A restored former hunting lodge from the 17th century and its immense outbuildings, surrounded by woods and a garden, over more than 3 hectares in the
A restored former hunting lodge from the 17th century and its immense outbuildings, surrounded by woods and a garden, over more than 3 hectares in the Loiret department.
In the Centre-Val de Loire region and within the Gâtinais Regional Natural Park, not far from the border of Burgundy and the Yonne department, the village of Courtenay, with 3,800 inhabitants, is located in the Loiret department and was the birthplace of such illustrious men as Paul Rolier, Aristide Bruant and Alfred Cornu.
The Cléry, a river stocked with trout and punctuated with ancient watermills, traverses the small village, creating a gentle soundtrack and a rolling landscape, while many hiking paths, including the GR32, open to horses as well as cyclists, run alongside the river or traverse the forest. In addition, the region boasts many natural attractions and sites to explore, such as the Loire Valley chateaus, river cruises on the Briare, Loing and Orléans canals, in addition to two golf courses near the property as well as a variety of forest estates, like the Montargis public woodland, which extends over more than 4,000 hectares and the Barres national arboretum, with its breath-taking gardens.
Last, but not least, Paris is 130 kilometres away via the A6 motorway and the N7 A road, while several train stations, approximately 20 kilometres away in Montargis, Sens and Ferrières-en-Gâtinais, also provide rail service to the capital.
Along the edge of the small town, within a landscape scattered with woods, meadows, farmland and forests, the property overlooks the valley and is accessible via a private lane. The site, with approximately 3.5 hectares, is entirely enclosed by walls, while, sheltered from the wind, the outbuildings and former hunting lodge are located around an immense rectangular and verdant interior gravel courtyard. In addition, a cobblestone patio, partially enclosed by walls, is hidden behind a row of conifers and surrounds the 5 x 11-metre swimming pool. As for the hunting lodge, it was built in the middle of the 17th century and then later reorganised in the 18th and 19th centuries, at which time the barns were refurbished as well. Featuring woods of approximately 1.9 hectares, as well as a grassy and tree-filled garden, surrounded by hedges, a wide entrance and wrought-iron pedestrian doors provide access to the property's courtyard and garden.
The DwellingRectangular in shape with a floor area of approximately 240 m², the understated and yet charming, two-storey dwelling, the foundations of which date back to the 17th century, was partially built over vaulted cellars supported by ancient buttresses. As for its exterior, it is coated in sand-colour lime plaster and decorated with ashlar stone window/door surrounds and quoins as well as a wooden cornice, while its wood-framed windows and doors are all double-glazed.
Accessible after ascending a few stairs, the dwelling is topped with a flat tile gable roof, supported by chestnut wood rafters and cadenced by dormer windows and skylights, whereas a room used as a garage stands adjacent to one of its gable ends.
The ground floor
With a travertine tile floor and visible wooden rafters, the large entrance hall provides access to both sides of the house and includes a stone spiral staircase safeguarded by a wrought-iron guardrail. Featuring two bedrooms, a shower room with a walk-in shower and a lavatory, the walls of which are decorated with cement tiles, this floor also contains a living room with a wood-burning stove set within a brick fireplace and topped with a wooden mantel and chimneybreast, while its walls are adorned with plaster wainscoting and wallpaper. In addition to a study facing the garden and a TV room, this floor also includes a kitchen with grey wooden cabinets, a marble backsplash, a large, open-hearth stone fireplace and a ...