Tours, Centre-Val de Loire 37100

A remarkable old house in more than 2 hectares of enclosed parkland, with outbuildings, in Tours, 15 minutes on foot from the cathedral. On a one-way street heading down to the River Loire, the property's gate opens onto a drive winding through tall trees to a parking space in front of a garage. To the side, several stone steps lead to a south-facing, wide, gravelled patio that surrounds the main building. Below, a lawned area is bordered by trees that stretch as far as the eye can see, with only the towers of the Cathedral emerging from the greenery. The oldest part of the two-storey residence, one of which is an attic level, dates back to the 17th century. It was expanded in the 18th century. Through the wide openings on the ground floor with tuffeau stone surrounds, two reception rooms adorned with wood panelling and fireplaces on the walls are bathed in light, as is a bedroom with an en suite bathroom. To the rear, there is an adjoining former orangery with three tall, semi-circular arched windows. To the east, the kitchen opens onto the rear of the parkland. On the top floor, several bedrooms can be reached via the main staircase or a service staircase to the rear. In the orangery, a passage leads to a lower level containing a vaulted cellar and a garage. The first floor has been converted into a vast room, into which light pours through a large window boasting views of the cathedral. An annexe tucked away behind the vegetation lets nature almost rush in through its top to bottom glazed walls. It is made up of a reception space with a shower room and a lavatory. The 2 hectares of parkland are dotted with a variety of tree types including a two-hundred-year-old cedar.