A 17th century townhouse opposite Noyon cathedral, 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris - ref 525815
A 17th century townhouse opposite Noyon cathedral, 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris.
Located in the Oise department, Noyon has played a key role in the history of France. Charlemagne and Hugh Capet, respectively King of Neustria in 768 and King of the Franks in 987, were crowned in Noyon Cathedral. Hugh Capet was the founder of the Capetian dynasty, which ruled France without interruption until the accession to the throne of Philip VI of Valois in 1328, before the Bourbons took over with Henry IV, remaining in power until the French Revolution. John Calvin, the great protagonist of Protestantism in France, was also born in Noyon in 1509. More recently, however, it was the First World War that left its mark on the area, with the Germans occupying the town and, above all, their last offensive in March 1918: Operation Michael, which was a bitter failure and the beginning of the end for the German Empire. After the end of the war, Noyon was rebuilt with a view to recapturing the soul of the old town.
Today, the town boasts an exceptional quality of life, surrounded by countryside and with quick access to Paris by train in 1 hour 10 minutes or by car via the A1 in 1 hour 15 minutes. Noyon is 25 km from Compiègne, around 60 km from Amiens, almost 50 km from Saint-Quentin and 40 km from Soissons.
Situated directly opposite the cathedral, this townhouse enjoys a radiant view of its Gothic facade, built with particularly luminous yellow-ivory limestone.
Its tri-partite portal and two spires with three tall, pointed arches lend the building its full magnificence. Only the parvis separates the impressive edifice from the property, which is in line with the 17th-century canons' houses. While the canons had lived on the site since the Middle Ages, a fire destroyed the medieval quarter in the 17th century, which was then rebuilt in a classical style. Today, this is a listed historic site.
At first glance, it is the rounded shape of the square that catches the eye, with the canons' houses surrounding the cathedral facade. The majestic appearance of the property is enhanced by the two entrance pillars topped by monumental stylised flame-vase finials. Once through the tall gateway, a courtyard of old cobblestones leads to the townhouse, which stands between courtyard and garden following the traditional layout. On the other side of the building, a paved terrace guarded by a wrought-iron balustrade overlooks a walled garden planted with fruit trees. The style of the townhouse is typical of homes of this era, featuring a tall silhouette, large openings arranged in bays, a deep-pitched roof clad with flat tiles, solid gables and a basement with a perron. The residence embodies the spirit of the 17th century, even though it was extended in the 19th century by a second building. This annexe is roofed in the Mansard style, built of jointed stone and brick, and has two wings with roof terraces, one of which is protected by a balustrade. The main courtyard, surrounded by flowerbeds and paved with old mossy cobblestones, leads straight to the stone approach stairs.
The townhouse
The ground floor
A painted, wooden double door topped by a transom window opens onto an entrance hall with a high ceiling and a stone floor tiled with black cabochons. At the far end, an impressive Louis XIII-style double quarter-turn staircase leads all the way up to the attic. A French window overlooking the garden opposite the entrance door illuminates the hall.
The reception rooms are situated on either side of the entrance hall. To the right is a comfortable sitting room with straight strip oak parquet flooring and a star-shaped inlay in the centre. An 18th-century fireplace with a grey marble surround sets the tone. Here, the walls are panelled with carved woodwork, either halfway up or right up to the ceiling. Above the fireplace, there ...
