luxury real estate for sale Catus, France (page 4)

Domme: a discreet house and its independent dwelling with tree-lined garden, small, private courtyards. The property comprises a main house, and an annexe. The complex appertains to the maze of ever-present steep alleyways in this clifftop village. One of its three sides opens directly onto the Place de la Rode, one of the two squares in the village with shops and where fairs were held, benefiting from the local right to mint coins. This shows the extent to which it was, and still is, at the heart of the life of the town, its silhouette forming an inextricable part of the site. Apart from the access to the square, there are no fewer than five entrances, including a large carriage gate, leading to and from the property and the streets that surround it on three sides. The medieval character of the buildings and their fortified appearance are ubiquitous, from the “Porte des Tours” to the 13th century listed ramparts that encircle part of the town. Built around 1280, then constantly modified and enlarged until the 19th century, the property is no exception, exuding a strong sense of security defying the test of time. The facades are of light-coloured stone, quarried in Mauzens and Paussac. Solidly grouted, they combine a regular pattern of dressed stone with an irregular pattern revealing the natural relief of the mineral surfaces. Wood features prominently on these facades, with corner posts, dwarf studs, angle braces and sill plates, in particular around the courtyard opening onto the square. The outdoor courtyards are paved with an irregular patchwork of old Périgord Montagnac stone. The steeply sloping roofs are mostly clad with flat rectangular terracotta tiles erroneously referred to as 'Burgundy tiles', even though they are found from Quercy to England and Germany, including the Paris region. Some of the courtyard door and window frames have retained their old ironwork and knockers, with the rust set under a protective varnish, enhancing every trace that time has left in the stone and wood of this historic landmark.

Part of a 13th and 16th century listed castle with its 2 5 ha of grounds bordering the river in north-east Lot-et-Garonne. The discreet, almost mysterious residence is hidden behind tall trees, barely visible from the main road. The tarmac drive becomes a stony track as it winds its way between rows of trees. After passing a pond and a bamboo hedge on the right, followed by the first evidence of the property in the form of two impressive stone pillars, the main driveway leads to two wrought-iron pillars supporting lanterns and to the dwelling. A few well-arranged flagstones guide visitors towards the entrance. The three-storey castle is set between oak trees and a chestnut tree right beside the building. To the east, the meadow bordering the garden provides some distance from the few neighbouring houses. To the west, a high stone wall with its back to the entrance emphasises the other adjoining part of the castle. On the south side, a meadow stretches as far as the banks of the river Lot below.