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With 15 Acres of Pastureland By a Little River: A Superb 17th Century House (Excellently Upgraded and Re-fitted) Only Half a Mile from a Large Lake - and With A.1. Outriding

Location: Near Vire, Département of Calvados, Normandy Price reduced: € 414,750 Status: SOLD Reference ID: 375 The above price includes Estate Agency Fees. A figure of approximately 6.5% should be added to the purchase price to cover Tax, Notary and Registration Fees. Vire Town Centre 4 miles Saint Sever Calvados 6.5 miles Caen 45 minutes (serviced by Skysouth from Shoreham) Dinard 1 hour 30 minutes (serviced by Ryanair from Stansted) . Daily flights throughout the year. Cherbourg 1 hour 30 minutes (serviced by Flybe from Southampton in Summer). Rennes Fly be .com from Southampton - daily flights in the Summer period. Ouistreham (the port of Caen) - 1 hour 15 minutes (serviced by Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth). Cherbourg - 1 hour 30 minutes (serviced by Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth and Poole). Le Havre - 2 hours (served by LD Lines from Portsmouth). By Train Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2 hours 20 minutes, and then Corail from Paris Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard to Vire in 2 hours 23 minutes. By Road Drive via the Eurotunnel at Folkstone to Vire and then via the motorway system in approximately 4 hours ( following the A26, A28, A29, A13 and the A84). A VERY BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY Owned by a New Zealand couple, this immaculate house has been carefully upgraded retaining the character from its origins 400 years ago. Now plans to travel have led to this beautiful property to be offered for sale – with its fine garden and its 6 hectares (14.8 acres) of grassland. Like many French rural houses, this fine old stone house was originally built with single storey accommodation. But In 1996, under the previous ownership, the present spacious first floor bedrooms and bathrooms were created. Since the present owners acquired the property in the year 2000 the property has been further upgraded to a high standard. LOCAL INFORMATION The property is situated in a hamlet of 9 properties - so it is not isolated. It has a wonderful setting out in the country but only 4 miles from the regional town of Vire with its many facilities. The hamlet is situated within an area known as the Bocage Virois. The word bocage means “wooded”, and consequently this area is one of natural beauty. About a quarter of a mile away is a large lake which is open to the public for swimming sailing and fishing. The amenities include a 6km walking path around it, picnic areas and general seating, fishing (carp, perch, and several other varieties), and a sailing club equipped with catamarans, dinghies, windsurfers, and pedalos. Part of the lake and its shore is a bird sanctuary, which is home to a large variety of water fowl and other birds. Vire has every usual commercial activity and amenity. Churches, restaurants, theatre, shops, schools, supermarkets, library, and many more. It also has several sports grounds and stadiums, and a thriving race horse industry in the area that surrounds the pacing and trotting track. There is a direct train link with Paris. There is a 9-hole golf course in the locality, with a low membership cost of 400 euros per annum. A further 9 holes are due to be opened shortly. At Saint Manvieu Bocage are tennis courts and a football club. Another important attraction is the forest of Saint Sever. This extensive area is very popular for walking, riding, and fishing. There are various signed walks through the forest. Many other leisure facilities are to be found in Vire, including a fine swimming pool complex built since 2000. It features a large indoor pool, and an outdoor water slide and tunnel. Vire also caters for theatregoers, with both film and live theatre. Le Preau puts on several performances a year, and one performance is usually a joint production with an English theatre company. EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES An Equestrian Centre is situated only about 4 miles away. An English master saddler lives about 5 miles away in the village of Mesnil-Caussois. and a number of farriers, English and French, also live in the area. Veterinary practices are in Vire. The one used by the owners for their animals is a 6-partner practice which serves both domestic and farm animals. Feed suppliers are located in Vire. The main one is Point Vert (Agrial). Equipment can also be purchased at Jardi Leclerc. Many options exist for outriding, including the environs of the public lake, the old railway line, and the forest of Saint Sever. There is the opportunity to network with existing English families who own horses, for joint riding expeditions, local information, and so forth. MEDICAL FACILITIES Vire has a large public hospital, and a substantial clinic specialising in MRI/CT scanning and radiology. There is no shortage of good doctors and dentists in Vire, and many speak good English. France is regarded by the World Health Organisation as having the best healthcare system in the world. SCHOOLS Local Primary/Infants Schools are in Saint Manvieu Bocage, Saint Sever Calvados, and Vire. Vire also has a number of secondary schools. Several are located within a three to six mile radius of the property. THE HOUSE Ground Floor Sitting Room: 19’ x 14’9 (5.8m x 4.9m) A large well-proportioned room having a large open granite fireplace with wood-burning stove. Dining Room: 20’ x 13’ (6.2 m x 4m) Study/Reception Room 3: 19’6 x 11’9 (6 m x 3.6 m) Kitchen: 16’3 x 13’ (5m x 4m) An kitchen with Magnet wooden cupboards and worktops. Rayburn gas fired oven, gas hob, dishwasher, and small refrigerator integrated into the fitted units. Ceramic tiled floor. Utility Room: 13’ x 7’3 (4m x 2.2m) High efficiency central heating boiler. Space for washing machine, dryer and tall refrigerator. Ceramic tiled floor. First Floor Landing: 11’9 x 5’ (3.6m x 1.5m) Master Bedroom 1: 17’ x 13’9 (5.2m x 4.2m), en Suite Bathroom 13’6 x 6’6 (4.1m x 2m) bath, toilet, washbasin, storage space. Double Bedroom 2: 15’ 9 x 14’ 9 (4.8m x 4.5m), en Suite Shower Room: 13’ x 5’3 (4m x 1.6m) Double Bedroom 3: 15’ x 11’9 (4.6m x 3.6m) Double Bedroom 4: 12’ x 11’6 (3.7m x 3.5m) Family Bathroom: 15’ x 7’6 (4.6m x 2.3m) Bath, large shower, toilet, washbasin and storage space. All Four Bedrooms are fully double-sized and have south-facing dormer windows. All Bedrooms and Bathrooms have dark-stained timber beams to walls and ceilings, white painted walls, carpets (except bathrooms), and hand-made interlined curtains or blinds. All Bathrooms have wood floors, and are fitted with Velux-style windows. White sanitary-ware is used throughout. Loft: 80 sq. metres in size. Central Heating Gas-fired central heating is installed, with 16 radiators throughout the house. The radiators are fed by a high-efficiency condensing boiler (installed January 2008). A 1000kg propane gas tank is located in the ground adjacent to the road. It has been serviced annually, and replenished as required. This tank was installed in November 2007 in order to benefit from lower gas prices by buying in bulk. THE COTTAGE This is a stone building with a tiled roof. This building is single storey and measures 8 m x 3.4m externally. It would be suitable for conversion into a small annexe (subject to consents). THE LAND All the land is pastureland, and grazed by sheep owned by a local English farmer. (She has her own farm and she will vacate the land if the new owners so wish). A little river borders the land. It’s about 3m – 4m wide and it attracts a lot of wildlife, including large herons. The river contains various varieties of fish. There are no permanent rights of way over the land. However the owners have granted the local hunt rights to shoot game on the land during the prescribed season. The agreement can be revoked at any time. The main perimeter of the land is fenced to keep in sheep, but no fencing restricts animals from access to the river, and there is no fence between the land and that of the immediate neighbour. This is an historic situation - the land was once owned by the same person before the present owners acquired some of it. The land is flat and easy to fence, if a new owner requires to do so. The owner has spoken to the local Marie (mayor) and does not foresee any problem in erecting 3 to 4 wooden stables on the land. SERVICES Mains electricity, mains water, gas-fired central heating TAXES Taxe Foncieres (land tax) is currently about 1100 Euro. 2007 Taxe d’Habitation (house tax) will vary but is currently about 63 euros. The Owners Write:- “Our hamlet has approximately 9 houses, 4 of which are owned by English people. The house is very private to the rear and sides. Trees and tall hedges protect it from the neighbours, whose houses are at least 50m away. We have neighbours to the east, west, and south. The neighbours to the east are a French family. The neighbour to the south is an Englishman who visits his property 2 to 3 times a year. The neighbours to the west are an English couple whose property is a second home. “During our ownership since the year 2000 we have completed a number of changes inside and outside the house. The interior of the house is in an excellent state. The Utility Room was completely refurbished in 2005, with all new fitted furniture including birch cupboards, pantry, and solid beech worktops. A new boiler was installed (January 2008). We have refurbished all three bath/shower rooms. New dark wood floors have been laid in all three. The 90x90cm shower in the main bathroom was installed in 2006, and the shower in the guest en suite was completely refurbished in 2007. The exterior of the property has seen many changes. Numerous garden areas have been designed, landscaped and planted. And the cottage roof was re-tiled in October 2007. A new fence was installed at the front of the property in 2002, along with new oak gates to the driveway and the fields. But little major work has been necessary. The house was rebuilt by the previous owners in 1996. The entire upper floor was new. But the owners retained many key features, such as granite stone work and the original beams. “ “We have fitted the house to a high standard, consistent with it being our residence rather than a holiday home. All curtains and blinds are hand-made using high-quality fabrics from well-known designers, and are included in the asking price. Special light fittings in keeping with the style of the house have been installed in the dining room and the sitting room, and are also included in the asking price. All kitchen appliances are included in the asking price, including the Rayburn stove and oven. We will include the washing machine, dryer, and tall refrigerator in the Utility Room if the purchaser requires them. Distances to Useful Local Facilities:- Vire Railway Station - 4.6 miles Disused Railway (now a long distance public bridleway) - half mile Golf Course - 1.8 miles Equestrian Centre - 4 miles Veterinary Clinic - 3.8 miles Utile Supermarket - 3.2 miles Centre Leclerc Supermarket - 4.6 miles Champion Supermarket - 4.8 miles Auberge Saint Germain Restaurant - 2.6 miles La Butte aux Cerfs Restaurant - 2.7 miles Le Manoir de la Pommeraie Restaurant - 5.2 miles Le Moulin de Jean Restaurant near St Pois - 10 miles Normandy Boarding Kennels for cats and dogs - 5.2 miles " Back