Located where the Touraine, Blésois, and Sologne cross borders, the community of Pontlevoy has approximately 1,600 inhabitants and an area of 5,111 hectaresNestled in the heart of Pontlevoy, our house is one of the most historic homes, dating back to the 14th century. Completely renovated, the house prides itself on it’s unique and welcoming interior design; an artist’s abode… Our village is graced by the majestic Abbey and it’s beautiful gardens, not to mention it’s proximity to a number of the Châteaux in our region.
The LOCATION : PONTLEVOY
The village is located only 200 kms south of Paris, with easy access by TGV (daily direct trains to Paris and Charles de Gaulle) and numerous trains from neighboring towns (Montrichard, Onzain, Blois, Tours…)We are 25km south of Blois and 40 km from Tours in the heart of the Loire châteaux country. The village itself is quaint and peaceful, tucked into a landscape of gently rolling hills, cultivated fields, and protected forests. Biking and taking long walks is a natural past time. Enjoy the proximity of the chateaux and their local wines (6 of the most famous are located less than 15 minutes away) and discover the quality of life in our picturesque village, unharmed by tourism. For over 1000 years, Pontlevoy and it’s inhabitants have benefited from a micro-climat and the majestic presence of the Abbey whose grounds and gardens include a set of 16 beautiful buildings in the center of the village. There is even a megalith on the outskirts of town.
Our village also offers a unique community of people. For centuries, students have come to the Abbey (now the property of an American). In bygone years the nobility sent their youth to the Abbey for their studies and built prestigious homes. Therefore, the village is surrounded by noble properties and lovely gardens, not to mention the stunning countryside. Surrounded by farm lands, all routes seem to lead to Pontlevoy. For over 1000 years, it’s location has offered great biking and hiking paths literally minutes from the village.
Aerial view of the village that gives you a good idea of where we live (house is located in the film by the arrow) :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Jabo4og7Y[/youtube]
The HOUSE
After having spent 7 beautiful years in Pontlevoy, we are selling our home à “contre-coeur” (against our heart’s desire) for professional reasons. Our house is located on the historical main street, adjacent to the abbey (50 mtrs) and within a stone’s throw of the local bakery. The house is composed of 2 separate buildings (one of them being an ideal guest house). The property was once part of the Abbey grounds and our courtyard is similarly paved with the famous “stone of Pontlevoy”. Our house foundation has been dated back to the year 1400 and the house sits on 3 cellars with vaulted ceilings that are in themselves, spectacular and offer alot of space for your winecellar.
Our home is full of character and boasts original architectural details, beautifully patina walls, tiled floors (famous beginning of century “tommettes”), brand new kitchen, bath and shower, stone, wooden floors and ceilings, and access to our Sauna and Spa located in a building in the garden. Central heat has two sources of energy : Electric and wood through our Jotul stove. We use essentially our Jotul stove during the whole winter and have very moderate electric consumption for the whole house.
In Pontlevoy, there are two great restaurants, 4 pubs, 1 pharmacy, 1 supermarket, 1 bank, 2 doctors, 1 dentist, plumbers, electricians, organic farm, 2 vinyards, excellent schools and other businesses in Pontlevoy. And you are less than 30 mn from one of the greatest hospital center in France (Tours), 15 minutes from Hospital in Blois.
Our house is spacious and has recently been entirely renovated (2008). It is very comfortable with all the amenities and is fully insulated for winter and summer use. The buildings possess a lot of charm and many of the walls have been painted decoratively.
Total suface : 210 M2 (+/- 3,000 square feet), Living room 60 M2 (645 Sq Ft), 4 bedrooms + 1 Loft (60 M2-700 Sq Feet), 2 bathrooms, 1 Kitchen, 1 attic, vaulted stone cave (wineceller, cellar), 1 big garage.
Extra buildings : Sauna, Pool house, tree house, and a garden of 380 M2 (4,000 Sq ft) adjacent to the abbey.
The house is listed for 236,000 euros and can be sold with furniture and appliances (Average selling price of houses in Pontlevoy for the past years has been 1,400 euros / M2 (200 US dollars / Sq Ft) for a “basic” 1970’s classic “ugly” french house.)
This property falls into a very different range of unique and unsual houses. It is the property of an artist (www.pamelamoulton.com) and is priced under its market value in order to speed the process of the sale.
If needed, the house could be divided in two separate units with independent access and could therefore be a wise investment for any potential investor. It can also be sold with existing appliances and furniture.
First Floor
With a direct access to the garden, wooden floor and high ceiling, the kitchen is fully equipped and can be sold with appliances.
5 Bedrooms
Garden
Extra buildings : Sauna House, Tool shed, Tree house + a Courtyard and a garden for a total of 380 M2 (4,000 Sq Ft).
+ garage (on rent) +
Surroundings
Abbey de Pontlevoy (50 m). The house has connecting walls with the Abbaye, which has gardens and ponds,which once were a magnificent 17th century military academy,now the home to summer concerts with internationally recognized musicians, a bilingual children’s summer theatre program which will culminate this year in a bilingual outdoor production, and many other cultural happenings. The abbey is now the home of “Le centre”, a multicultural learning center for the arts (dance, theatre, film production, acting, stage fighting, Hip Hop…). Every day you can learn something new. Here is the program of the “centre”: http://www.lecentrepontlevoy.com/
The Abbey of Pontlevoy is a place of culture and artists come from all over the world to participate in the Residency program and fall under the charm of our little village.
Pontlevoy and other neighboring villages have large weekly open-air markets with incredibly good local produce and goat cheeses, which are a regional specialty. Fleamarkets are nearly everyweekend…Nearby are ten one- and two-star restaurants. The village and the abbaye are currently working together to welcome artists residencies and exhibit there works throughout the village and in the Abbaye. The ambition is to become the first “Artist community in the Loire Valley”.
A bilingual book about the life of the photographer of the village at the turn of the past century : louis Clergeau. Pontlevoy is probably the only village in the world where the life of it’s people has been documented by a professional photographer for over 60 years. An amazing archive of tableau vivants that Louis Clergeau spent his life documenting. If you are lucky enough to find one on amazon, don’t let the opportunity pass you by. Le musée dans la rue à Pontlevoy, created by Patrick Cardon, a Franco-American resident of Pontlevoy : http://www.themuseuminthestreets.com/pontlevoy.htm (Our house is in one of these images) The Loire Valley : Pontlevoy is ideally situated for a tour of all the major chateaux. At least six of them are less than 15 minutes away. 
More on Pontlevoy : A recent article by Daphne Angles in the New York Times : http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/14/travel/protrait-of-a-loire-village.html?pagewanted=1 A place for Artist’s residencies (Pontlevoy has a community of over 30 artists from all over the world : painters, dancers, sculptors, Film producers, musicians…) http://www.pontlevoycreativeresidencies.com The European program for foreign students coming to Pontlevoy : http://www.eurabbey.com The official site of the abbey : http://www.abbeyofpontlevoy.com The Centre, The learning Art center of Pontlevoy : http://www.lecentrepontlevoy.com/ The Pontlevoy music Festival : http://www.festivaldemusique.org/indexen.htm The Chateau of Chaumont (15 mn away from us), an international center for the arts : http://www.domaine-chaumont.fr Pontlevoy official town hall web site : http://www.mairie-pontlevoy.fr A web site about Pontlevoy maintained by a local journalist : http://www.monpontlevoy.com/
Trains go from Paris to Blois (15-20 mn from Pontlevoy) almost hourly in less than 90 mn. TGV from St Pierre des corps (20 miles from the house) takes 45 minutes to central Paris Montparnasse or directly to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
A performance organized in the abbey of Pontlevoy with the students of University of South Mississippi in 2010 :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BwHcazmWc0[/youtube]
