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An imposing 900 m² house in an 8-hectare estate, interspersed with olive trees and vines in Provence, to the west of Toulon and 20 minutes from the shores of the Var department . Behind a wrought iron gate framed by stone pillars, a winding, shady cobbled driveway stretches almost 100 metres. It winds through vineyards and olive groves, then gently climbs the curves of the land to the house, which is hidden from view and blended in perfectly with the landscape. The estate covers more than 8 hectares of farmland. The house, right in the heart of this natural environment, has a total living area of around 900 m². Built in the mid-19th century, the original building faces north-south and spans around 300 m² over two storeys. Its stone façades and gable roof are typical of local rural architecture. An extension, which blends in coherently with the original building, was added around 15 years ago, perpendicularly, to the west. Facing east-west, it forms a T-shape with the old wing, and is two storeys high as well. Although designed as two independent entities, the two buildings could easily be connected to create a fluid interior flow. To the north-east, the paved driveway continues on to the various outbuildings: garages, farm buildings and storage areas. Below, on the south side, a vast 18 x 7 m swimming pool is lined with travertine decking and backed by a pool house. A little further away, to the west of the house, an equestrian structure comprising a few loose stalls and a lunge ring in need of renovation is a reminder of the estate's agricultural vocation.
…By Patrice Besse
A large architect-designed villa in a site overlooking La Seyne-sur-Mer, with a roof terrace and swimming pool, in 2,400 m² of tree-lined grounds. A tarmacked lane leads to the entrance of the property whose double-leaf solid metal gates decorated with wrought-iron arabesques are electrically powered. A stone-paved driveway leads up to the house’s porch to the left and a large garage straight ahead. The villa was built in 1967 and boasts living space of approximately 370 m². It is rectangular in shape and has three storeys that embrace the terraced lie of the land. The upper level is made up of vast roof terrace with more than 150 m² of space and views of the sea. The walls of the façades are rendered in white and are dotted with large aluminium windows as well as French windows, fitted with electric roller blinds and black wrought-iron grating for the openings on the garden level. A very large glass-paned veranda adorns the southern façade, while a triangular awning protects the entrance door. There is a gigantic lounge bathed in the light that flows through the veranda on the garden level, next to a kitchen and master bedroom with en suite facilities, while four other bedrooms and related rooms are located on the lower level, all opening onto patios that lead into the garden. The grounds are made up of several terraces planted with cork oak, pine, palm, olive and fig trees. The largest terraces play host to an outside dining space with an outside oven on one, a swimming pool with decking and pool-house on another and, lastly, a relaxation area, flower beds and a fishpond for the others.
…By Patrice Besse
A vast, 17th-century townhouse with a view of the medieval church, 1 hour from Paris, in the town centre of Chaumont-en-Vexin. This townhouse is among the largest historical residences in Chaumont and is located in the town centre, near to the town hall and at the foot of the hill on which the church is built. It was built in the second half of the 17th century and from its beginnings it was the residence of people of note, especially members of the clergy from the nearby church. The classically styled façade overlooking the street boasts eight openings spread over two storeys. There is also an attic level with hipped dormer windows in the building’s slate roof. The entrance to the property is via a carriage gate in the centre of the façade. This double-leaf, solid wooden door is topped by a barrel-arch and framed by two stone pilasters. The entrance porch leads to the house’s interior as well as to the garden and outbuildings. The façade overlooking the garden has the same number of openings as the other, with large, double-leaf windows equipped with hinged shutters on the ground floor and louvred shutters on the first floor. Next to the townhouse, another 19th-century building with a brick façade is also part of the property. It is a second and separate home but is connected with the main building. To the rear, there is an Italian garden laid out in terraces that climb up to the Saint Jean Baptiste church. The view looking up to this flamboyant Gothic monument is unobstructed.
…By Patrice Besse
A winegrower's townhouse with terrace, swimming pool and enclosed garden between Béziers and Montpellier in the Hérault hinterland . The property includes a small wooded plot with a rear garden of approx. 250 m², enclosed by walls providing shelter from the outside world. The sober, south-facing facade, dating from the early 20th century, is enlivened by small bricks set into the entablature at the top, crowning the openings or framing the entrance and the adjacent garage door. As was customary at the time, a fluted frieze and ceramic tiles brighten up the underside of the two-row cornice of shortened tiles. The walls are rendered in a light colour and topped by a fibre cement roofing sheet clad with monk-and-nun tiles. An elaborate wrought iron balcony links the two French windows on the upper floor. Typical of the French 'Troisième République' style, this two-storey building houses the daytime living and night-time areas on the upper level with a floor area of around 190 m². The ground floor contains a 126 m² garage, which is directly accessed from the street that runs alongside the property. At the back of the house, a flight of steps leads up from a gate to the garden, connecting the terrace to a raised, half-covered swimming pool on the upper level. A number of annexes, either attached to or separate from the house, complete the dwelling, including former stables and a shelter.
…By Patrice Besse
A medieval dwelling, listed as a Historical Monument, with a swimming pool and tennis court, near an 18-hole golf course and surrounded by 112 hectares, including 7 hectares of Protected Designation of Origin vineyards, near Saint-Emilion. Extending on from the Saint-Emilion plateau, the property is located in the heights of the Castillon-Côtes-de-Bordeaux appellation region, overlooking the Dordogne valley. Set back from the village, it takes advantage of its privileged position, which ensures great privacy as well as views of the valley’s remarkable environment and the surrounding vineyards and meadows. At the end of a village, the property is accessible via a private road bordered by vineyards, which then branches off into two lanes, providing access to the large wine storehouse off to one side, built during the Second French Empire, as well as, on the right, a small tenant farmer’s house, followed by several outbuildings, mostly grouped around an open courtyard, near a swimming pool and a tennis court. As for the property, it extends over more than 112 hectares of land, vineyards and forests, while vast landscaped grounds surround the medieval chateau. The latter’s partial inclusion on the list of historical monuments mentions the protection of the 14th-century dwelling, its four towers, entrance pavilion with its staircase turret, exteriors and rooftops of the other buildings that compose the edifice as well as those for the Second Empire wine storehouses, with the exclusion of the outbuildings to the west. Lastly, the contiguous vineyards guarantee great regularity for the estate’s wine production. Exclusively planted on clay-limestone hills, they benefit from natural drainage and excellent sunlight thanks to their mostly southwest exposure.
…By Patrice Besse
A more than 140-hectare hunting estate with an 18th-century Provence farmhouse, in the Alpes de Haute-Provence area. The estate can be reached via a discrete tarmacked track that winds through the greenery to the entrance gate. Beyond the gate, the grounds of the vast, entirely fenced, 138-hectare estate, fully preserved from any hustle and bustle, are divided into two separate parts. An old edifice made from local stone and built in the 18th century can only be seen from inside the estate, tucked away in the centre of the first part of the grounds. The typical Provence farmhouse stands in the middle of meadows overlooking the valley. It is set around a central courtyard and includes several independent homes. There is a summer kitchen that is dominated by a swimming pool surrounded by a covered patio and a summer lounge, boasting a panoramic view over the Alpine relief. A second entrance on the Luberon side of the property can be reached by carefully maintained tracks. They also lead to almost 3 hectares of truffle oak trees whose produce is farmed and sold, as well as two lakes. As for the outbuildings, a large edifice contains several garages, a workshop and storage space for agricultural equipment. A well-structured kennel area is made up of twenty boxes, all of which are lit and boast a water supply. The water supply for the estate, which has become a crucial issue in southern France, is guaranteed by a 105-metre-deep borehole fitted with a submersible pump in 2020 that fills a 75-m³ water reserve equipped with a UV treatment system. Several springs and a traditional Provence stone well further enable the property to be self-sufficient in terms of water. The estate is connected to the electricity as well as telephone networks and also boasts potential for production of photovoltaic solar energy.
…By Patrice Besse
A 15th-century manor with reception rooms, 10 minutes from beaches on the Côte de Goëlo coast in northern Brittany. The property is nestled a few hundred metres from the local village in a bucolic backdrop. A solid grey gate of wrought iron leads into the grounds. It is framed between two granite pillars, one of which has an outdoor lamp fixed to it. On either side, a low wall and tall hedges give the property absolute privacy. The manor and its outhouses form a U shape. On the grounds, which cover almost one hectare, several spaces can be distinguished: there is an ornamental, tree-dotted garden embellished with flowers on the west side, a south-facing courtyard, and a car park on the east side. An annexe houses a covered swimming pool that looks out at the ornamental garden. And an events venue with a wooden floor adjoins an outhouse to form a large reception space. You enter the manor from a short driveway that leads from the wrought-iron gate. The edifice dates back to the 15th century, as a door surround upstairs and a spiral staircase indicate. The building has been redesigned several times over its long history. The year ‘1701’ is inscribed in the entrance door’s lintel. The dwelling is long and rectangular in shape. It has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. A gable slate roof crowns the house. The facade is made of pink rubble granite. Ashlar forms the window and door surrounds. There are many small-paned windows. The entrance door stands in a recess, beneath a rectangular window. A dormer with a triangular pediment gives character to the edifice’s west end. There is a secondary door beside a schist sundial that dates back to 1740. A cavity in the facade once formed an alcove for a dog. Opposite, there is a dome-covered well crowned with a granite cross. Pale gravel covers the courtyard. Wisteria grows up the facade.
…By Patrice Besse
A 17th-century group of buildings, with commercial and artisanal potential, with a swimming pool and gardens, along the banks of a river in Burgundy, near Beaune. The property is located along the main road that goes through the village, close to the old railway line connecting Dijon and Epinac. With an understated southern façade in exposed stone, the main building has five windows on the ground floor and six on the first. Dating in part from 1635, this building has undergone many changes over the centuries, the vestiges of which can be traced in the stones of its façade. At a right angle, a wide carriage door in dark-stained wood, framed by ashlar stone, marks the entrance to the property alongside a small pedestrian door. Past the covered entranceway, the view of all the buildings, completely surrounding a vast gravel courtyard, is interrupted on the left by a Burgundy stone patio and a green space at the foot of a building with three buttresses, typical of a tithe barn from the 13th century. In turns, a chapterhouse under the authority of the Bishop of Autun, the entrance to the hamlet under the protection of an emancipation charter, guaranteeing free trade, and the fiefdom of the Archers Brotherhood, the property once hosted travellers having paid the fee to cross the river, the current of which was once much more difficult to forge. During the Revolution, the property was transformed into a coaching inn, taking advantage of its dovecote, stables, wells and bakehouse. The first phone booth in the village was installed on this property before a restaurant and then a bed and breakfast were opened here. Past the covered entranceway, on the left side of the property, a farmhouse in pointed exposed stone is made up of two adjacent buildings of different heights. Its entrance is marked by a stone doorstep, which leads to a discreet front door, framed by ashlar stone and topped with a climbing rosebush. A stone patio, bordered by a flowerbed and defined by a low stone wall with several openings, provides a pleasant space to sit and relax right next to the kitchen, dining room and living room. On the north side, a wall separates the garden beyond and provides direct pedestrian access to the vegetable garden and the building called “La reserve du Père Grivot” or “Father Grivot’s Storehouse”. A little further on, a former communal washhouse borders the property before making way for the river that runs alongside the garden.
…By Patrice Besse
A 12th century castle, remodelled in the 19th century, with 25 ha in the heart of the Loir Valley countryside, north of Tours. This estate is in a wild, wooded setting, with a view over the surrounding countryside. It is reached via two driveways, one reserved for visitors and the other for tradespeople. The first is a long avenue, with woods and meadows on either side. It is barred halfway along by gates, flanked by tall pillars, and is dotted with old streetlamps, lighting the way to the entrance courtyard in front of the castle, with the keep looking on. It precedes the old chapel, the top section of which is now converted into a bedroom, followed by a house that could be used as a caretaker’s cottage and, lastly, the castle. Driveways lead from the entrance courtyard to the rear where there are carparks and meadows, delimited by hedges. A pathway gives access to the south-facing, swimming pool area, surrounded by safety fencing and partially enclosed by old walls. A driveway goes down on the west side to the outbuildings, comprising an annexe house and its small outbuildings, a 350 m² building, with an area given over to physical well-being on the ground floor, a barn and its workshop, a building housing five horse loose boxes and a tack room, and another building that could take cars, although it is currently fitted with six horse loose boxes. Meadows beyond the outbuildings could accommodate horses. Woods border the property.
…By Patrice Besse
An 18th-century country house of 600 m², with natural swimming pool, park and 19-hectare olive-growing estate, 15 minutes from Avignon TGV station . This is a bastide with a history that is not easily unveiled. Its Provence name, which means 'to preserve and respect', may well refer to a Masonic practice that existed in 18th-century lodges but has since disappeared. And it was precisely at this time that the bastide was built, probably on top of pre-existing medieval foundations. A symbol in the centre of the park's majestic wrought-iron entrance gate adds to the mystery: a hexagram, or 'Star of David', suggests that the estate may have belonged to a Jewish banker in the service of the Avignon papacy. However, there are no official records to support this hypothesis, which has become a local legend. It should be remembered that the hexagram is a decorative figure found in Christian, Hindu, Japanese and pre-Islamic Arab architectural symbolism; the six branches of the star representing the six days of work, with the seventh day, the day of rest, in the hollowed-out centre of the geometry. The residence, surrounded by around 4 hectares of wooded parklands, is situated at the south-east end of a 15-hectare olive grove, criss-crossed by chequered tracks. Some of the earth paths run alongside one of the high dykes protecting the property from the Rhone River, which provides the entire estate with a much-envied wealth of silt and a constant supply of water. The bastide, at once an aristocratic residence and a farmhouse, displays all the distinctive features of its particular architectural style. As the construction of such a complex always takes time, the square, affluent 18th-century buildings were extended at the beginning of the 19th century by two lower adjoining buildings. Not far away, a single-storey outbuilding dating from the late 19th century, used as a caretaker's lodge, ensures from a distance that the peace and quiet of the bastide, a true 'manor house' surrounded by its estate, is preserved.
…By Patrice Besse
A former 19th-century food-producing estate turned into a vast family home, with enclosed, wooded grounds, truffle and olive groves and a swimming pool in Uzès. . A typical example of a farmhouse from the end of the 18th century, probably built under the Directoire or First Empire period, and whose owners very quickly decided that it absolutely had to be much more than just a farmhouse. Throughout the 19th century, alterations were carried out until the main buildings became a noble-looking architectural ensemble, just a few strides away from the National Stud. In the 20th century, transformations and extensions continued to make it more adapted to family life, resulting in a group of several outbuildings, all of which complemented each other intelligently. Today, the estate, which includes a truffle and olive grove, is home to a vast, aristocratic-style family home, “La Roseraie”, which has been converted into a comfortable holiday home with bedrooms and suites, and outbuildings that can all be lived in. A boxwood labyrinth, a common feature of 19th-century Provencal gardens, once greeted visitors in the south garden before being razed by a previous owner. It is now ready for a new lease of life. The farmhouse has also preserved a ”pouzarenque”, a fully restored bucket wheel, a rare sight in Uzège, where these waterwheels have disappeared with the motorization of water pumps. The original entrance, which opened directly onto the grounds from the road leading to the national stud farm, was completely enclosed by dry stone walls, but has been replaced by a new gate and a slightly more northerly entrance to free up the grounds. The entrance is now a driveway lined with olive trees.
…By Patrice Besse
A 20th-century villa with outbuildings, a garden, swimming pool and panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, to the west of Marseille on the Blue Coast. Perched on a promontory, the land where the old mill once stood was gradually divided up in order to make room for several villas in the 1960s. All that remains from the former mill is a tower now encircled by the building complex, which has progressively been expanded over time. With the arrival of the train, followed by various services and amenities, the traditional lifestyle of this seaside village quickly transformed into a sought-out coastal resort town, while the proximity of the famous actor Fernandel once again increased interest in this holiday destination, secluded and yet close to several dynamic business hubs. With immaculate and rather massive architecture, including multiple building structures, but with an overall traditional appearance thanks to its ochre-colour plaster-coated exteriors, arched windows surrounded by ashlar stone as well as its barrel canal rooftops bordered by genoise cornices, the villa combines the character of yesteryear with modern comfort. As for its large glass doors and picture windows, they allow the natural light to bathe its interior and provide panoramic views of the sea, while inside, noble materials and soft tones were chosen in order to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In addition, the bedrooms, sizeable and sunny, were designed as individual sanctuaries, their bathrooms were tastefully decorated with several luxurious touches and the living areas, generous in size, are extended outdoors thanks to several sun-dappled patios, bordered by understated wrought-iron guardrails or stone balustrades, intended for convivial moments between family or friends as well as peaceful relaxation lulled by the wind in the pine trees. With a separate flat and recreational amenities, including an impressive swimming pool, which provide a sumptuous touch and augment the property’s inhabitable spaces, the latter seems as if to melt into the horizon like the bow of a ship, surrounded by an immense terracotta deck as well as a variety of outbuildings. Last, but not least, the garden, meticulously landscaped, is an invitation to stroll through its verdant pathways, while terraced areas lead to more intimate spaces, ideal for reading against the soothing soundtrack of the waves in the distance.
…By Patrice Besse
A sumptuous house from the late 19th century with lush grounds, nestled 30 minutes from the English Channel in Normandy’s Calvados department. The property is just a stone’s throw from a 13th-century Gothic church. The road is lined with picturesque timer-framed dwellings and little farmhouses. A thuja hedge grows along a low brick wall with iron railings. At the right-hand end of it, a gate leads onto a shady driveway. From there, the drive lined with tall trees runs west, towards the house. The sumptuous dwelling was built at very end of the 19th century. It is an elegant home set in splendid grounds. Before, the building was known as a chateau, as were many houses built by the upper-middle classes in the period just before the First World War. Its elevations are rendered with a cream-coloured coating of local sand. The architectural embellishments are classical with stone capitals, garlands, exposed quoins and window surrounds that stand out in a pure white tone. The facade is more ornate than the garden-facing elevation. The house has a raised ground floor, a first floor and a second floor. A flight of front steps, edged with wrought-iron balustrades, leads up to the main entrance door. The facade has four windows on the ground floor – two on either side of the entrance door – and six windows on the first floor. And along the second floor, in the roof space, there are five elegant dormers. The rear elevation has two sets of ground-floor French windows that lead out to a large terrace, which you reach via a double set of steps. There are three other tall windows in the rear elevation on the ground floor and, above them, five windows on each upper floor. The house’s hipped mansard roof has slate tiles and is crowned with finials. Two imposing chimney stacks – one at each end – rise up from it. At the front, a gravelled drive marks the paths for walking and driving. Around this driveway, lush lawns draw your gaze to beautiful views of the grounds. The grounds form an English-style garden with majestic age-old trees dotted around the grand edifice. By the house’s entrance, neat yew hedges underline the ground-floor windows. At the back, there is a swimming pool. It lies parallel to the rear elevation. From a patio above the terrace, steps lead down to a paved poolside area that surrounds the swimming pool. Three palm trees tower around it. A gravelled path separates two extensive lawns that stretch to the edges of the property. Tall trees tower around the sides of the vast plot. There is an old greenhouse on the grounds too, as well as an outbuilding with a 150m² floor area. This outbuilding needs to be renovated. Beyond, there is a bucolic backdrop and the River Dives, which flows gently.
…By Patrice Besse
An unusual village house with swimming pool and garden in the heart of the medieval town of Cordes-sur-Ciel in the Tarn department. The house, mainly built in the 16th century on the heights of the hilltop village, is reached via cobbled medieval alleyways. A driveway leads from the entrance gate to a patio enhancing the south-eastern main facade at right angles. Four different roofs with local tiles, one- or two-pitched, clearly set apart the various sections of this atypical building. The property has a floor area of approx. 350 m² extending over three stories. A contemporary 1980s extension, fronted by a wood and glass conservatory, adjoins the first main section, which is the original part of the house and abuts the old tower. All the facades are of old, rough-hewn stone, some combined with brick, some rendered and some half-timbered, a reminder of the many different historical periods and the unique character of the local architecture. The windows are arranged symmetrically or irregularly depending on the facade and vary widely in size. They are mainly rectangular or arched. Finally, a terrace extends from the garden level, which features a swimming pool. The wooded, lawned grounds to the rear of the building are enclosed by walls.
…By Patrice Besse
A secret villa with a vast Mediterranean garden, tucked away between the cities of Antibes and Cannes, 10 minutes from the sea. The villa stands on a vast plot that covers around 6,500m². It comes into view beyond a screen of vegetation that surrounds the villa, giving it absolute privacy and calm. Trees of a wide range of species grow on the grounds, including a majestic stone pine tree that towers like a flagpole between the villa and the swimming pool. Some outdoor spaces still need to be renovated, such as the kitchen garden and the outhouse beside the large swimming pool, which lies a few steps down from the villa. In the 18th century, there was a small agricultural building on this site. It was built in a traditional style with local stone and a tiled roof. It was made up of a small structure, a cellar and a raised henhouse. From the 1960s, it was transformed and extended. It was turned into a three-part villa with gabled roofs underlined with génoise cornices and an adjoining tower, which now serves as the villa’s entrance hall. The central section and the wings have two levels: a ground floor and a garden-level floor. In the west wing, there is a first floor too. The elevations are coated with pale rendering. The roofs are covered with barrel tiles. The many windows are of various shapes and sizes, but most of them are rectangular and fitted with shutters painted green.
…By Patrice Besse
An urban chateau dating back to 1930 with an outhouse, a swimming pool and tree-dotted grounds, nestled by the town of Cahors in south-west France, in the country's Lot department. The property’s entrance is at the top of a hill that looks down at a shopping zone of Cahors. The chateau was built upon a hill. The plot’s outer retaining wall, with its remarkable height and strength, is impressive. A former water tower made of brick welcomes visitors like a sentry positioned at the edge of the plot. A drive leads downwards and a meadow of horses extends on the other side of it. Beyond a long bend and the first trees, an esplanade, used for parking, comes into view. Across its gravelled ground, you can easily reach the stone terraces that surround the chateau. The chateau was built in 1930 in a style that recalls the elegance and harmony of classical French architecture. It offers a floor area of 455m². With its pure-white elevations and the perfect symmetry of its south-facing facade that looks out at the tree-dotted grounds, which cover over a hectare, the edifice seems to have been taken straight out of a picture book. Natural light shines through age-old trees with effects that vary from season to season. Bucolic views from each window in the dwelling embrace these majestic trees. On the grounds, there is a swimming pool and an elegant outhouse that could be turned into a workshop, a guesthouse or a garage.
…By Patrice Besse
A 16th-century hamlet in need of a renovation, with a swimming pool, 23 hectares of grounds including 4 hectares of vineyards, overlooking the Garonne valley between Bordeaux and Toulouse. On a plateau overlooking the Garonne and Albret valleys, past several villas built on either side of a municipal road, a final property stands at the edge of a village, which can be reached via a driveway bordered by cedar trees. Surveying the surrounding landscape, it seems to be cut off from the outside world, sufficiently distanced from its neighbours to avoid all disturbances, both visual and auditory, while still remaining in proximity to the village. Nestled within its grounds, which include flower-filled pastures, fields and vineyards draped on the hillsides as well as woods below, only a faint buzzing sound can be heard from the motorway, which traverses the centre of the northern side of the valley. A gravel drive runs alongside a square dovecote and its patio before arriving in front of the U-shaped main building edified in 1536. At that time called “the chateau of Pelon”, at some point between the 17th and 19th centuries it became a noble house owned by the Espalangue family, a member of the court of Henri II, King of Navarre. Built out of stone over two levels and topped with a barrel tile roof bordered by a triple Genoise corbel, the house is arranged around a gravel courtyard punctuated with an ancient cedar tree. To the south, a square turret abuts the central main building with a floor area of approximately 385 m². The east wing, which houses the former village stove, and most likely flanked by a mill at one point, could easily be connected to the current dwelling. Combined with the 360° panoramic view, the creation of new windows, which are currently small in size and low in number, could provide additional light for the building and make it possible to take advantage of its different perspectives throughout the day. At a distance from the main dwelling, on the other side of the gravel courtyard, a guesthouse, a former Gascon farmhouse in need of renovation, is located not far from the 6 x 18-metre swimming pool and a vegetable garden with chicken coop, while a second driveway ensures this building’s independence if needed. Scattered throughout the property are three wells, an undeniable asset.
…By Patrice Besse
A splendid eighteenth-century mansion near Nantes, nestled in a beautiful landscaped garden that covers over a hectare and includes a pond and outhouses. The edifice is an emblematic example of the town’s architectural heritage. It bears witness to the rich history – and anecdotes – of this delightful area south of the majestic River Loire. The property can be considered one of the famous bijou mansions that dot the countryside around Nantes. These homes were built for the pleasure of high society during the upper middle classes’ golden age: the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The house is set back from a secondary road. It stands behind a remote-controlled metal gate that is flanked by two tall square pillars of dressed stone. The outdoor entrance area is divided into two distinct sections. An initial closed court reserved for parking includes a broad asphalt driveway, lawns, and lines of evergreen oaks and crape myrtles. A second, gravelled court is fenced off with wrought-iron railings and gates. It leads straight up to the house’s entrance door. This main courtyard faces north. It is bordered with the edifice’s principal section, which dates back to 1789 and offers 500m² of living space. Two wings extend it at right angles. They contain living spaces and areas for relaxation that cover around 600m². On the south side, trees dot a landscaped garden. Some of these trees are over a hundred years old. A path edges the eastern side of the grounds and leads to a group of outhouses. A kennel, a tunnel greenhouse, and a walled, fenced-off pond complete this marvellous 12,600m² property surrounded by walls. An adjoining plot of over six hectares could be added to it.
…By Patrice Besse
A villa designed by André Stern in the 6th arrondissement of Marseille, opposite Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, with a panoramic view of the city and its bay . Situated on a rocky headland, the villa that its designer and first occupant christened 'The Eagle's Nest' certainly lives up to its name, taken from the name of the vegetable garden which it was built on. After climbing the steps of a typical Marseille street, once you have gone through the front door, a flight of brick steps framed by exotic vegetation such as a Japanese pagoda tree, cycas and ice plants runs along the rear facade and leads to the house entrance, which looks almost suspended above a limestone fault. The tone is set before you enter the vast premises: a huge patio door gives you a view of the character and architectural style of the curved building. More than 400 m² of living space has been designed to fit in with the landscape and environment, with a vast terrace and terraced garden that look out over the Mediterranean Sea. The architect, town planner and scenographer André Stern, a disciple of Le Corbusier, had this unusual house built for his family between 1984 and 1987, based on a 16th century Indian mandala design. The building’s architecture is unique, both in terms of its appearance and the materials used. It has an inverted half-shell roof with glulam beams, large round windows, a concrete and aerated concrete structure, geometric features repeated in rhythm, and even reflected in the shape of the swimming pool.
…By Patrice Besse
A modern Provençal house with over two hectares of terraced grounds in a calm, shady spot near the quaint village of Flayosc in south-east France. A country lane snakes around vineyards and oak woods and leads up to the property’s gate. The house stands on a hillside on one level of its terraced grounds. It enjoys a commanding position and offers a spectacular vista of a wooded valley to the south and a terraced olive grove to the west. A gable roof of monk-and-nun tiling, typical of the local region, crowns this contemporary dwelling nestled in the beautiful Dracénois area of France’s Var department. The house faces south. French windows lead out of its south elevation. Windows dot its east and west sides too. A few steps lead down to a swimming pool and garden from a terrace that extends at the foot of the dwelling’s south-facing facade. The property’s two hectares guarantee absolute calm and privacy. A barrier of vegetation keeps this haven free of any unwanted noise. A video of the property is available on request.
…By Patrice Besse
A hillside villa in Toulon, south-east France, built on a 17th-century priory with vast wooded grounds and a sweeping view of the city’s natural harbour. An electric gate marks the main entrance. You reach it via a steep lane with two bends that is around 100 metres long. Beyond the gate, on the left, there is a large, flat parking space for four vehicles. A shelter there offers space for three vehicles. At a lower level, there is a half-open second space where two other vehicles can be parked. A few steps take you up to a wrought-iron double-leaf gate that leads into a covered entrance area from where you enter the house. The villa, crowned with a roof of barrel tiles, has two floors, extended with terraces on three sides. It was entirely renovated in the early 1990s, then in 1998. Its one-metre-thick walls rendered with roughcast bear witness to the building’s long history: the place was probably a priory that dated back to the 17th century – this is suggested by a millstone bearing the year ‘1630’ that was found on the site. The south-facing house is rectangular, built upon the rocky hillside with a flat ground floor. It offers a floor area of around 280m². Its many sliding picture windows across its facade herald a bright interior bathed in natural light. These windows are fitted with electric roller shutters. The west gable wall is made of exposed pointed stonework. A niche in this wall houses two small statues of cherubs. A vast terrace in front of the south-facing facade of white rendering offers a spectacular vista of the city below and, beyond it, Toulon’s natural harbour. On this terrace, you can relax in an infinity pool where you can admire an unrivalled view of the sea. On the left, two shelters offer shade and coolness in the summer heat. On the north side, two walkways lead to the first-floor terrace and the garden. The villa is surrounded by its vast wooded grounds on a slope.
…By Patrice Besse
A fully restored 18th-century Chartreuse, surrounded by 4 hectares of woods, in the Lot-et-Garonne area, on the slopes above Agen. The flat area of land in front of the wooded grounds, with an unparalleled view of the Garonne Valley, stretches out in front of the walls and buildings of the property, which can be reached through a carriage gate next to a massive watchtower and high defensive walls. The area houses a large barn used as a garage, as well as a swimming pool with a pool-house and a pétanque pitch. Once inside the enclosed stone walls with only two entrances through carriage gates opposite one another to the north and south, tucked away from prying eyes, the 18th-century Chartreuse house stands. The house’s nobility is underlined by the Roman tiles, double or triple genoise corbels, and a coat of arms above a palm leaf topping the entrance door, which is flanked by ionic pilasters. The main façade of the Chartreuse faces west, while on its rear to the east, there is a long gallery typical of Gascony, with a wooded floor and pillars, overlooking the valley. However, the date of its initial occupation and the presence of an underground passage remain a mystery. The many outbuildings, including a guests’ house and converted barns, surround the garden/courtyard combining gravelled paths and lawns. All the roofs have been renovated, while the previously weakened walls of the outbuildings have been consolidated. A certain variety of eras and architectural styles is evident: the medieval and austere appearance of the dressed stone walls strikes a contrast with the almost Italian-inspired garden/courtyard and the two-storey long house with dual aspect rooms, making the interior as bright as the exterior.
…By Patrice Besse
An 18th-century village home with generous volumes, a garden and a swimming pool, 40 minutes from Toulouse as well as its airport, and 30 minutes from Montauban. The house is located in a small, peaceful street in the village centre, in a 14th-century priory that belonged to the Benedictine abbey that gave rise to the first settlement. The property is fully enclosed by 2-metre-high walls made of pink brick and stones from the River Garonne. The two-storey main building stands next to a single-level perpendicular wing to its left, topped by an approximately 65-m² roof terrace, which overlooks the swimming pool, is delimited by the rear of the neighbouring house and is lined by white stone balusters. To the right of the main section, a veranda opens onto a garden adorned with a pond. The edifice possesses a gabled roof made of half-round tiles, topped by a bell pinnacle that no longer houses its original occupant, and is underlined by a sober, terracotta cornice, which in turn is echoed by the belt course between the two levels. The façades are rendered, except on the exposed brick gable end, and are punctuated by mainly rectangular and regularly positioned windows with brick frames. On the ground floor, French windows in the main rooms provide direct access to the decking around the swimming pool. The distinctive features of this building are the ionic columns, which are relics of the former priory, framing two of the doors The property’s occupants benefit from the surrounding lush greenery, thanks to the shade provided by carefully planted hedges and the branches of a hundred-year-old tree in the garden of a neighbouring manor.
…By Patrice Besse
A former 18th century farmhouse which has been renovated and extended over the years in the hills of Green Provence, set in 1 hectare of grounds planted with lush vegetation. . After turning off a departmental road, the property is accessed via a roughly 100-metre-long dirt track, in the middle of the vines. A low wooden gate at the rear of the house to the north opens onto a vast, flat area where several vehicles can be parked, and where a remarkable oak tree which is over 400 years old takes pride of place. Behind it, a wooded area slopes down to the stream that runs along the western edge of the property. More than 1 hectare of dense vegetation surrounds the property, which is entirely enclosed, giving it the utmost privacy. Mainly facing south, the original residence was built in the early 18th century and underwent several extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. The two-storey building has a double-pitched, canal-tiled roof edged with a double row of spandrels. The façades are rendered in an ochre colour and have large-paned windows and white wooden shutters. A veranda with white wrought-iron frames and a wisteria canopy was added in the 20th century and extends the west side of the main façade. Several delicately landscaped outdoor areas stretch out in front of and on either side of the building. A gravelled terrace with a fountain, planted with ancient plane trees, mulberry trees and a Canadian maple, runs along the front of the building and leads down a few steps to the pool area further down on the west side. On the other side of the terrace to the east, there is a stone basin above vegetable patches bordered by low drystone walls. Further down, there is a grassy area planted with olive trees before the orchard where several varieties of fruit trees are planted.
…By Patrice Besse
Orpi offers you this construction project for sale, ideally located in the sought-after Baguier sector, in the Fontsainte district, just 300 meters from the beach. Shops nearby.This villa consists of: - on the garden level: an entrance, living room with open kitchen leading to the terrace, one bedroom, a shower room with WC - on the first floor: a landing serving three bedrooms, a separate WC, and a shower room A pool enhances the garden.Marketing video available upon request. Don’t hesitate to contact us! Notary fees will be calculated on the sale price of the land.Agency reference: 2259This description has been automatically translated from French.
…By Orpi - Agence Paris Mer Le Port
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