A vast townhouse and its wooded garden with swimming pool in Autun, Burgundy - ref 594956
A vast townhouse and its wooded garden with swimming pool in Autun, Burgundy.
A Gallo-Roman town with a population of 13,000 and a rich historic heritage, Autun offers all the shops and services required, within easy walking distance. By motorway or TGV high-speed train, Lyon and Paris are less than 2 hours away. The property lies 1h30 from Dijon, the regional capital, and 3h00 from Geneva.
Set between the upper and lower town, the house has a long, regular, unassuming facade on the street side, with an automated porch providing access to the courtyard and parking spaces for cars. On the garden side, the property is surrounded by the grounds of the surrounding affluent residences, ensuring it is hidden from prying eyes. The two-storey building is partly built over vaulted cellars, has a converted attic topped by a roof clad with new flat tiles. The stone outbuildings used as storage sheds stand at right-angles to the house.
The houseIt would appear that the building dates back to the dawn of the French Revolution. Initially, it consisted of two attached buildings, which were later combined and probably extensively remodelled in the 19th century. It comprises a residential section and former business premises on the ground floor. Over the last 25 years, a great deal of work has been carried out (roofing, double-glazed windows, electricity, plumbing), so that it is possible to move in without delay and to live there in comfort.
The ground floor
On the garden side, a vast hallway leads to a utility room with quarry tile flooring and to an oak staircase providing access to all floors of the house. On the street side, a double door leads to the former business premises, comprising four offices, a lavatory and a kitchenette. A second oak staircase leads to all the storeys in the southern part of the house.
The first floor
This is the main residential floor. A vast, bright 53m² sitting room/dining room features herringbone parquetry flooring, a black marble fireplace, oak panelling and doors. On the garden side, a modern, fully equipped kitchen has a large picture window offering a view over the surrounding trees. Continuing on, a corridor leads to three bedrooms with hardwood floors, one of which has a black marble fireplace, and to a bathroom with shower and separate lavatory.
The second floor
The north staircase serves three bedrooms with hardwood floors, a shower room and the boiler room, which also provides access to the attic. The southern staircase connects to a large landing with a lavatory, two bedrooms and storage space.
The basement
There are three vaulted stone cellars beneath the house. The outbuildingsAt right angles to the house, a number of stone buildings are used to store gardening and swimming pool equipment. The gardenCovering an area of around 800m², the grounds are entirely enclosed by stone walls and planted with magnolia, birch and bamboo trees. An old low wall featuring two stone pillars and a fountain separates the terrace from the garden. The centrepiece is an oval saltwater swimming pool. At the back, an adjoining well is said to be associated with the martyrdom of Saint Symphorien of Autun. The views take in the tree-lined grounds of the surrounding townhouses, offering protection from any prying eyes.
