This property built on the remains of a monastery is for sale

When you enter the living room, you don’t expect to come face to face with a Gothic stained glass window made by the Compagnons du Tour de France and a vaulted ceiling. We are in fact in an ancient 15th century chapel which was part of a monastery, in the historic heart of Avignon, a few steps from the Palace of the Popes. The property is actually built on the remains of the monastery and Augustinian church from the 13th and 14th centuries.

“The beginning of the construction of the Monastery was well before that of the Palace of the Popes. It began in 1261. The monastery was inhabited by monks during the Middle Ages» explains Céline Pourrot of the Janssens Knight Frank real estate agency in Avignon, which handled the sales mandate. The Augustinian bell tower, adjacent to the residence, is one of the remaining testimonies of the Augustinian church and convent, partially destroyed during the French Revolution. In one of the attic rooms we are also surprised by an original gargoyle.

A Mediterranean patio of 83 m2

The house of almost 500m2 was renovated between 2012 and 2013 under the supervision of the architect from Bâtiments de France. He therefore maintains a very strong connection with his past. Its 34m2 terrace on the second floor also offers a view of the Augustinian bell tower, as a tribute to its history. An 83m2 Mediterranean patio invites serenity and calm thanks to its pergola decorated with jasmine. An almost monastic tranquility. “The person who is interested in this type of real estate will necessarily have a sensitivity to history and energies. It is always said that monasteries were built in places with high vibration and good energy. These are rejuvenating placess”, underlines Céline Pourrot.

The property also has two loggias of 4 m2 each. In total the house has 13 rooms, each equipped with its own bathroom and kitchenette. As soon as you enter the property you are like in a “cocoon» but as soon as we leave the house, we find city life, Céline Pourrot likes to say. A convenience that has a price, the property is offered at 2,250,000 euros, on the website of the Janssens Knight Frank real estate agency in Avignon.

The residence currently houses a guest house. It was renovated by a Parisian couple who chose to settle in Avignon. The two bought the house in a nearly abandoned state in 2012 and spent nearly 16 months restoring it. Cutting-edge elements such as a heat pump and reversible air conditioning have been installed. “The owners have renovated the house to a high standard. They took care to preserve the architectural elements of the time, without distorting the nature of the monastery. The house offers the comfort of today but with the charm of the era», assures Céline Pourrot.

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