Property summary
David and Clare are open to offers on this property.
Hidden high above the beautiful city of Rethymnon, on a road seldom travelled, you will find the sleepy village of Monopari. Here time stands still while a handful of shepherds move their flocks from pasture to pasture. Ancient oaks stand shoulder to shoulder with olive laden trees. Eagles, buzzards and vultures hang high in the sky riding the warm thermals. Here you will find your Paradise hide-away in the shadow of an 11th Century Pirate castle once occupied by the Duke of Malta.
Situated only 12km from Rethymnon's beaches and historic town, and a short 20 km drive south through dramatic gorges, will bring you straight to the Libyan Sea. Here time moves slowly, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life is soon forgotten to the harmonic chorus of the Cretan countryside.
Our Magical Hidden Retreat has been a 5 star rated property and has been one of Crete's top AirBnB properties for over the last 6 years. Three years ago, we created Crete's only rentable Treehouse by adding "Elvenholm" to the plot to further enhance this spectacular property.
This is a rare opportunity to purchase a Unique traditional house with original Cretan arches, sheltered secluded courtyards that has been renovated with love over the last 10 years. Peace and Harmony come hand in hand with this house and the views are worth a Million Dollars! Being an old house, the walls are 50 cm thick and its underfloor heating makes it an ideal residence to live all year round. This property suffers no damp because of this (unlike most of the modern built houses that are only designed for summer living!)
Set in manageable grounds on 3 levels with mature and maturing trees including, Avocado, Cherry, Apple, Fig, Lemon, Lime, Sweet Chestnut, Walnut, Grapefruit, Orange, Greengage, Mandarin, Mulberry and Olive. In the local green lanes surrounding Monopari you will find Pear, Carob and Pomegranate Trees too.
The property has 2 wells and a separate private access to the rear of the house.
The front entrance to the Hidden Magical Retreat is unassuming and belies what lies behind (a property that opens up its land and your mind), entering the first of two courtyards you find a traditional bread-oven, plus 2 storage areas. Step up through the classic archway to the main courtyard, which is ideal for breakfasts and eating out, shaded by mature vines with unspoilt views over the Castle and Southern Valley here Vultures, Hawks and Buzzards hang effortlessly in the sky. Just off this courtyard you can access the utility room with a chest freezer, fridge freezer, plus washer and dryer, with shelving for storage.
Entering the main house, you walk straight into the kitchen area with its bespoke handmade wooden units, and high wood panelled ceilings. A full-size duel gas and electric cooker caters for all occasions and a generous American style fridge freezer has chilled water and an ice making machine. A full-size double “Carbon Phoenix” sink with gold coloured taps sits next to the inbuilt full-size dishwasher. Leading off the kitchen there is a changing/ dressing room (once used as an office) and a bathroom with toilet, sink and cubical overhead shower. The hot water for the house is generated by solar panels and then in the winter by an immersion heater switch. Returning to the kitchen you take a step up, below an original large archway into the lounge/ living room with solid fuel open fire behind another tradition smaller Cretan stone arch. Off to the right of the living room under the stairs there is a 2nd storage area/ utility/ office or studio.
Ascending right of the butterfly stairway, you enter the first bedroom with Arabic designed partitions, large enough for a King-size bed and space to hang your clothes. To the left of the stairway you enter a library (Which was originally a 3rd bedroom in the original house) now a space just to sit, read and relax. Leading through the library on your left is a second bathroom with toilet, sink and ¾ sized bath with an above bath shower. Enter now bedroom number 2, with double bed and built in cupboards and dressing table, ceiling fan and bedside lights. Exit through the French style double-glazed doors onto a private balcony that is a pure suntrap, large enough for sunbeds or a dining table and chairs.
Returning through the house and exiting via the back (Stable type) doors you enter a small “Airlock/ conservatory” where you can sit in the morning with sun pouring through the windows and enjoy your coffee. To the left of the back door there is a good-sized workshop with shelves and workbench.
Exiting onto the rear you have a large crazy paved walled patio with an ancient well that use to supply the village before mains water. The land then splits left and right onto lawned areas with fruit trees on the right, and a large area which we use to grow our own vegetables on the left. Passing to the next level there is an avenue of fruit trees to the right leading to the Pumphouse and to the left more fruit and nut trees, plus a second well and a double gate which is your own private road to the property. On the next level up, we find the swimming pool with lawn and crazy paved area ideal for BBQ’s. The pool is a great size and big enough to swim comfortably (9 meters x 4 meters and up to 1.85 meters deep)
Crossing the bridge, you enter into the oak woodland (with 4 different types of native oak) follow the steps and winding path which will leads you to Crete’s only true treehouse. Built 3 years ago on two levels “Elvenholm” is a magical self-contained unit with double bed, kitchenette area and fully functioning toilet, washing area and shower including electrics. Elvenholm is built to grow and move with the trees and has withstood whatever weather Crete has thrown at it. (The Treehouse and bathroom below is approx. 30 square metres)
Our Magical Hidden Retreat has been built and restored with love and dedication keeping as many of the original features as possible, creating a home filled with peace and harmony, which is also echoed in its large gardens and outside areas. The house is fully fitted with telephone lines, internet, electricity and natural drinkable spring water pumped from the valley above.
There is enough building allowance left with this property to build a wonderful 35 m2 bungalow anywhere within the amazing grounds. Our Magical Hidden Retreat could easily be converted into any other sport of retreat such as a Yoga retreat and by adding "Eco Pods could double or treble available income.
There isn't a similar house anywhere and is truly a unique property. Holiday rental prices in the local area can fetch more than €100.00 per day throughout the year!
This house is an ideal family home or rentable property with plenty of room inside and out and is ready to move into (All white goods will be included in the house sale). Any questions you may have please ask, we will be extremely happy to answer.
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Price 330,000 €
Price / sq metre: €/m² 1,650.00
other currency
Reference:
96319