Centre, Indre-et-Loire, Tours, France

Surrounded by over 54 acres of glorious fields and woodlands is this charming 3 bedroom house set in beautiful landscaped gardens with pool and outbuildings, enjoying far reaching countryside views from its peaceful and private location near Tours.

A perfect location within the popular triangle of Tours, Le Mans and Angers. A noble commune in the Touraine region with 3 chateaux, the eldest dating back to the 16C with the same family still in residence since the early 1700s.

Known for its large hunting forests and lakes, this area became very popular with French nobility, and today retains these origins and permits the habitants to enjoy an excellent outdoor quality of life. From the moment you leave the road into the village and head off into the private forest you know you are in treat for something special.

Driving along the gated forest road your eyes search eagerly for a glimpse of a wild deer or other wild animals and more often than not you are not disappointed. Arriving in the clearing along the tree lined drive leading up to the courtyard we finally discover the house. Located in the centre of this forest clearing, surrounded by its paddocks, which in turn are bordered by the forest, provide a very private, peaceful setting.

In true farm/cottage style of the region there is a choice of doors into the house. One leads to an inner hallway/bootspace with direct access to the galley style kitchen with tiled floors and painted beams. Fully modernised with a recent instant heat gas boiler and all the necessary equipment that today's life requires including space for a breakfast table.

To the left of the hall is the dining room. A 32m2 triple aspect room with feature brick and tuffeau stone fireplace with wood burner, diagonal quarry tiled floors and exposed ceiling beams above and a door to the outside. An internal door from the dining room leads to the first downstairs bathroom, recently modernised with bath and wc.

A second hallway (used currently as an office), 15m2, with tiled floor and beams also benefits from direct access to the front of the property. Internal doors lead on to a second downstairs shower room with wc and "office". The "office" is double aspect, 26m2, with direct access to the outside and original farm fireplace, modernised today to include a functional and aesthetic wood burner and tiled flooring. Stairs lead to a mezzanine area currently used as guest/family bedroom. This configuration of this part of the property ("office", shower room and mezzanine) would lend itself well to separate accommodation if required.

Returning to and crossing the first hallway, passing the kitchen is the main living room. A large, 51m2 triple aspect tiled room with fantastic views over the paddocks and beyond and outside access via the front terrace.

Stairs lead from this room to the 1st floor which is home to 2 large sloped ceiling carpeted bedrooms (20+m2 each), both double aspect with great views and balconied doors. Between the bedrooms is a family bathroom with bath and wc.

At 90 degrees to the main house is a sizeable barn offering: workshop space, garaging, summer kitchen and storage area (ideal for fruits and vegetables).

Attached to the barn is a 34m2 open hanger recently added to provide shelter for cars and tractors. In the paddocks are several wooden shelters for the resident horse and donkeys.

There is over 50 acres (21 hectares) of private land including 17.5 acres (7 hectares) of enclosed interconnecting paddocks in immediate proximity to the accommodation, and the remaining 35 acres (14 hectares) are private forest with a mix of pine, chestnut and some oak trees.

The current owners enjoy the woodland for walks and hacks and have not developed it further but creating additional paths and selective cutting to provide firewood, etc. is an option. In front of the house and leading down around the barn and on to the entrance, the drive is gravelled providing ample parking.

To the rear of the property is a formal garden and lawn area. At the end of the house overlooking the gardens, paddocks and beyond is a terrace area with, we understand, the possibility to create an enclosed veranda with direct access to the main living room. In front of the house runs a terrace area and is used as an alfresco dining during the warmer months.

REFERENCE: 250604