A medieval residence with a walled garden, one hour from Paris in the centre of Crépy-en-Valois.
Crépy-en-Valois is 1 hour from Paris and 30 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Despite its proximity to the capital, the town is surrounded by the forests of Compiègne and Ermenonville, once the hunting grounds of the kings of France and now a favourite haunt of walkers and horse riders. The house is located in the medieval town centre. There are local shops and public services within walking distance, as well as the train station, where you can catch trains that take around 40 minutes to reach Paris.
The house was built in medieval times. All that remains of the medieval house today are the vaulted cellars. The house was remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the heart of the town, on a tree-lined square, it is ideally situated, with its main facade facing due south. Over the centuries, its size and location have meant that it has remained the property of prominent members of the population of Crépy-en-Valois. Built of Saint-Maximin stone, it is three storeys' high, with attic space and cellars. It has a slate gable roof. The main facade has wide, large-paned windows dating back to the 18th century, which provide plenty of light and which are protected by shutters. The wooden entrance door dates back to the 19th century and is topped by an elaborately worked glass fanlight with a face in the centre surrounded by scrolls, bunches of grapes and acanthus leaves. The rear facade appears to be much older, with a forebuilding set in front that adds a different touch to the rest of the building with its Mansard roof. As it stands today, with its large windows, 14th century vaulted cellars and walled garden, the property makes up an integral part of the town's history.
The residence
The ground floor
The entrance door opens onto the hallway that leads to the rooms on the ground floor, as well as the garden. The floor is tiled with black cabochons and the walls are made of rough-cut stone. On either side of the hall, there are two lounges with different atmospheres. One is very bright and features a grey veined marble Directoire-style fireplace with an overmantel mirror and painted panelling on half of the wall. In the other living room, tall green panelling and a moulded ceiling rose create a warm, refined atmosphere. In these two reception rooms, original straight parquet flooring and moulded ceilings add an extra touch of elegance. Extending on from the living rooms, a summer kitchen opens onto the garden, making it possible to prepare meals on the terrace. Opposite the summer kitchen there is a bedroom with a window that looks out onto the garden. Finally, the hall leads to the double-quarter-turn oak staircase, with a white-painted wrought-iron balustrade, which leads to the upper floors.
The first floor
This is the heart of the house, with all of the living areas coming off a central landing. Overlooking the square, the vast reception room is an airy space with tall, large-paned windows that allow light to flood in. It is traditionally divided into two interconnecting areas: the dining room, with its old hexagonal tiled floor and exposed beams, and a third lounge with English-style parquet flooring and a black marble fireplace. Opposite the dining room there is a kitchen with all of the appliances built into exotic wood units. Finally, a bedroom overlooking the garden with an adjoining bathroom completes the floor.
The second floor
Here too, a central landing leads to all of the rooms. It is decorated with an early 20th century white earthenware washbasin. The ground floor has three bedrooms, all with parquet flooring. Two toilets, one of which is private and only for use by the master bedroom, make life comfortable. A vast bathroom looking out onto the garden, with a ...
