An 18th-century townhouse with outbuildings and an enclosed garden, nestled in the city of Angoulême in France's Charente department - ref 184114
An 18th-century townhouse with outbuildings and an enclosed garden, nestled in the city of Angoulême in France's Charente department.
On the plateau of the city of Angoulême, ramparts form a silhouette of the city known as "the balcony of south-west France". The 18th-century townhouse is a short stroll from Angoulême's Saint-Pierre Cathedral and its old, narrow streets, which snake through the beating heart of the city's historical centre. The townhouse is set back from the urban bustle, standing in a commanding position. Shops and amenities lie nearby, without causing any disturbance. The Atlantic Ocean and the cities of La Rochelle, Poitiers, Limoges and Bordeaux are all around 100 kilometres away. And you can reach Paris in roughly two hours by high-speed rail.
The main edifice was built in 1760. It is classical in style with a design that is elegantly understated yet majestic. Its facade of dressed stone faces south. At each end, it has a U-shaped protruding section. A stringcourse marks the separation between the ground floor and the first floor, discreetly underlining the balanced classical proportions that give structure to the building. On the north side, the dwelling stands out for its roofs of terracotta tiles and its elevation of rubble stone coated with rendering. This style reflects local architecture. On the garden side, the edifice is crowned with a mansard slate roof that flares out at the bottom and is punctuated with sculpted dormers. Two outbuildings complete the property. One is used as a garage. The other one is used as a storehouse.
The main edificeThe basementThe basement is dug out underground, ensuring natural coolness that remains constant. Its vaults and space remind us of the old age of the edifice. The cellars down here can be used as storerooms, conservation spaces or wine cellars.
The ground floorFrom a vast entrance hall, an elmwood staircase with a finely crafted wrought-iron balustrade and a wooden handrail leads upstairs. Next, there are the reception rooms. The main lounge is bathed in an abundance of natural light from tall windows. The room has a ceiling cornice of dentils, a stone fireplace and chevron parquet. A cosier room adjoins this lounge. This smaller room currently serves as an office. It has plain wooden panelling and a Louis XVI style fireplace. The kitchen is designed around a central island unit. Its units have the same colour as the room's old floor tiling.
The first floorThe first floor has a series of bedrooms with ceilings that are underlined with white mouldings. Each bedroom offers a view of the garden.
The second floorThe second floor lies up in the roof space. It showcases the roof frame's timber beams. This top space could be turned into spare bedrooms, workshops or offices.
The outbuildingsAt the back of the plot, there is a garage in which two cars can be kept. It has a door that leads straight out to a discreet, narrow street. On the garden side, to the right of the entrance gate, there is another small outbuilding. Today, it serves as a storehouse, but it could become a workshop, an office or a spare bedroom.
The gardenThe garden has a central pond, which is its focal point. A paved path structures the space and draws your gaze to the facade. Two broad strips of lawn embellish the space too. Trimmed shrubs and terracotta plant pots add to a neat backd-rop that is easy to maintain and ...
