castles for sale Midi Pyrénées, France (page 7)

A 19th century chateau, its greenhouse and wooded grounds 30 minutes from Toulouse city centre, in the heart of the countryside. The property is accessed via an unpaved track lined with centuries-old trees leading to an iron gate. Flanked by two Roman columns adorned with capitals featuring antique terracotta vases, the gates open onto a driveway lined with four yew trees leading to the chateau. This first section of the grounds, enclosed by a low wall topped with railings, provides parking for several vehicles. At the heart of the property, a central corps de logis and two wings frame a rectangular main courtyard facing due west, paved with Garonne pebbles surrounding a central earth platform where the vegetation has taken its rightful place. The original building, a farm, was included in the first regional land register, drawn up in 1825. The grounds feature a row of three 300-year-old cedar trees, suggesting that the original owners were Protestants. Given monumental form between 1870 and 1875 with the addition of a second storey and neo-Classical and neo-Gothic decorative elements, the main building now has four storeys. Flanked by four watchtowers, its symmetrical facades are punctuated by alternating arched and straight windows, with brick surrounds and wooden shutters painted light blue. Two stringcourses, also of red brick, mark the separations between the three levels. The semi-circular French windows facing the main courtyard or the parklands have balconies with wrought iron guardrails. The four-pitched roof is of slate. Each of the two wings of the chateau is two storeys high and topped by a gable roof of monk-and-nun tiles. The western end of the roof features a pediment crowned with terracotta pine cones. The north wing contains a gallery, a reception room and a mezzanine that opens onto a long balcony; the south wing comprises a vast conservatory and a gîte with a separate terrace. Two side extensions with monk-and-nun tile roofs form the link between the corps de logis and the wings. All the walls are rendered in light yellow, complementing the colours of the vines that grow along the facades and that of the flowering bushes in the main courtyard. Finally, the chateau is surrounded by 8,000 m² of grounds, including an outbuilding with a large swimming pool.

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.

A fifteenth-century chateau and Benedictine abbey with splendid grounds in one of France’s most beautiful villages, in the country’s Ariège department. You reach the property via a narrow lane that runs along the chateau. The edifice forms a U shape, adjoined to an abbey. It enjoys a commanding view over the River Hers valley. The property is a haven of peace in the heart of a region with an eventful past: Occitania. The chateau stands like a fortress. It is the fruit of a long monastic story: a combination of medieval history and Benedictine architecture. The existence of this Benedictine abbey was first mentioned in a deed that dates back to 923. Charlemagne, returning from a campaign against the Saracens, chose the spot in 778 to build a monastery and a church. A natural dam that held back Puivert lake nearby burst on 18 June 1279, destroying all the villages in the valley. The monastery was rebuilt between 1280 and 1316 to look like France’s royal fortresses with arrow slits. Then its monks abandoned the edifice during the Hundred Years’ War. Later, in 1502, a phase of reconstruction began, resulting in the buildings that we can see here today. This was an initiative from Philippe de Lévis, the Bishop of Mirepoix, who gave the fortified priory a majestic, serious look. He created apartments in the rectangular tower that the chateau still features today. From this period onwards, especially during the edifice’s second phase of restoration in the eighteenth century, the chateau never stopped being embellished with rich decorative features that expressed the abbey’s powerful influence. The edifice is made up of three sections crowned with gabled and hipped roofs that are covered in monk-and-nun tiling and edged with triple-row génoise cornices. The first section is long and thick. It has three floors and an end tower that is taller than the rest of it. Many evenly placed arched or right-angled windows punctuate its walls. The two other sections adjoin the church. They form a cloister around a garden courtyard. The west section has three floors and the east section has two floors. The latter was recently converted into a gîte. In front of the edifice’s large south-facing facade, a terraced garden leads down to parkland that includes an age-old magnolia in its range of trees.

Beautiful residence 10 minutes from Foix, with a living area of 800 m2 on 11 hectares of land (natural spring water) and view of the mountains. Made of : On the ground floor: entrance hall, 1 dining room, 1 equipped kitchen, 1 back kitchen, 1 laundry room, 2 living rooms, 2 toilets, 1 office, 1 billiard room and 1 cellar and 120 m2 of terrace. On the 1st floor: landing, 2 bedrooms, 1 with its shower room, toilets, 1 shower room, 1 room of 47 m2 to be finished and 1 part of 134 m2 to be finished (5 rooms) 2nd floor: landing, 8 en-suite bedrooms (shower room + toilet), 1 living room, 1 technical room Finally, an adjoining outbuilding on one side on 2 levels of 225 m2 on the ground: On the ground floor: workshop, garage, storage room, laundry... On the 1st floor: 3 large volumes that can be transformed into apartments / gites Ideal for home project: large family, guest rooms, cottages, seminars .... This residence cannot be told, it is visited!

MEMORIAL OF THE COUNT OF CHAMBORD PRETENDANT TO THE THRONE OF FRANCE - CHÂTEAU BUILT IN 1867 - PERFECT CONDITION - SUMPTUOUS INTERIOR DECORATION - 13 ROOMS - AT THE FOOT OF THE PYRENEES - 1.9HA - HAUTE-GARONNE - OCCITANIA. At the foot of the Pyrenees, this castle in perfect condition with typically Napoleon III architecture, displays numerous references to the French monarchy and more precisely to the Count of Chambord, pretender to the throne of France under the name of Henri V. It benefited in recent years major restoration work in accordance with the rules of the art and is today in perfect condition. Work of the architect Azibert, this square castle has a central bay very richly sculpted with lions framing the monumental coat of arms of the family that commissioned the castle in 1867. The front side is decorated with two watchtowers, the rear side with a polygonal tower. On all sides we find numerous stone dormer windows very richly carved with pinnacles. The interior of this house features sumptuous decoration in a remarkable state of authenticity, recently restored to the highest standards. The entrance hall with its floor of black and white cabochons in marble and schist is decorated with sumptuous paintings of flowers in large oval medallions of remarkable quality, typically Napoleon III, in a large painted trompe l'oeil decoration, the ceiling also painted with flowers and polychrome moldings. The large living room has a very rich stuccoed and painted decoration on the theme of the French monarchy, a marble fireplace decorated with fleurs-de-lis, acanthus scrolls, the builders' alliance coat of arms under a marquis crown. The trumeau decorated with the great arms of France under the royal crown framed by medallion portraits of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette. The tops of the doors decorated with oversized fleur-de-lys in very architectural broken pediments. Superb stucco cornice with consoles and flowers. Herringbone parquet flooring. The small living room decorated with a white marble fireplace, the overmantel is decorated with fleur-de-lis framing the medallion portrait of the Count of Chambord, pretender to the throne of France under the name of Henri V. Parquet with herringbone. The dining room is decorated with a marble fireplace with lion's paws, a beautiful polychrome stucco ceiling, herringbone parquet flooring. Cabinet for washing hands. A beautiful kitchen with independent access, a large fireplace. Quality equipment, oak cupboards. Back kitchen, access to the cellar. A bedroom with beautiful decoration, floor, fireplace, moldings. A bathroom with WC. An office decorated with cashmere shawl patterned wallpaper, moldings, fireplace, access to the outside. The staircase hall in the tower, with its superb faux marble decor. WC. On the first floor, the vast hall is decorated with stained glass windows, low paneling, flooring, polychrome moldings. On the first floor, 6 very well decorated bedrooms, wooden floors, moldings, fireplaces, 4 fairly large and well-made bathrooms. Lingerie. On the second floor, a large hall, 5 bedrooms plus a bedroom at the top of the tower. 2 bathrooms. A large games room. A library lounge. A large attic with a beautiful frame. A large, exceptionally healthy cellar, with interior and exterior access, wine cellar, laundry boiler room, reserves. 1.9 hectare park enclosed by walls in good condition, planted with very beautiful trees, pollard-pruned lime trees, exceptional camellia, cedar. Access grille on the rear. Private chapel with beautiful painted polychrome decoration. Swimming pool to be restarted. Beautiful access pillars, right of access via an easement via a sumptuous semicircular entrance decorated with stone pillars topped with sculpted putti. Oil central heating, quality installation maintained. Situation : - 6km, first shops, supermarket. - 8km, Saint-Gaudens, all shops and train station services, Toulouse 1h10. - 62km, Tarbes. - 100km, Toulouse. TGV station, airport. Price: 1,393,600 Euros fees included (fees payable by the seller). Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr

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.

Erected more than 4 centuries ago in a dominant position over the town of Villefranche De Rouergue, this Renaissance period castle is the guardian of an architecture, heritage and history preserved over the centuries by the various owners. The 16th century part revolves around an interior courtyard and includes a tower at each corner, two staircases provide access to the floors: one starting from a tower and the other from the East wing. Annex buildings dating from the 19th century bring the floor area to approximately 7000m2 and include: a professional kitchen, dormitories, a boiler room, workshops, a chapel, all on a 6 hectare park. The Church has been its guardian since 1846, and brings this place to life which was once a school, a boarding school, a home. Today the character and the undeniable charm of this timeless work await a buyer who will be able to preserve the place while continuing to bring it to life. Many projects are possible: castle relay, weddings/receptions, hotel and culinary arts school, etc. for more information please contact 06 72 55 94 80.