A unique dwelling with a cloister and a French formal garden, nestled in the town of Viroflay, near Versailles - ref 454682
A unique dwelling with a cloister and a French formal garden, nestled in the town of Viroflay, near Versailles.
A medieval-style edifice built in 1883 stands beside a gravel courtyard surrounded by walls. Its elevations of exposed stonework give the impression of an old chateau. This characterful house is nestled in Viroflay's Ville-aux-Bois district - a highly sought-after neighbourhood. The U-shaped dwelling needs to be renovated. It has a ground floor and a first floor. The house has stained-glass Gothic windows in large pointed arches, some panes of which are separated with mullions of finely carved wood. Stone sculptures with religious or heraldic motifs dot the elevations above the doors and windows. Wrought-iron embellishments, weathervanes and stylised crenels give the roof charm and underline its medieval appearance. The main facade is punctuated with a series of semicircular arches with antique columns. This series of arches recalls a portico. In the middle of the facade, there is a large main door beneath a finely carved tympanum fanlight that marks the edifice's formal entrance. Two stone sphinxes - effigies of women from France's belle époque - lie in front of the entrance door. They symbolise power and majesty. The courtyard has been very well maintained. Neatly trimmed box hedges run around it. With its elevations of exposed stonework and its French formal garden, this secret dwelling tucked away in absolute privacy is a unique combination of splendour and cosiness. It currently offers a liveable floor area of 200m², spread out over an entrance hall, a dining room, a lounge, a kitchen, a bathroom, a lavatory and five or six bedrooms. There is also a chapel-like room and a cloister. The latter spaces are unique features that give this property distinct character. There are also two other rooms, which are extensive, offering floor areas of 67m² and 50m² respectively. Roof windows flood them with natural light. This adaptable interior opens up a wide range of possibilities for design and development with a total floor area of 400m². And Viroflay-Rive-Droite train station is only three minutes away on foot, as is Viroflay town centre.
The houseThe house is harmoniously divided into three sections. The dwelling offers a liveable floor area of 200m². The entrance door leads into a dining room with an eclectic design, inspired by baroque and rococo styles. The walls are embellished with fine mouldings and wooden panelling. They are adorned with gilded mirrors that amplify the natural light that floods this space. The room's centrepiece is a majestic fireplace of sculpted stone. Its floor of tiles laid in a trompe-l'oeil pattern is typical of Italian Renaissance homes. It creates a visual contrast that recalls the luxury of aristocratic mansions. Another room connects to the dining room. This room's centrepiece is also a grand fireplace of sculpted stone. Its large wooden-framed windows with long curtains bathe the room in natural light and offer a soothing view of the garden. A mirror and gilded candleholders on the walls, combined with pale floor tiling, emphasise the sense of spaciousness here. And an adjoining walk-in wardrobe offers a separate storage space. The bathroom, which has a shower, is also spacious. There is a separate lavatory too. A few steps lead up to a raised room, which was probably used for dining. Beyond it, there is a simple, practical kitchen. Upstairs, there is a vast lounge with a 35m² floor area. It features a central fireplace. This lounge could be developed in many ways. There are two other rooms, which are currently used as bedrooms. In the building's central section, along the gallery, there are two extensive rooms, offering floor areas of 67m² and 50m² respectively. Roof windows bathe these rooms in natural light. The two rooms currently form a cabinetmaking ...
