House with poolTurenne (19)

A noble country house with a natural swimming pool and a landscaped garden offering stunning views, nestled in a quaint village in France’s beautiful Corrèze department. From a tall entrance gate on the village’s main street, a former cobblestone path of limestone blocks laid on their narrow sides leads to the dwelling then takes you to the privacy of the tree-dotted garden via a vaulted passage. Further south, from the road that leads to the village centre, a more traditional entrance with a wrought-iron gate takes you to a parking area behind a group of horse chestnuts. At the bottom of the garden, another entrance, with a few mossy steps, takes you to the church square nearby. The house stands at the edge of the village. It is built with the same stone and slate as you find in the village’s other dwellings. With them, it contributes to the remarkable harmony that strikes you when you enter this charming village. This characterful dwelling was home to notables belonging to the Fortia family, whose name the house bears. The haven has kept its peaceful privacy and calm cosiness, resisting any encroachment from its village. It blends seamlessly into the stone backdrop of the village, while gazing beyond the valley of the River Tourmente, which it looks down at. The whole property has been restored masterfully. The most beautiful materials from the past have been preserved, including the floors, ceilings, window frames and architectural articulation from different periods. Yet the place has boldly incorporated modern touches too. The renovation truly showcases the home. The result is sublime. This dwelling has been given the ‘Fondation du Patrimoine’ label for its distinctive qualities in built heritage. The house forms an L shape. It has a main section from the 17th and 18th centuries. And it is completed with a self-contained annexe, with which it shares a patio. This annexe has been converted into a guesthouse, fully restored in the same style as the main dwelling. The property also includes a former dairy, which is currently used as a storehouse but which could easily be turned into another dwelling or even a shop to make the most of its position. Indeed, this old dairy leads straight own onto the village’s main street. Lastly, the property has a landscaped garden with an unrivalled view of the spectacular bucolic vista beyond it.