A 19th century renovated and reinvented farmhouse with a 4 200 m² garden planted with trees, in the north of the Domfrontais region in Orne - ref 5439
A 19th century renovated and reinvented farmhouse with a 4 200 m² garden planted with trees, in the north of the Domfrontais region in Orne.
Situation In the west of Orne, the Domfrontais region is dominated by the ruins of an 11th century castle, built in Henry I Beauclerc's stone belt. A royal stronghold, the fortress was home to a brilliant court, centred around Eleanor of Aquitaine. The works of the poet Wace link the town of Domfront and its region to the Arthurian legends. Not far to the north, the property blends into the wooded countryside, a short distance from Lonlay-l'Abbaye. Paris is 2.5 hours away. Granville and the sea are 1 hour away by train, from Flers station which is 15 minutes away. Less than a quarter of an hour away, Domfront has most shops and services you might need and a lively cultural life.
The property appears at the bend in an ancient road which is barely more than a small country lane. Situated in the centre of a hamlet, it is made up of an old farmhouse dating back to the 1830s, set against the hillside and surrounded by farm buildings which are scattered throughout the grounds. Sloping gently to the south, the development stretches out on either side of the road. The main plot is accessed from the west, through a courtyard overlooking the façade of the former farmhouse. Over the years, this authentic little farmhouse in the Orne countryside has been transformed into an original ensemble. Several extensions have been added by successive occupants, without ever breaking with the proportions and aesthetics of the pre-existing building. The façade has a slate gable roof and three windows to the south. The west gable is crowned by a chimney stump and pierced by small windows. To the east, the original building is flanked by a tower and several additions with single-pitch roofs. The first is a garage to the east of the farmhouse and in front of the tower. The second, adjoining the first, is a small lean-to. The third, with a slate roof, is attached to the east of the farmhouse. The entrance door is preceded by a glazed porch. A wooden terrace extends from the large window. Lined with black shutters, the windows are fitted with rounded red joinery. To the south, the garden includes a vegetable patch and extensive tree-lined lawns. A storeroom and garage, a barn, an open-sided shelter, a woodstore and a workshop are dotted around the property, in keeping with the local tradition of having a building for each particular use.
The house
The ground floor
The entrance leads into a vast kitchen, focused around a dining table. The floor is paved with stone. An old fireplace with carved corbels, which has been restored, is leaning against one of the walls at the back of the room. Beautifully crafted rustic solid wood furniture meets the exposed ceiling beams. Facing the fireplace, a bar occupies the space between the kitchen and a lounge, partially raised by three steps. It opens wide to the south onto the terrace through a large picture window in the place of a barn door. Here again, wood and stone dominate. The beams, door lintels, staircase to the first floor and stair nosings all match the stone tiling. The space adjoins a bathroom. It occupies the third extension of the house, to the north-east. The large, low-ceilinged room is lit by two large skylights. It includes a shower, a large bath set into the floor and a washbasin. The toilet and urinal are separated from the rest of the room by a low wall, with a sauna at the far end. The lounge also leads to the tower. The ground floor, with its stone wall, is occupied by a cellar. On the first floor, which is accessible via a ladder, there is a small study with a window overlooking the courtyard. Accessible from the tower, the first part of the garage comprises a laundry room. This is followed by a vast storage area with a wood ...
