luxury real estate for sale Ordan-Larroque, France (page 4)

Tucked away in a tranquil corner of Lectoure, with a large garden and pool, this property is within walking (or cycling) distance of the high street, with its many eclectic shops, restaurants and antique stores for which the town is now so well known. The property is in a quiet location, surrounded by its own parkland, although it should be noted that being situated on the outskirts of Lectoure some buildings of the industrial kind (quiet and obtrusive) can be discerned over the tree-tops. The view is predominantly of the garden itself and there are some impressive trees; including a majestic willow tree that graces the lawns. The property is clearly a product of the mid-century and as such is spacious and solid. The perfect home for a large family. The property is built on 2 levels : one on the garden and pool level. The other with access to a fabulous elevated terrasse. APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS Garden level Flat Kitchen 14 m², dining room Living room 17 m² Bedroom 14 m² Shower room 2.50 m² * Utility room 37 m² Garage 39.75 m² Sports room 23.48 m² Boiler room 32 m² Upper level Bedroom 16 m² WC 2.5 m² Corridor 13.50 m² Bedroom 15.53 m² Bedroom 16 m² WC 1.80 m² Lounge / Dining room 40 m² Kitchen 17 m² Storeroom 2 m² Bathroom 9.85 m² Outside terrace 75.65 m²

The approach to the property The property is hidden behind pretty stone walls, attractive wrought iron gates, and a canopy of mature trees, including some lovely mature Cyprus trees. The garden is full of roses and peonies and on the day of our visit is bursting with blossom. Beyond the pool and gardens, landscaped on two levels, our eyes are drawn across miles of countryside to the south. The vista from the property is lovely, from both the pretty gardens around the house and the valley beyond. The house : the ground floor The old wooden door, with its characterful “hand-shaped” door-knocker, opens onto a traditional Gascon hallway with a terracotta floor tile. The hallway runs the full length of the property. The kitchen With a door both to the main hallway and the side gardens and path to the pool, the kitchen is spacious enough to incorporate a dining-room table and chairs and also boasts a beautiful open fire-place, a characterful spot for a winter’s supper. The kitchen is divided into two area by a half wall, and has a pretty decorative chimney breast built with old terracotta tiles. The downstairs study/ bedroom/ WC A spacious area on the ground floor provides room for a downstairs study and bedroom, with a WC. The main reception room This pleasant symmetrical room has a pretty fireplace with a wood-burning stove and a lovely classical plasterwork surround. There are two spacious cupboards with shelves to each side of the fireplace. The floor is lain with terracotta tiles. The Dining-Room The dining room is of a similar size to the main reception room and also boasts a fireplace. In addition room houses a contemporary staircase to the first floor. The First Floor The first floor of the property provides a surprising amount of space. The first floor reception-room The stairway leads to an open plan area which is currently dressed with sofas and chairs and used as a games’ and reading room. This area has exposed oak beams running across the ceiling and has the “feel” of a cosy “den” or central communal space shared by the occupants of the other bedrooms. The first floor “cinema room” A doorway opens from the central reception area to a surprising space. There is evidence from the newly fitted (but not yet painted) plasterboard ceiling that there were plans to concert this room into a large master bedroom with a dressing-room at one end. (NB: “a change of usage” permit may be required to convert this area above the barn into extra bedrooms). Currently this room is used as a “home-cinema” room. The bedrooms Dotted around the central reception area of the first floor, there are three good-sized bedrooms. As this property was originally built in the style of a Chartreuse, the rooms have been added and built around exposed oak beams with low windows on ground floor level. The ambience in all three of these spacious rooms is one of cosy rusticity. The bathroom The upstairs bedrooms all share a family bathroom (with a bath-tub) and separate WC.

Situated in the Lectoure/ Condom area, on the outskirts of a popular village location, this impressive building and its adjacent land was once home to a shepherd and his flock of sheep. If “shepherd’s huts” conjure images of small and cosy dwellings, think again. This property has large and spacious rooms, high ceilings and the proportions one might more easily associate with an impressive manor house. The property has been partially restored, over a number of years, so that today we are presented with the bare and solid framework of a sizeable home with an excellent structure. With a new roof, concrete floors, exposed stone walls and new windows in most of the openings. A fabulous stone staircase links the first and second floor and there is a vast barn adjacent to the property which could also be developed (subject to any necessary planning permissions). We particularly like the way the property forms a large “L” shape around an internal sheltered garden area. This is a property which will warrant a visit and is more easily described with our photographs and floor plans - with further information on request. This is an opportunity to create a home almost from scratch, but with a solid structure and with evidence of electrical cables and drainage in place - and plans in place for what the current owners intended to do, there is ample opportunity for new owners to design the property around their own needs. With wooded parkland, stone garden walls and many trees and bushes, the grounds provide plenty of outdoor space. The nearby towns of Lectoure and Condom, with their weekly markets, schools and many shops and restaurants, are a popular destination for holiday makers and home seekers. Agen with its TGV station is just under an hour’s drive, and Toulouse international airport just over an hour.

This property is located in a picturesque medieval village, itself an island amidst a sea of greenery and typical of those medieval Gascon villages for which the Gers is renowned. Although there are no shops or commerces, the property is within a whisper of Lectoure, with its many eclectic shops and restaurants. This old stone house offers sweeping views over the valley towards the south of Gascony, the views being one of the property’s most desirable features. It boasts two entrances. One is found in a narrow alleyway frequented only by locals, the other to the south, at the top of a stone staircase, beside an adorable miniature terrace: an unbeatable spot for evening (or lunchtime!) apéritifs while contemplating expanse of valley below. Entering the sturdy front door adorned with its original heavy ironwork, we find ourselves in a spacious Gascon hallway which runs from front to back of the property, where a large table takes center stage for convivial family meals. If you are not yet familiar with the area, you will soon learn that the Gascon hallway being often the grandest space in the house, easily doubles up as a formal entertaining area. Dismiss all conventional ideas as to what a hallway should be used for. In Gascony, a hallway is an extra room. To the left, we enter a warm and welcoming kitchen which is full of charm, with its glass-fronted cabinets and gleaming tile backsplashes, and is generously sized for dining and offers delicious views out to the landscape beyond. The kitchen opens directly onto the main reception room, which is equally as bright, and cosy. This room is an invitation to relaxation, or reading, or for a pleasant nap on a hot summer day, where one can enjoy the warmth of the room in winter, and its refreshing coolness in summer; the property’s thick stone walls providing protection throughout the year. The First Floor Ascend via a beautiful wooden staircase opening onto a large, light-filled landing, an ideal spot for a home office. The first bedroom is bathed in southerly light, and enjoys the same lovely views of the valley. It has hardwood floors, lime-coated stone walls, exposed beams, and a fireplace. The second bedroom, more spacious still, offers the same charm. From its window, one can see fields and woods in the distance, and the ancient medieval walls of the surrounding properties. The bathroom is contemporary in style and features a shower, bathtub, double sink, and WC. The Second Floor A staircase worn by the passage of many footsteps over time, leads to the second floor. Nestled up here, we discover the perfect nook for a cozy reading corner, along with the third bedroom: a spacious cocoon under the roof where children will delight in creating a secret hideaway. The Garden It's small...non-adjacent (being a couple of steps away) but charming! Located right beside the main house, this area provides an extra outdoor room in the summer months. A place to plant some flowers or veg. The ideal place for a summer dining table or barbecue. There is some vis à vis from the property above at the far end, but one section of the garden offers a private area for a table and chairs. Nestled against a heavy dry-stone wall, it charms with its majestic prickly pear fig tree, vivid red photinia in spring, and the abundant whiteness of its snowball bushes. A low-maintenance garden in a tranquil spot where you can contemplate under the starry skies of Gascony.

This beautiful building is situated in the heart of Lectoure and representative of some of the finest architecture found in the historical quarter of this popular and touristic market town. Lectoure is known for its architectural beauty and heritage and has been listed as an area of cultural interest by the world heritage. This appartment building is in the epicentre of town, and allows its occupants to fully participate in Lectoure life, with the towns eclectic restaurants, cafés, and antique stores. The property comprises : Four appartments on three floors (2 grand appartments and 2 smaller studios), as well as a ground-floor room currently let as a professional work-space on the ground floor. Let's take a look in more detail : From the street the building presents attractively, and is built of fine stone and with an imposing and elegant façade. The original front door opens onto an elegant hallway with decorative 'carreaux de ciment' turn-of-the-last-century floor-tiles Ground Floor : Appartment 1, ground floor, currently let as office space: On the ground floor, immediately to the right of the main entrance, sits a 26m2 office space that is currently let. There is large window to the street, and the room has high ceilings and elegant proportions. To the rear of the room there is a storage room/shower and sink area. This area could be let to a lawyer, a medical professional, or anyone who wishes to occupy an office space in Lectoure but who does not need to display products in a traditional shop-window. The window to this space is a traditional 18th century window to an appartment, as opposed to a shop window for display purposes. Though currently let, one day, this space could be converted into a studio appartment. Ground Floor : Appartment 2, luxury appartment with balcony and private garden. This spacious appartment runs the length of the building to a neat garden at the end; a rare find in Lectoure. The appartment measures 114m2 and comprises not only the rear outdoor garden space, but also an internal courtyard that has been enclosed by a decorative iron veranda, creating additional internal space, and an additional balcony/terrace, that overlooks the garden. We access the garden via an internal staircase down to the cellar area, where a door opens onto the garden. The garden is attractive and well-tended, and currenly used only by the occupant of the above appartment. With two bedrooms, a kitchen and a reception room, this is a lovely space in which the future owner of the building might choose to make his home. First Floor (overlooking the garden) Sitting directly above the ground floor appartment, there is a second, equally characterful appartment of 109m2. This light and extremely attractive appartment is currently rented out, and has far reaching views to the countryside. First Floor (overlooking the road) Also on the first floor, there is a 34m2 studio with integrated kitchen and shower room, also currently occupied by a tenant. Finally, on the top floor, under the eaves, there is a 101m2 appartment. The total surface area is divided into two distinct and separate halves by the central staircase, and in the opinion of BLISS is best described as a 'chambre d'étudiante' - or students' room. It is not especially convenient to come out of the main living-room, and to cross the landing and staircase, to access the other half of the property. This room is currently occupied by a tenant. A vast wine cellar in stone runs under the entire length of the building, accessible via an internal staircase from the ground floor. This opens onto the garden. T Our thoughts here at BLISS It is rare that this kind of property comes to market, and usually at the agency we do not tend to market properties that are occupied by tenants. We have made an exception in this case, as the property is a rare find, and with many lovely features we sadly do not often find in rental accommodation. The building has been beautifully cared for over the years. The property is well located and with many lovely features. We particularly love the grand entrance hall, with its colourful orginal floor tiles, and the two larger appartments on the ground floor and first floor. Were the property empty, one might imagine joining the two together into a fabulous duplexe appartment (planning permits permitting). We also noted the gorgeous wooden turning staircase that has retained all the elegance of its period. The tall windows ensure the property is light, and the added benefit of extra rental from the office area allows the owners to contribute to annual taxes and costs. Of course the property currently brings in rental each month. Figures are available at the agency for interested parties. A little unusual on our books, but for lovers of Lectoure, who are prepared to think outside the box, this is a highly desirable building, at a price which is considerably lower than if it were sold vacant. This is one to watch out for, and one which we loved far more than we expected to. For owners wishing to continue rentals, the condition of the appartments is excellent, and the owner is quite rightly very proud of the building, and the hard work he has put in to keep everything ship shape over the years, is apparant even at first glance.

The property There is little to be seen from the outside of the property other than its high stone walls and the solid wooden doors of its entrance, which makes our first sighting of the garden when its doors are pulled back quite special, as the dramatic view on the other side of the garden gate is quite unexpected. Our eyes are drawn along a white stone path to a stone wall at the far end of the garden, from which there is a vertiginous view over the valley to the south. In this respect, the garden has its own “ramparts”, and it is here on a sunny day we sit up on high to lunch and admire the chequered green and golden fields below, spread out in their rich tapestry. The garden is completely private and tranquil, and is surely one of the most beautiful spots for al fresco dining in Gascony. The house sits to one side of the pathway, the old barn to the other. The garden is full of ancient scented roses, with beautiful colours of baby pink contrasting perfectly with the pale leaves of the olive tree. There are flower beds bursting into life with the summer sunshine and with the dramatic backdrop of the barn. The pool is partially enclosed in a stone building, and is thus beautifully sheltered. First let’s take a look at the house. Built on two levels, each level is a separate, independent unit, allowing the property to be occupied as one single house or two completely independent appartments within the same house. One can of course choose to link the two floors via a staircase. On the upper garden level, there is a large and spacious reception-room, with an open-plan kitchen in one corner. This beautiful room has windows on three sides, with views over the valley and the garden. The view from each window is unspoilt and the recently fitted windows provide the perfect framework. Two original doors lead to a large double bedroom with an ensuite shower-room and WC. The bedroom overlooks the valley, and has an ornamental fireplace. A newly fitted wooden staircase leads to a first floor mezzanine above, which is currently used as a study. Returning to the garden once more, we descend a flight of stone steps to an enclosed courtyard below. This area holds the warm sunlight between its stone walls and is the perfect sheltered spot on a windy day, or between seasons. The lower courtyard, and the lower level of the house can also be accessed directly from the village, so that although there are two sections to this property, each has its own garden. On the ground floor we enter a beautiful kitchen with a long stone work surface and sink that runs the entire length of one wall, with views to the garden. The room has two archways, one of which opens directly onto the main reception-room, where there is a woodburning stove, the second archway opens onto an area currently as a bedroom albeit this room does not have a door. This area could also be used as an extension of the main reception-room, as a study, or second sitting-room. On the lower ground floor level, there is also a spacious shower-room. The barn This is arguably one of the most beautiful buildings we have seen at Bliss, and the barn has its own special history. During the war, members of the resistance met here, and made radio broadcasts to London from the upper section of the barn, via a radio set which was still present, and is now housed in a museum. If these old stone walls could tell a story.. we would hear their whispers long into the night. The barn is currently used for storage on both levels. We particularly love the stone steps to the upper level which run up the external wall. Although planning permission would definitely be required for a change of usage, one cannot help but imagine what an amazing project one could carry out here.

Proudly facing the snow-capped mountains from its hillside position, bathed with light throughout the year, and drenched with golden summer sunshine, this property is one of the most historical, and fascinating properties to be found in the heart of Lectoure. With two gardens, and terraces on two levels, this is a house of mystery, of nooks and crannies, and endless quiet corners in which to read or escape the world. Unique and magical, it is a hard task to describe, but allow us to accompany you into the ever surprising and unexpected world of this property. We enter the building from the heart of town and leave behind the bustle of village life, with the baker, grocer, wine-shop, and tea-rooms on our doorstep, and enter an ochre coloured external hallway redolent of a Spanish castell with a wrought iron gate protecting the entrance to the inner courtyard. Owned by the same family for over thirty years, this property has been a much-loved private home. Architecturally, it is an unusual and segmented property, at the heart of which sits an internal courtyard, from whence there rises a monumental staircase built in 1702. The property comprises two separate buildings one on each side of the courtyard. The north-facing façade overlooking Lectoure’s main high street and the south-facing façade, facing the Pyrenees. The North and South sections of the property are linked on ground floor, first floor and second floor levels by covered passageways with original wooden floors and ceilings. The property has traditionally been used as one single home but equally it could be used as individual apartments with a central communal area, or as luxury lettings : with five fully equipped appartements (each with kitchen and bathroom) and a top floor artist’s studio. The building comprises two appartements on the north side, three on the south side, and the artist’s studio on the top floor under the eaves. From the internal courtyard, where there is an old stone well, we descend a short flight of stone steps, pass beneath the south-facing building, and traverse an area where old stable doors currently provide storage for garden tools and dusty bottles of wine. The south-facing garden opens into an old stone outbuilding (currently used for parking) which in turn opens onto the rear street behind, providing valuable access to the gardens for works to the property or evacuation of garden rubbish. A private parking area in Lectoure is much cherished, and it is convenient to have an exit to the southern ramparts of town, especially during the summer months when on Mondays and Fridays the popular Lectoure markets are held and the main rue Nationale is blocked for vehicular access.

Residential leisure park - In Gascony, halfway between Auch and Agen, we present to you a very beautiful property oriented towards tourist and event reception. It offers up to around 52 beds divided into 10 independent chalets on 4 hectares surrounded by nature. Also on site, a pleasant 240 m² residential house, a 110 m² reception room, a 12 x 6 m swimming pool and numerous relaxation areas. The calm and serenity make this place a true haven of peace. 40 km from Agen airport and 30 minutes from the A62 motorway.

Near Lectoure and Agen, medieval château from the XIII century and alterations from the early renaissance of the XVI century. This 950 m² château listed monuments historiques which has conserved many of its original features presents a unique opportunity to restore. The former moat, sentry tower with archer slits, the entrance bridge formerly a drawbridge remind its original defensive purpose while the hexagonal dungeon tower, the renaissance galery, the spiral stone staircase, the cloister and the chapel show the alteration from the renaissance period. The chateau boasts 25 rooms including a guards room, empire style reception rooms, a gallery, 9 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, vaulted stone cellars, a chapel. In the park crossed by a river, there are century old trees, a mill house, outbuildings, a XVI century dovecote. On the land of the property, there are 4 farmhouses to repair, 156 hectares of cultivated land and partly under irrigation and 48 hectares of woodland.