castles for sale Bonnefoy-La Roseraie-Gramont, France (page 2)

A 19th century chateau and its outbuildings in 4 ha of parklands, 40 km to the south of Toulouse. The “Domaine d’Ampouillac”, composed of land and houses, has been known by this name since the 10th century. Initially annexed to the Cuxa Monastery, in 1209 the estate and the priory became part of the Boulbonne Abbey, created in 1129 near to Mazères. The monks of this Cistercian Abbey farmed Ampouillac’s land and that of some adjoining estates, such as Baissac, Artenac and several others. The remoteness of Mazères meant that the monks had to construct buildings for their accommodation on the land they were farming. Said buildings, known as Cistercian barns, were to remain the property of Boulbonne Abbey until the time of the French Revolution when, as a result of the revolutionary riots, Ampouillac was partially destroyed. All that remained was the basement of the “barn” and the current ground floor as is proved by the architecture and the thickness of the walls. In 1791, Ampouillac, was declared National Property and sold. The buyer reconstructed it from the ruins as is explained on the plaque on the stairway. It was also at this time that the first-floor lounge was created and decorated. Ampouillac was to remain in the hands of the same family until 1879 when it was sold to an industrialist from Toulouse. The building currently spans three levels over cellars, the latter being the old, 11th century, Cistercian barns.

A 15th-century chateau with three gîtes and 6 5 hectares of grounds, nestled in France’s Lauragais province, 45 minutes south-east of Toulouse. From a country lane, the property’s main gate leads into a gravel court. The chateau and the three gîtes stand at the edge of this court. The property is made up grounds that cover 6.5 hectares and include woods and meadows. The gîtes lie at a right angle to the chateau. This layout structures the property, directs the flow of vehicles and pedestrians and separates the holiday homes from the grand edifice. The facades face different directions and gaze at the horizon. The back of the gîtes looks at a side wall of the chateau, with which the gîtes edge a court lined with trees and shrubby hedges. There are two swimming pools: one behind the chateau and the other one next to the gîtes. The property dates back to 1492. Under an order from King Louis XIV of France, the chateau was extended and the Countess of Toulouse then lived in it. The edifice was redesigned in the centuries that followed, but its main section with three floors has kept its medieval appearance with a round tower flanking it and limestone masonry forming its old walls. Its facade is punctuated with windows in perfect symmetry. These windows are arched at the top. Their surrounds are made of dressed stone, their frames are made of wood and their shutters and pane bars are painted white. The rear face is different. The windows are similarly arched but laid out around several axes of symmetry and extensions adjoin the chateau on this side too: two orangeries that were built at each end of the main section. These two orangeries are identical to each other. Both are single-storey structures bathed in light from panels of glazing made up of small panes. Today, they house a wide range of plants. The outbuildings are made up of four structures built on a slope in a long row with different roof heights. Windows punctuate the walls asymmetrically. These windows are of varying shapes, sizes and materials. The roofs of the property’s different buildings are covered in monk-and-nun tiling and have either one or two slopes. Brick chimney stacks dot these roofs.

This 1818 Palladian chateau, steeped in 200 years of history, is located 30 minutes from Toulouse international airport, 1h30 from the Mediterranean Sea and 2h30 from the largest ski resorts in the Pyrenees. It has recently undergone monumental and irreproachable renovation work, down to the finest detail. This extraordinary property, listed as a monument of France, consists of 1500m² of buildings, 4 hectares of land in the heart of a classified park composed of hundred-year-old trees and rare species. The Château is composed of an impressive entrance hall of more than 75m² with a majestic double staircase decorated with sumptuous ceiling paintings restored with modern techniques by artists; nine suites all opening onto the grounds; 5 lounges with mouldings, period paintings and fireplaces; a semi-professional kitchen; a bar; a reception room of more than 500m²; offices; a hammam and a massage room; a wine cellar: hedonism and perfection are the keywords of this very challenging and successful renovation project. Top-quality materials and decorative elements were carefully selected for optimal comfort in order to achieve a harmonious blend of the ancient and the modern. This prestigious residence near Toulouse, in a green and preserved environment, was restored by a committed project manager preoccupied with the coherence of an ambitious architectural and landscaping project, in keeping with the history of the place. The renovation work was planned by the chateau’s meticulous owner, passionate about art and history, and the result is nothing but excellent. A very prestigious property… More information on request.