castle with terrace for sale Eauze, France

This sumptuous château is found in the heart of Gascony, in the rich and diverse Armagnac region, at an equal distance between Bordeaux and Toulouse (1h45). On the home lands of d ’Artagnan, the estate sits in an elevated position with far-reaching views across the valley. Surrounded by fields bursting with an ever-changing tapestry of colour in the summer months, from the vibrant yellows of the sunflowers, to the neat rows of green vines, the property is situated just a few minutes distance from the picturesque village of Montréal (one of our favourite villages in the Gers) and just a ten minute drive to the larger town of Condom, with its many shops and restaurants. This region is one of the most highly sought-after in Gascony, with visitors driving out here from Lectoure and Condom, Bordeau or Toulouse throughout the year. This is an area world-famous for its music festivals (Condom and its traditional Bandas festival, or Marciac for its renowned jazz festival in the world). Long hot summer evenings are brought to life by colourful night-markets, and many other events throughout the year which ensure that this is a lively area in which to live throughout the winter months as well as the lovely long hot summers. The château is located on the edge of a small hamlet, and sits in private parkland. On arrival, we follow the beautiful stone walls of the gardens, the original ramparts of the château which border the property and can be seen from afar. A traditional wrought- iron gate between two stone pillars marks the entrance. From here onwards, as we enter through the gate, one has an immediate sense of magic as we enter the grounds. A private alley cuts through a line of elegant trees. We pass the guardian’s house, and two cottages, reaching a private driveway at the top where we catch our first glimpse of the Chateau. To the side and the rear of the Château a vast 12ha stretch of land flanks the estate. The parkland itself is filled with a rich variety of mature trees. To each side the fields and pasture is currently tended to by a local farmer. Visible even from up above at the Château one can clearly see a young vineyard, below, planted by the current owners. On an architectural note… The château dates back to the second half of the 19th century, and was once home to a religious order set up by the Pères Prémontrés. The property is built in the shape of an “L” with beautiful golden coloured stone walls and Parisan style persiennes shutters painted in muted tones of elegant grey. Sunshine dapples the walls from the south, the east and the west. There are roses and many varieties of shrubs everywhere you look. The property comprises two main wings, linked on the ground floor, the basement and the first floor. The main house has been lovingly restored by its current owner who is an interior designer. The renovated wing is the southern wing blessed by a beautiful flow of light from the south, north and west it bathes the rooms with natural light throughout the day from its tall windows. The property has undergone a tremendous programme of works supervised by an architect an expert in historical buildings, but as we shall see in more detail later, this property has the advantage of comprising a second as yet non-restored wing : the western wing. The additional Western wing, once restored would lend itself perfectly to parties (a large party room), weddings, or summer lettings. The Southern Wing The entrance A small flight of stone stairs on the northern side separates a courtyard from the majestic entrance, with its turning staircase and doorway onto a beautiful courtyard on the southern side. This south-facing courtyard is graced with a burst of pink blossom from its trees in spring. A long hallway on the northern side leads to the kitchen, a drawing-room and a laundry-room. On the other side there is a second reception room and the guest cloakroom and WC. The ceilings are high and the floors lain with stone tiles. The elegant, sculpted cast-iron radiators throw out additional heat, in addition to the under-floor heating in the entrance hall. The lighting system at the château is particularly well designed, and the property is a delight to visit in the evenings, when on arrival the lights twinkle as they might from The Great Gatsby’s home. The perfect backdrop for a summer party. Reception Room 1 : As with every room in the château the ceilings are high and the tall windows allow one a sweeping view over the valley and across the Gascon countryside. A stone fireplace and double doors divide the first reception room from the kitchen, both rooms are lain with the same stone floor tiles. Reception Room 2 : With a warm and inviting interior this room is a perfect evening room and has the same lovely views, and also a stone fireplace. Cloakroom & Guest WC At the far end of the entrance hall, discreetly positioned behind a carefully designed cloakroom wall we find the spacious guest lavatory and washbasin. The kitchen, Rear kitchen, Laundry-Room It would be more apt to say that the kitchen is yet another grand reception room. Warm and inviting, majestic in size with a long table to welcome guests or for breakfast with views across the valley, this kitchen is the heart of the property and spacious enough to host a large gathering. French doors open on the garden on the western side, where guests can dine under the plane trees and look over the fabulous stone ramparts and balustrades to the stunning views across the valley. Guests are provided with a backdrop view of the medieval ruins of the original château, and the pigeonnier or dovecote. A grand central island with spacious work surface place for big bowls of food prepared on the AGA. The rear kitchen/ scullery is also directly accessible from the garden and the main kitchen and is equipped with a traditional oven. This is an ideal space to be used by caterers serving food in the garden or interior. In the hallway on the other side of the kitchen a door with a beautiful sculptured wooden surround opens onto the laundry room. The First Floor : Bedrooms Opposite the courtyard entrance an impressive stone staircase turns upwards to the first floor, leading to a spacious landing and a second long hallway that runs above the ground floor hallway. All the bedrooms have parquet flooring. At the top of the landing to the right, two bedroom with ensuite shoer rooms and fitted wardrobes with decorative doors from old French armoirs. To the left of the landing there is a third ensuite bathroom with views to the south, and a long hallway leading to a vast parental suite which is one of the most spacious bedrooms and bathrooms we have yet to see in Gascony. The master bedroom suite comprises a vast bedroom with five tall windows, a double dressing room and a bathroom with a double sink, shower and oval bathtub. The Western Wing At the far end of the downstairs entrance hall, close to the entrance to the kitchen, a set of double doors opens onto the western wing comprising two floors with around 400m2 space for further development with planning permission. The Western wing comprises a hallway leading to a staircase to the first floor. On the ground floor there is a large reception room with grand openings to the park, and with views of the Medieval ruin. The family has hosted weddings at the property and this is a perfect room in which to dance and party, opening onto the park, the lovely views of the ramparts, the medieval chateau, and the folly at the end of the garden.

WHERE ARE WE? In Lot-et-Garonne, 20 kilometers from Nérac, but very close to Gers and its rolling landscapes since we are only 13 kilometers from Condom. It is a countryside dotted with quaint villages, vineyards, and varied crops. A small road climbs through fields and leads us to a sleepy village. Here, in this peaceful countryside, not far from a lake, emerge the ruins of a 13th-century castle, preserved in a glass case. These ruins, part of the old village castle, were restored by an architect who fell in love with the place over 10 years ago. Today, it is a loft and one of the most unusual properties we offer. Past the gate, we find ourselves in the garden, a completely enclosed 837m2 plot. To our left, the impressive façade majestically blending stone and glass, and to our right, the guest house. A terrace, lawn, and a cooling pool with a view to the west and its wooded horizon separate these two buildings. Inside the Loft Castle The ground floor, like the entire space, is bathed in light. The Italian stone flooring reflects the modern elements surrounding us. A spacious entrance with a wooden door on the right opens to the former dungeon of the castle, now a much more welcoming place as it serves as the wine cellar. Your Côtes de Gascogne (the regional appellation) or other prestigious bottles will find an ideal and chic storage place here. On our left, a white lacquered designer cabinet contains technical elements. Taking a few steps, we pass through a stone curtain and find ourselves in the heart of the loft. An open space 8 meters high, the first floor overlooks us. Small stone niches and mullioned windows let light flood the entire loft. A white spiral staircase with a light and elegant metal structure leads us upstairs, revealing an office space and a beautiful stone vault behind it. Immediately to the left, a door conceals wall-mounted toilets with indirect lighting, giving this often banal place a very elegant look. Returning to the center, an incredible living space welcomes us. We could sit on one of the black leather sofas, as if in a museum, and contemplate our surroundings: red, black, and white furniture transports us to a universe that could be Mondrian's. A large red lacquered five-door cabinet separates the living area from the kitchen. Made to measure by a local craftsman, it houses practical and aesthetic storage on both sides. Behind it, the black and white equipped kitchen also offers plenty of storage. The refrigerator: two large built-in stainless steel doors, steam oven, and stainless steel hood, all pure and sleek lines. Nothing disrupts our visual field; we remain in an artistic ambiance. You can cook under the light of a high stone window facing south. Don't fear the summer heat; the thick walls act as natural air conditioning, and the property is equipped with a heat pump providing both air conditioning and central and underfloor heating. The TV lounge is located opposite the kitchen. The architect and owner took care to structure this space by placing a large white lacquered cube, thus separating the two zones. This trick shelters a laundry room equipped with a washing machine, dryer, sink, and shelves. One of the electrical panels is also found here. At the center, hidden in the white cube, an Italian shower, practical for those who wish to set up a bedroom on the ground floor instead of the existing TV lounge. The First Floor, a U-shaped Mezzanine, Also Bathed in Light After taking the stairs, immediately to the right, a space currently used as a studio by the current owner, who, as you guessed, also has artistic talents. Then, access to a small stone terrace where the air/water heat pump is hidden. In front of us, protected by glass, the old medieval latrines. Turning left, we admire along the entire length, this 13th-century stone wall with the old castle's watchtower on its right. Today, it houses a modern white and red bathroom illuminated by three openings. We walk along this stone wall, wide enough to accommodate a huge red lacquered buffet, to arrive at what is now the sleeping area. In harmony with the ground floor, white lacquered cubes structure and delimit the spaces: the bedroom is open-plan, with a large Italian shower. The sinks naturally found their place in stone niches. THE GUEST HOUSE – ABOUT 114 m² Ideal for hosting friends or family. It can also serve as a guesthouse for those considering a small tourist activity. It has retained its exposed beams and stones, giving it the charm of the typical country houses one imagines and hopes to find in the southwest of France. On the ground floor, an equipped kitchen, a shower room, and the dining room, living room with a beautiful fireplace inviting relaxation and reading by the fire. All rooms benefit from double exposure and therefore beautiful brightness. French doors from the living room provide direct access to the garden. Upstairs, we arrive at a large landing with a transparent floor, overlooking the living room. Three bedrooms and an L-shaped balcony to enjoy the sun, the garden view, and the village square. The Garden and Terrace Of ideal size for low maintenance but allowing enjoyment of the outdoors. One can easily imagine having a cocktail with feet in the cooling pool and continuing with a Gascon meal on the beautiful terrace. A barbecue area to prepare duck skewers. A lean-to attached to the guest house to shelter tools and all the necessary gardening equipment. There is a well dating from 1673 equipped with a pump to water the entire garden.

GERS - In the heart of the Armagnac vineyards, on the route de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, magnificent 19th-century château built on a medieval site bordered by a moat. Restored as a B&B or charming 7-bedroom hotel residence, the property is sold ready to run. The ground floor comprises a travertine entrance hall with original staircase and elevator, a warm welcome, a beautiful reception room with fireplace, a dining room, a kitchen/office, a bedroom with PMR access and a relaxation area with jacuzzi and sauna. Upstairs, the landing leads to 6 en suite bedrooms, including 2 with private terraces on the site of the château's former tower. The second floor features a loft. Underfloor heating is provided by a pellet-fired boiler, and reversible air conditioning is installed in all bedrooms. In the wooded grounds, the former 13th-century defense tower is used as a coach house. Access to the swimming pool is via the moat - simply magnificent! Nearby, a large 350 m² non adjoining winery completes this beautiful 1,600 m² property overlooking the rolling countryside. Ideal location for developing a wine tourism clientele. Isasouri photos. Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr