the old school house for sale in honfleur

by Sharon Santoni

view onto courtyard

Today I’d like to take you to the seaside town on Honfleur, on the Normandy coast.  Many of you have been here, I am sure.   A busy and pretty town, full of restaurants and the sweetest stores.   Old buildings huddled side by side around the lively port.  Close to Deauville and the Normandy landing beaches and home to some friends of ours who have created a beautiful B&B that they are about to put up for sale.

views of honfleur timbered houses

view through french kitchen

This stunning house was built in the 17th century and from the late 1800’s was a girls’ school.  My friends bought it about ten years ago, and  have gradually enlarged and converted the property until today they have a thriving B&B business.

small table lid for breakfast

 I love the way they have respected the soul of the house while creating a comfortable living space.  Bared timbers are typical of the Normandy architecture, and here the walls and stairwells show their beautiful patina.

old door and timbered stairwell

The property has been very carefully renovated, using old materials and antique furniture.  Whoever buys the property will either be able to continue the guest house activity, or simply enjoy it as a private house with its five bedrooms and bathrooms – plenty of room for family and friends.

bedrom and bathroom

The charm of the place is evident, from the timbered walls, to the old tiled floors, the low beamed ceilings and – my favourite feature – the central inner courtyard which is so pretty at any season, and draws you into the heart of the property with doors and staircases leading off on all sides.  Can you imagine how lively it must have been filled with young school girls over 100 years ago.

inner courtyard on old house

The house is just two minutes walk from the port, and the same distance from the Place St Catherine, where the weekly farmers market takes place, and where the brocante fairs are always held too.  The great thing about Honfleur is that it attracts visitors all year round, which is why the guest house has proved to be so successful.

boats in the port of honfleur

In the house, besides the central courtyard, there are some outstanding features, such as the double stone sink in the kitchen, originally a farm trough, with iron rings on the front where the cattle would have been tied up.

kitchen with stone sink

The stone and brick walls are also amazing and give so much character to the rooms.

boards, stove and sink in old kitchen

Upstairs the five bedrooms each have their own en suite bathroom, and all the rooms are spacious, with quaint windows overlooking the courtyard.   The house feels warm and welcoming no matter which room you are in.

the-worst-wedding-dress-ever

daybed in front of a window

Whoever buys this house is sure to love it.   It is so calm and cosy, and yet so well positioned for the town centre, and its 17th century bones make it a really unique property.

old stove in french home

If you are interested in more details on the property, the easiest thing is to email me HERE, and I’ll be happy to fill you in.    If after that you wish to go further and visit, then I’ll put you into direct contact with the owners.

And for those of you wishing to know more about staying here as a B&B guest, you can find the details here.

courtyard on timbered house

35 comments

Lorraine Wafer March 9, 2016 - 8:55 pm

Oh how I wish we could just buy it and treasure it. It’s incredibly beautiful. We loved Honfleur when we visited.

Lorraine
Australia

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Sandra Evans March 11, 2016 - 12:44 am

Wow! this an amazing place to live and treasure. I love all the details I love old homes they have so much character

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Colleen Taylor March 9, 2016 - 9:30 pm

What a lovely & charming B&B. I’d love to be a guest there since it looks so cozy with so many photo ops that I would adore. I’m sure your friends will sell this quite quickly.

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Suzanne March 9, 2016 - 9:57 pm

If I were 20 or 30 years younger, I’d jump at the chance to purchase this lovely property in Honfleur. Too much work at my age. Maybe I can stay there on my next trip to the area. Are they still taking bookings? Could you divulge the name of the B & B, so I can keep track of it for future travels? Or is there a rental company who handles it? Thanks Sharon.

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Kathleen Cushmore March 9, 2016 - 11:16 pm

We stayed here two years ago and LOVED it !!

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Hope March 9, 2016 - 11:20 pm

I am interested in the name as well, would love to stay there.
Beautiful historical property.

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Vicky from Athens March 9, 2016 - 11:24 pm

Oh what a wonderful thing to dream about. Owning a B&B in Honfleur . . . or a house big enough for my entire family! Honfleur is such a beautiful and charming little town. But only in my dreams could I own that house!!! Thanks so much for sharing!

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JP March 9, 2016 - 11:41 pm

I also am interested in B&B rental information. We will be traveling in this area in August.

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Our French Oasis March 9, 2016 - 11:41 pm

Stunning home and what a fabulous opportunity for someone looking to start a new life in Normandy in such a beautiful town; I have very happy memories of time spent in Honfleur.

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Marie Magee March 9, 2016 - 11:48 pm

Beautiful! I would also like more information on staying at this B&B sometime in September. Thanks!

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joanna March 10, 2016 - 12:21 am

Love Honfleur. This property is a treasure. Anyone who buys it — is surely blessed. Like the other comments would love to have information on the B&B for future travels.
Thank you for posting,

Joanna

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joanny March 10, 2016 - 12:24 am

A truly beautiful place. Love Honfleur , so very charming. I too like the comments above would like more information on this B & B.

Joanna

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Heather in Arles March 10, 2016 - 12:26 am

Amazing. A beyond amazing opportunity.

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Danielle March 10, 2016 - 12:52 am

I would like some information about staying at the B&B some time in late July early August. Thank you

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Donna Clark March 10, 2016 - 2:42 am

Oh how I was I’d known about this in September when we went!! We stayed in Honfleur for three days in an old converted schoolhouse as well. It was gorgeous. Please tell me why is it the custom to only use comforters or duvets for bed covers? No where we slept had a top sheet and it felt unsanitary.

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Susi T March 12, 2016 - 6:42 am

Although it is many years since I spent time in France in my experience the comforter covers were always as freshly laundered as the bottom sheets 🙂

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Susi T March 12, 2016 - 6:47 am

Oh, and Donna – I envy your visit to Honfleur …..how the pictures of have made me long to go back and the Old Schoolhouse looks so delightful! I shall be content with dreaming! Best wishes.

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sue March 10, 2016 - 3:03 am

absolutely charming…sue

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Marilyn March 10, 2016 - 4:35 am

Sigh! It is beautiful and if I was about 20 years younger I would take it on in a heart beat. For now I can only fantasize and dream.

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Pam Taggart March 10, 2016 - 5:02 am

I thinking this is it: Chambres d’Hôtes A L’ecole Buissonniere

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Deborah hoy March 10, 2016 - 5:33 am

What a beautiful place, could you forward more details, we own a B&B in Eymet S W France and have been looking for somewhere in Normandy, could you let us have the price,agent etc, many thanks

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Lana Heasman March 10, 2016 - 6:01 am

What a charming B&B in an equally charming place like Honfleur. We visited there on D-Day anniversary in 2014, on a day trip, off a cruise ship. Magical sunny breezy day, with all the flags flying proudly, so beautiful. I have an identical photo of the building with the blue door/shutter. Would love to spend more time there one day…. staying in that B&B.
Lana, Australia.

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Teena March 10, 2016 - 6:02 am

Sharon Honfleur looks delightful. We would love to have a few days there next Spring, 2017 when we visit your beautiful part of the world fir the first time from NZ.
Could you please tell us how to actually get to this beautiful little town? Can we catch train or bus from arriving in Normandy? What days would be best to be there to catch both the Farmers market and a Brocante market? Anything you can give me to help plan our trip would be so appreciated. We are planning to have about 10 days in Normandy.
What a wonderful job your friends have done in restoring this wonderful building.

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JaneEllen March 10, 2016 - 7:20 am

What a wonderful job you did showing photos and giving explanations of this incredible home/b&B. I am daydreaming what it must have been like during WWII.
What a special place, wish we’d win lottery so we’d have money to see this fabulous place and more of Europe. Can only imagine after their time there and all the hard work they put into the B&B will be hard for your friends to sell/leave this place. The memories and charm of such a special home can’t be replaced.
Have so missed your posts in last few weeks. Put old windows 7 pc away, waited for new laptop with windows 10 to arrive, while being busy doing pt exercises at home and going to pt 3 times a week. Or should I say going to torture?
Been trying to figure how to work this pc and how to get into my email. Once I did it, tonight finally, felt so silly how easy it was once I relaxed. I felt like I was cut off from my blog world. Sure missed all wonderful posts and hearing about everybody’s lives. Feel like I accomplished something without help. Guess old dogs can learn new tricks, am 75. So glad to be back online. Have wonderful rest of week.

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Taste of France March 10, 2016 - 8:54 am

Honfleur is indeed lovely. Monet loved it as well. That courtyard is very inviting.
The idea of a girls’ school makes me think of Madeline, though it wasn’t long ago that boys and girls were separated in public day schools, with “Filles” and “Garçons” still visible above the doors.

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Kym March 10, 2016 - 11:53 am

Very charming

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Taste of France March 10, 2016 - 10:21 pm

Sorry, but you wouldn’t be “my” Kym of Notalie fame?

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Darina March 10, 2016 - 12:06 pm

Wonderful!! Such a great atmosphere!

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Susan@CountryDesignHome March 10, 2016 - 12:36 pm

Oh my goodness! Honfleur was one of our favorite cities we visited on a recent cruise on the Seine. Absolutely so lovely. That school house would be such a wonderful place to live and dream…

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Louella Haenel March 10, 2016 - 12:39 pm

Please send me details of purchase price and land size and if sold furnished or not?

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Maryanne Flaherty March 10, 2016 - 6:34 pm

Just love it and would kill for the stoves…….!

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Jo Campion March 10, 2016 - 7:12 pm

Travelling with family in September .
Would love more info on the B&B as well as the day the Brocante fair takes place.
Love your blog and really love your photos.
The B&B Looks charming and you captured it beautifully.

Thanks for sharing.
Jo Campion Ireland

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Roxane Lacroix March 11, 2016 - 2:04 pm

We loved Honfleur when we visited. Such a charming home and the courtyard looks perfect for relaxing!

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CP Mitchell December 13, 2021 - 4:37 pm

I realize this was posted several years prior, but is this property still for sale? Thank you,

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CP Mitchell December 13, 2021 - 4:49 pm

I left the wrong email address. I just revised it. Thanks for your patience 🙂

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