castle with pool for sale Vals-les-Bains, France

Backed by a wooded hill, with panoramic views of the Ardèche Mountains, a 16th-century Provençal castle in an 8-hectare estate. Access to the estate from the road is ensured by a large porch with stone pillars, a tiled roof, and a painted wooden gate, which opens onto a pebbled and landscaped inner courtyard. On the right side, a small French garden adorned with white roses adds refinement to the building. It is a typical castle of the 16th-century Provençal style, restored to preserve its authentic Ardèche character. Raised over two stories, one of which is convertible under the eaves, and oriented north-south, the residence features sober facades in dressed stone coated with lime, straight bays framed in white and fitted with painted wooden shutters in green, and finally, roofs with two or four panes of canal tiles bordered by three rows of tile overhangs. It is flanked by concrete terraces on the south and west. The eastern wing, connected to the castle by its northeast corner, houses a caretaker's accommodation and a loft with an orangery on two levels. Forming an L-shaped building extended by a paved terrace to the south, it displays, like the main body, the architectural characteristics typical of Provençal houses: plastered stone facades and country tiles with one or two slopes. The wing, once a stable for horses, was indeed built at the same time as the castle and later transformed into an orangery. The built complex is surrounded by a 1-hectare park, which includes trimmed hedges, a Japanese pond, a pool with views over the Payre valley, and an old tennis court. Traversed by hiking trails, a forest of oaks borders it, providing an ideal setting for nature lovers. For over 20 years, after about ten years of work, the castle has become a guesthouse with seven rooms, five of which are equipped for hosting, with private amenities. Its interior spaces blend antique furniture, delicate bedspreads, and lime-painted walls, which enhance the charm of the living areas. All roofs and the insulation of the upper floor were redone a few years ago. All windows are double-glazed.This description has been automatically translated from French.