An atypical house with a landscaped garden and a sweeping view, 30 kilometres north of Paris, near the town of Chantilly - ref 906911
An atypical house with a landscaped garden and a sweeping view, 30 kilometres north of Paris, near the town of Chantilly.
The town of Luzarches lies around 30 kilometres north of Paris in a lush valley in France's beautiful Val-d'Oise department, between the Pays de France plains and the forests of Chantilly, Coye and Ermenonville. The age-old town developed upon Saint-Côme hill - a former fortified site whose eponymous gateway still exists today. Over its long history, Luzarches has been a disputed fiefdom, a place of pilgrimage and a hub of trade. From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, it constantly grew. Its town hall and central dwellings bear witness to this rich growth. Today, the town is vibrant, offering shops, a weekly market, healthcare and public and private schools. You can reach central Paris by rail in 40 minutes. Paris Charles de Gaulle international airport is only around 20 kilometres from the property. And the A1 and A16 motorways take you to the French capital quickly. The nearby towns of Senlis and Chantilly share the same wealth of built heritage as Luzarches. The countryside is criss-crossed with many walking trails. The local region is also prized for its golf courses and horse-riding.
The property is known as Porte Saint-Côme, which means Saint-Côme gateway. It stands on the raised ground of Luzarches town centre. Its commanding position is at the entrance to an old castle, remnants of which can still be seen today. The property has kept its impressive 13th-century archway, which is listed as a historical monument. The house lies above this fortified gateway, extending the place's medieval spirit. With its walls of stone and timber framing, its steep roof slopes and its central tower crowned with a hipped roof, this property is truly unique. Its architecture combines the defensive strength of the Middle Ages with ornamental redesigns from the 19th century. The tower houses a former dovecote and a top-floor loggia balcony offers a sweeping view of the valley. A discreet door, hidden behind the gateway, leads into the property. It takes you into a paved court, from where you reach the house and garden. The walled garden stretches southwards over several levels dotted with old trees of different varieties. From the terrace and from the end of the garden, the view expands into a sweeping vista of the rooftops of Luzarches and the wooded hills of the River Ysieux valley. The house offers a 220m² floor area, spread out over four levels with four bedrooms. The dwelling harmoniously combines its medieval heritage with more modern touches that make it a comfortable home.
The house
The ground floor
From the paved court, you step straight into a vast kitchen in a former basement Its stone walls and its floor of stone slabs underline the place's initial purpose. The kitchen connects to a vaulted cellar, closed with a door of solid wood. Today, this space has been designed as a tasting room. A stone spiral staircase leads upstairs.
The first floor
This floor lies level with the garden. It is where the reception rooms are. It is used for everyday life. The dining room, with its stone floor slabs laid in a pattern, leads out to a terrace of teak decking that extends the garden. In line with this dining room, there is a lounge with an old fireplace and large south-facing windows. Further on, a boudoir adjoins a utility space in a side room that you reach via a corridor.
The second floor
The landing connects to two bedrooms filled with natural light. One of them has exposed beams and the other one has old wood-strip flooring. The landing also connects to a bathroom and a shower room.
The attic
The wooden staircase has a balustrade of finely carved wood. The stairwell has old stained-glass windows. The stairs lead up to the top floor. Up here, there are two ...
