Ozouer-le-Voulgis, Île-de-France 77390

A grand house steeped in history, nestled in the village of Ozouer-le-Voulgis in France's Seine-et-Marne department, just 40 minutes from Paris by rail or road. The grand 19th-century house stands in the middle of tree-dotted grounds in the village of Ozouer-le-Voulgis. Its elevations are coated with rendering and it is crowned with a hipped roof of tiles. The dwelling has kept its historical features. An entrance gate leads into a gravel court lined with trees, which creates a natural enclosure. The edifice faces north-east. Its grounds extend on its south side. Climbing ivy coats its walls. Louvred shutters painted green bring out the surrounding greenery. An outer stone wall separates the property from the road, preserving the place's absolute calm. The interior showcases old craftsmanship. On the ground floor, the cement tiles of the hallway adjoin, on one side, the large lounge's chevron parquet, mouldings and marble fireplace and, on the other side, a living room with a marble fireplace. This living room leads to an oval dining room with fine woodwork and a so-called Prussian fireplace - a fireplace built into the wall with an integrated plate-warming compartment - that bears witness to the French art of living that shaped this home. The kitchen lies in an extension that is more modern. A secondary corridor discreetly links it to the entrance hall. The reception rooms face south and are bathed in natural light. They offer an unrivalled view of the tree-dotted grounds. A majestic wooden staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade invites you to venture upstairs. The first floor offers, on one side, two bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms. And, on the other side, there is a private bathroom with a walk-in wardrobe and a utility room. This first floor continues the elegance of the ground floor with solid-wood strip flooring and marble fireplaces. Some parts upstairs have been worn by time and require special attention. They are not heated and have suffered from water damage. The second floor has wood strip flooring and fireplaces. It offers five bedrooms and an office. The top floor has a rustic character and is waiting to be showcased with its exposed roof frame and terracotta floor tiles. This roof space is filled with natural light from dormers with oval windows that look down over the grounds.