BRIARE, Centre-Val de Loire, Address available on request

A grand dwelling with a guesthouse, a tennis court and two hectares of grounds with woods, nestled in a village on the River Loire in France's Loiret department. The main building was once the hub of a cheese dairy, but it is now a grand dwelling. It was built in 1907. A guesthouse and outbuildings stand on the grounds too. The property lies on the edge of the village. It stands out for its grand appearance and tall form. Indeed, you can see it from far away. Two entrances lead into the property: one via woods and another, the main one, from the road. An electric double gate, framed between two pillars of stone and brick, leads onto a driveway where vehicles can be parked. Two guard stones on either side of the entrance were once used to tie horse-drawn carriages parked here. The house's four elevations are punctuated with many windows, heralding a bright interior. The stone and brickwork of the quoins bring out the pale rendering of the walls. Brick and stone also form the window surrounds. The entrance door faces tall age-old linden trees. Another door leads out into a small court near a well. A stone stringcourse runs along the facade. Chimney stacks of local brick and stone rise up from the hipped slate roof that crowns the house. A gabled dormer stands on the roof. The facade features an elegant plaque set with Briare enamel. It reminds us of the property's origins. In the enclosed grounds, centuries-old trees surround the house and fragrant flowerbeds embellish the vast outdoor space. In front of the guesthouse, there is a teak-wood terrace where a few ceramic pots stand and, nearby, a tennis court in good condition. A little further on, a stone well stands among the outbuildings. A second gate that is smaller than the main one stands by an orchard, a greenhouse and a few outhouses, including the former cheese dairy. Beyond, a wood of conifers completes the grounds.