luxury houses for sale Fleurance, France (page 5)

Romanticists, aspiring Gothic heroes & heroines apply within…. Overview If your heart is stirred by visions of a Chateau with ochre-coloured walls in the setting sun; of high ceilings, and period charm without the need for perfection; or if you are someone for whom beauty outweighs all sense of the practical… then “read” on Macduff: this paragraph could be the first stepping-stone on the road to a great adventure. This is a property for those who are grand of heart, for souls imbued with a touch of gentle folly and for whom the reward is something quite beautiful: A cinematic backdrop, a theatrical pastiche of every castle-based movie you have ever viewed; a home of character with all the grandeur of the Italian Renaissance. The entrance & gardens The arrival to any Chateau must by necessity be somewhat majestic and here the avenue does not disappoint, being suitably mysterious with vegetation high on each side. The long stone driveway opens out onto a forecourt with a circular driveway which circles around a central island of Cyprus trees. The chateau rises before us, amber and gold in the sunlight, its flaking façade perfect in its imperfection. Its windows are guarded by tall French Grey shutters, its central doorway is grand and majestic in its welcome. The property rises high above a stone terrace and decorative fishpond. The façade to the North reveals a series of stone arcades, open to the elements. To each side of the Chateau there are woods and gardens, with hundred-year-old trees, all of which lend a sense of mystery to the lieu. To the front of the property there is a stone fishpond beyond which is a flight of stone steps up to the terrace and the grand front door. The stone barn to the right of the Château is the perfect backdrop to the grand hydrangea bushes which have grown tall in its shade. The barn to the rear is partially inaccessible and now more or less in a ruined state. Once a stable block, this building might yet be salvaged. A second outbuilding to the front of the driveway is in a similar condition. Sitting to the right of the main terrace, in a recess beyond, is a stone building or orangery, with a sink and an array of pots, to harbour the lemon and orange trees over winter. The Entrance The grand front door opens onto a majestic hallway, from which a turning wooden staircase rises to the first floor, with a sweep of wrought iron balcony, and walls which look as if one has fallen headfirst into the pages of an Italian Gothic novel. The walls are remarkable, in the pastiche of a pastiche setting sun, their gentle ochre and yellow tones catching the sunlight from the west in a theatrical manner. The kitchen & Pantry area To the right of the entrance hall door, there is a large double kitchen, with a fireplace and windows over the front forecourt and to the gardens at the side of the property. The ceilings are high, and the room spacious enough to incorporate a large dining room table, and a rear section with a sink, for food preparation. Beyond the kitchen is a small vestibule, which serves as a pantry, and an inner corridor with a large cupboard, which houses the washing machine and dryer, and overlooking the gardens to the rear, a room currently used as a study, and a downstairs 1930’s style bathroom. The Drawing Room From the main entrance hall, it is pleasing to access the grand drawing room via the original eighteenth century doors. The drawing room offers a view onto the rear garden via a set of characterful French windows that open onto the rear terrace. The room has a central fireplace which is not currently in use and as in many of the rooms here at the Chateau, we invite guests to look upwards at the ornate ceilings. The drawing room opens internally onto two other rooms, one on each side. Firstly, a grand dining room, conveniently placed between the drawing room, and (via the internal hallway) back to the rear pantry and kitchen. The second room is smaller in size and used as a snug, or living room, where the family gather to watch television or play games. From the door of the snug, we return to the main hallway, passing a doorway with steps leading down to the cellar below. Central Turning Staircase The staircase in the central hallway is a delight, and climbing to the first floor, we experience its generous proportions, and the majestic tall ceilings which lead the eye upwards to the first-floor landing. The first floor The first floor has all the elegance one would expect, with tall windows to the front forecourt of the property. A half landing, with a secret door leads up a tiny internal staircase to one of the ante chambers above, serving no logical purpose other than to evacuate servants (or lovers?) from the bedroom in haste. A delight for amateurs of Hide and Seek, whatever one’s age. The bedrooms On the first floor via a second internal hallway, there are four double bedrooms and at each end of the property a vestibule or oval room and a family bathroom at each end of the property (or a total of two bathroom on the first floor and one on the ground floor). The second-floor vestibules, which are oval, might well be used as antechambers, dressing rooms, or children’s bedroom. Each of the rooms is similar in style and period feature: tall ceilings, lovely wooden floors, fireplaces and views over the parkland. A doorway opens onto a second stairway, in brut form and far less grandiose than the first, leading to the impressive attic space above. This huge space has at one end the tremendous open archways. At the opposite end these have been bricked in but beg to be opened. The Attic The space sets the imagination on fire. Whatever architectural plans are born here, they must of course be validated by the local planning authorities that be, but this is a space which in sheer volume at least (with the romantic idea of an arched view over the gardens at one end, if not two ends of the property) offers endless possibilities. Technical Talk Total habitable surface area: approximately 368m2 4 bedrooms 2 ante chambers (or children’s bedrooms) 3 family bathrooms (2 on the first floor one on the ground floor) Grand drawing room Dining room Snug/television room Spacious kitchen and rear kitchen Study Immense third floor attic space Outside: Orangery Various outbuildings requiring restoration Parkland of over three hectares with mature trees Plot size: 37690m2 Property Tax: 2285 Septic tank Mains water 2 water wells Double Glazing: No (original wooden windows). Shutters in fair condition except on the top floor Roof: Original roof (to be verified Oil fired central heating (De Dietrich boiler) 2 plastic tanks house the oil in the basement Kitchen fireplace working order (others may have been capped off and are not used) Smart metre: no 1 hot water tank Internet: by OZONE – satellite Who might want to live here? – and what needs doing? This is not a modest property by any stretch of the imagination. It has a grandeur which requires a generous budget and a grain of delightful folly. Beyond the purchase price, unless one is content to live here throughout the warmer months of the year, there will be by necessity the need to be some thought and finances given to insulating the property to minimize running costs. The top floor, whether it obtains planning permissions in the future or not, whatever the project might be, is currently open to the elements at one end (via a series of Romanic “in the summer” archways) and not currently insulated either on the floor or the ceiling. The property was decorated some years ago by an interior designer and the walls are in their own delightful way a work of Art, which add much charm to the building. If the style and colours please, then there is nothing that needs doing other than choosing furniture for each room. The windows however require some attention. The lovely old window frames are single glazed, and the choice here will be one of heart or head. But if the current window frames are to be kept some repair work will be necessary. The bathrooms have a period charm but are completely unmodernized (one of these has a quaint 1930 air to it), and the decision to change these or not will be one of aesthetics. All this said, the property will appeal to anyone who loves the architecture of an old French Chateau. This is the perfect home for a large family or a business project. This is a house to fill with family, friends and furniture. The elegant rooms beg to be decorated and the tall ceilings offer a fantastic opportunity to hang great chandeliers, or pieces of Art on the walls. The home of a Collector, an Artist, a Designer? A small bijou hotel… the possibilities are endless. This will be a property which will tug on the heart strings of many, for it is so easy to imagine the Chateau illuminated in the evening, the backdrop to any number of wonderful soirées. A property which requires full evening dress, full glasses, a full imagination, and a not immodest purse. But oh! ……Quelle Joie!!! A Little Bit of Fun Recommended Books to take on the trip: Enchanted April - Elizabeth Von Arnim (try the 1993 movie if not the book) Recommended movies : Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) or A Good Year ( 2006) Recommended drinks: The very best pink champagne to reflect the golden pink and amber tones of these lovely old walls.

We leave the lively town of Condom, and head for the countryside. The drive to the property is peaceful, and we soon leave the main roads behind, traversing farmland, fields of wheat, sunflower and corn. On arrival, we pull into a smart driveway beside a neat looking garden, where from the outset everything appears to be in immaculate order. The property has recently been rendered, and has a smart and attractive appeal from the outside. The windows have all been recently changed to aluminium their frames contrasting nicely with the stone façade. The land slopes down to a row of vines in neat rows, lending a feel of Provence to the landscape which is lush and emerald green. This is a peaceful location, the one neigbouring property turned to face the other way and at a discreet distance. The house looks towards the views and over its own garden. There is nothing to spoil the landscape for miles around. On the far side of the property, there is a fabulous covered terrace which has been designed as an outdoor reception room, with a summer kitchen, an ideal spot for a large dining-table, and views both to the pool and orchard. This sheltered spot provides a perfect place for alfresco dining both in summer rain or scorching hot days when it is impossible to sit outside without shade. We enter a light-filled open-plan kitchen/reception-room with large bay windows on two sides, one opening directly onto the recently fitted pool and the other to the terrace where the owners like to sit in the evenings for a drink. The view of the poolside, when the windows are pulled open, is particularly inviting; lending the impression that one could step from the living room directly to the waters edge. Our impression that this is one continuous space is accentuated by the stone terrace which flows nicely from the house to the pool in one continuous stretch. In the living room there is a fireplace which houses a log-burning glass insert, for snug winter evenings by the fire. The walls and floors are all in neutral tones, with a clean white ceiling, which gives the impression the property has only just been built, despite the old stone walls. The kitchen is immaculate, with a number of useful contemporary white storage units, a central island, and a view directly onto the reception room, and to the pool. There is a walk in cupboard for additional storage. The splash-back is tiles with white ceramic tiles, the oven inserted into a wall unit and the extractor fan in slick black : all of white contribute to the kitchen’s crisp, smart appeal. To the rear of the kitchen a small inner corridor leads to an additional pantry area, where the freezer and fridge are kept, with additional storage cupboards. At the end of the corridor there is a downstairs cloakroom, with WC and wash basin and next to it, a lovely clean white laundry room with a downstairs shower. At the end of the hallway, there is a downstairs double bedroom, which in turn has its own private entrance/exit, opening onto a covered porch area with a concrete floor, where the family car is parked, and where a door leads to a spacious barn with a new wooden doors, an ideal space to house the logs for the fire, or the garden tools. This workshop area has a concrete floor and a new pine ceiling with electricity, water and a sink. The ground floor double bedroom is ideal for guests or older children having a private door to the garden, and with the downstairs bathroom and shower room next door this enables perfect guest accommodation. This completes our tour of the ground floor. Now let’s take a look upstairs. We ascend to the first floor via a contemporary black metal staircase which leads to a spacious landing area, which is more than just a landing but an upstairs reception room, with lovely windows running the length of the room, and overlooking the front garden. There is a bookshelf, a guitar, the perfect area to relax, and take in the views. This central landing/upstairs living space has a hallway at each end, leading to the upstairs bedrooms. On one side there is a bedroom currently set up with twin beds, which has a skylight, and next to it a double bedroom with pleasant garden views from a tilting window, and exposed beams painted in white. On the other side of the landing there is a white marble bathroom with a bathtub, beautiful long sink, and shower, also with marble tiles. The bathroom has direct access to a fabulous long dressing room, with a row of cupboards on each side, with glass doors, with lots of space to keep all the family laundry hidden from view. In the hallway there is an upstairs cloakroom/WC, with red and white decorative tiles, and a washbasin, and at the far end of the hallway, a double bedroom with fantastic views both over the poolside and the surrounding countryside. The upstairs bedrooms share the aforementioned family bathroom, with shower and bathtub. The property has one final surprise for us. A separate guest cottage, which is has a downstairs bedroom, kitchen, and shower room/WC, and a first floor loft area, which is currently used as a music room for guitar sessions. The guest annexe is perfect for friends and family having its own kitchen, for complete independence.

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TARN-ET-GARONNE - DUNES in a quiet environment, beautiful house with 283 m² of living space. It comprises 12 spacious rooms, some with fireplaces, including 4 bedrooms. Quality renovation using only the finest materials. All joinery is made of aluminum. The wooded grounds are fenced with metal fences, the gates are automated, mowing is robotized and the drip irrigation system is integrated. There's also a well. Alarm, heating thanks to a ¨Panasonic heat pump, 9KWc photovoltaic panel power plant. Shops are only 3 kms away: bakery, grocery store, pharmacy, doctor, hairdresser, school... Energy class: B Climate class: A Estimated annual energy costs for standard use: between 1310 euros and 1850 euros per year. Prices indexed to January 1, 2021. Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr

GERS - GIMONT SOLE AGENT - Beautiful neo-colonial residence from the early 20th century sold furnished. Completely renovated in 2010 and featuring beautiful architectural features, this property is spread over 1040 m² on 2 levels and comprises 13 bedrooms and 4 furnished apartments, two independent dwellings, a reception/seminar room for 60 people, a kitchen, a restaurant for 40 people spread between a patio and a gallery. The property also features a library and a small garden. One ground-floor bedroom and toilet are accessible for people with reduced mobility. The property is in very good condition and could be used for tourism or as a family home. Energy class: N/A Climate class: N/A Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr