farm has now been transformed into a charming dwelling, whereas, on the ground floor, facing the boulevard, the house's front door is accessible from the garden, approximately 1,300 m² in size and closed off to the north by a long wall running parallel to the street, which protects the property and preserves its undeniable peace and quiet.
In addition, a projecting sculpted cornice supports its barrel tile roof, typical of local architecture, while legend has it that, this uniformity in terms of Uzès's rooftops was decided upon after World War II during the Liberation, following talks between André Malraux, then Minister of Culture for Free France, and the dowager duchess, a resistance fighter from the very beginning, who had wished to see, from the windows of her ducal palace, only traditional barrel tile roofs. And so it was done.
The Charming Dwelling
The ground floor
Bathed in natural light by the fanlight over the solid wood, light-colour double-door main entrance, the vaulted foyer features a Vers flagstone floor, while in keeping with the tradition of the Duchy's noble edifices, it also contains the dwelling's stairwell and highlights this floor's unique layout, featuring commercial premises, currently used as an art gallery, a self-contained flat, of approximately 53 m², a guestroom/home cinema, as well as a bathroom. As for the garden, it is accessible from the first-floor living areas.
The first floor
Accessible via the main stone staircase, on this level's northern side, where the dwelling remains constantly cool during the summer months, an immense drawing room, also bathed in light to the west and east, features triple exposure. Designed for entertaining guests, it is extended by a terrace, of approximately 38 m², surrounded by an Italianate balustrade, which not only provides access to the garden, but acts as the dwelling's natural link to its verdant exterior.
As for the fireplace's mantel, made out of sculpted Pyrenees marble, which was often used in noble dwellings during the Regency period, it is a testament to the craftsmanship of bygone artisans, who were able to deftly combine rigid stone with fluid movement, whereas ...
