Main Description
A truly stunning estate encorporating 3 separate renovated houses set around a courtyard, surrounded by 15 acres of uninterrupted grounds in a setting of outstanding beauty. 600m private drive, exceptional 360° panoramic views, very quite & secluded yet only 2km from the popular local town with all amenities. Chalet/campsite permissions also.
A near perfect spot of 5.7 hectares of kept land, including beautiful landscaped gardens, lawns, meadows & half acre of woodland with 3 gorgeous houses at the centre. Accessed only by a long wooded driveway this is a secret paradise. The location is semi-rural just on the edge of the popular chateau town of Le Grand-Lucé, 20 mins south of the cosmopolitan city of Le Mans (host to the world's most famous endurance race) and 40 mins north of Tours (International Airport).
This property is aready set-up & ready to move straight into with an income. All furnishings, fittings, fixtures & garden machinery are also being offered for sale. Vast amounts of accommodation in the houses, sleeping 16 people over 8 bedrooms & 4 bathrooms with the additional permission to be let as gites if required. All renovated to a high specification. The 'gites' come equipped & furnished to a high standard with promotion, website & bookings. Yielding £15,000 per anum minimum.
The principle residence is currently a fabulous barn conversion. An adorable 'chocolate-box' cottage & traditional farmhouse make up the other houses which are currently being let as gites, but can also be used residentially. The property is accessed by a long, private wooded drive, has no neighbours & is very peaceful & secluded. 360 degree views. Also ideal for keeping horses.
This property will provide you with a breathtaking luxurious home, accommodation for extended friends & family, plus an income from gite rentals. And if that wasn't enough there is also planning permission underway to install wooden chalets & camping pitches which is in great demand on Le Mans racing events. A great investment.
Outside there is a large courtyard, workshop & double garages providing ample parking. Greenhouse & veg plot, orchard, well, terraces & wine caves.
The Living accommodation descriptions:
The Barn newly converted to an open-plan design, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & very high specification. Enormous light-filled space, gallery entrance & dining area with original exposed oak beams, 14kw A-rated wood-burner on a slate hearth and exposed chimney, modern fully equipped walnut & granite kitchen with stainless double oven cooking range. Master en-suite bedroom with patio doors and full planning permission for a large 1st floor wooden veranda. Wooden double glazing throughout. Roof windows with thermal acoustic glass. Heating electric & wood.
The cottage has been entirely newly renovated from deriliction. The oldest building dating from the18th Century. Spacious lounge with ancient fireplace and 14kw A-rated log burner. Slate floors. Fully fitted & equipped kitchen and dining area with a barn-door leading outside. Bathroom with spa shower. Upstairs is large open-plan mezzanine bedroom, exposed beams in excess of 300 years old, large enough to accommodate 2 single beds. There is a spacious double bedroom, with a latch door. Wooden Floors. Wooden double glazing. Roof windows with thermal acoustic glass. Heating electric & wood. (Gite, sleeps 4)
Fermette: Country oak kitchen with solid oak staircase. Patio doors to terrace. Lounge with fireplace & insert wood burner with a blown hot-air heating system, patio doors to the terrace, dining area also with patio doors leading to the terrace, original exposed beams & original tomette floor tiles. Downstairs cloak room, bathroom & double bedroom. The attic has been converted to a large family-size room (2 singles and 1 double bed) plus a mezzanine bedroom for a single bed with a balcony, exposed beams throughout. Wooden double glazing throughout. Roof windows with thermal acoustic glass. Heating electric & wood. (Gite, sleeps 7)
All new septic tanks have been fitted to the property (Fosse Toutes Eaux 3000 litre + 4000 litre) & certificated.
Despite the proportions, the running costs of the estate are low, due to the specification & fastidiousness of the conversion works undertaken. All houses are energy efficient: double glazed, ultra-insulated, heated very efficiently by A-rated log-fires (sustained by the woodland). They are also centrally heated via ultra-efficient oil-filled radiators fitted in the cottage and barn & an integral blown-air heating system in the Fermette. Hot water is provided via electric water cylinders. There is no gas supply or tank required on the property. The land is also well managed.
The property is fed by one 3 phase electricity supply which has all been newly re-wired to each house & to the workshop/garages. Current running costs are approximately 2000 Euros per year.
Tax Fonciere & Tax Habitation are currently 900 Euros per year.
There is a wine cellar, winter pond & efficient well water supply. An underground watering system has been installed to take the well water to the flower beds and various points around the courtyard and gardens. Also as a former vineyard, there is an original vaulted tuffa wine cave which tunnels into the hillside on the property, requiring some restoration but still containing wine and oak barrels. Elevated rear terraces have been built to make the most of the awe inspiring 360 degree views.
Plenty of room for the construction of a pool, outbuildings, stables or even a fourth house/gite. Stables have been de-constructed as they were structurally unsafe and are ready to be re-instated at will. Over 100m2 of hard standings already plumbed.
Business: Please see the gite website: www.lescontensieres.co.uk The property already has considerable bookings for 2009, you'll also find us on www.holidaylettings.co.uk
Location - Location - Location
Never more important than in France being 3 times the size of the UK where rural really does mean rural! This property is luckily situated very centrally, only just on the outskirts of a popular town of Le Grand-Lucé, a walkable 2km, where you will find supermarkets, colleges, schools, banks, bars, restaurants, bread shops, butcher, it's own château and a weekly market.
Access the main D304 literally from the bottom of the drive which will take you in either direction, north to the A28 motorway junction 24 in 10 mins or the Race track & city centre of Le Mans in 20 mins. Go south and picturesque villages along the River Loir, the 280km of trails in the Berce forest are all on the doorstep, as well as vineyards (wine tasting), lake front beaches & water sport & chateaux all literally within 5/10 mins of the property.
Very well situated for easy commuting, only 20 mins from the City Centre & Train station. 54 mins TGV from Paris/ Eurostar. 10 Mins from Junction 24 A28 motorway, 40 mins drive to Tours Airport & Caen is only 2 hours by car.
We are happy to offer overnight accommodation to any serious viewers, please contact me for more pictures or information or visit the website: www.lescontensieres.co.uk You really must see to fully appreciate this jaw-dropping site!
Please contact alice@barrell.net for any further information or, telephone 0033243793806
PLEASE NOTE: This is a private classified advert. The price is net, there are no agency fees to pay, but there are still Notaire fees of approx 6.5% to pay which under French Law falls to the purchaser. The property is currently for sale with Estate Agents. You may prefer to deal through an agent/negotiator in which case their fees will also apply another 6.5%. The french system favours sales between private parties whenever possible! We can offer much help, support & contacts if required.
Many thanks.