PropertyMontréal (32)

Price :

$543,700

USD

Euro € EURAmerican Dollar ($ USD)British Pound (£ GBP)

bedrooms2 bathroom1 land34.9 ha

LOCATION
In the heart of the Ténarèze, in the north of the Gers department, well known for its Armagnac, the oldest eau de vie. It's also the land of the cadets of Gascony, the most famous of whom is undoubtedly d'Artagnan.
Within easy reach of the cities and airports of Bordeaux and Toulouse (1 hour 45 minutes), and less than an hour from Agen and its TGV station.
Everywhere you look you'll find villages full of character, some of them listed as among the most beautiful villages in France.
A small path shaded by old oak trees leads to the property.
Immediately on the right, past a huge hundred-year-old oak that seems to guard the grounds, the estate and its majestic tower come into view.
PRESENTATION
I, Chevalier Jean de Gascogne, invite you, citizens of the modern world, to follow me to the land of my ancestors.
Here we are on my almost 35 hectares of land made up of vines, coppice, moorland and meadows.
My ancestors decided to settle here, very close to a small ancient and medieval town that had to be defended. So, in the 15th century, they built this architectural gem!
A rectangular, three-storey building made entirely of stone, wood and cob, it is a rare and perfect example of what is known as a Gascon fortified room.
Some would call it a watchtower, because its dominant position allowed it to observe and protect the pretty village that was to become the first Gascon bastide.
The tower is crowned with hoardings, a corbelled construction that allowed all kinds of objects or liquids to be thrown at potential attackers from above.
In the early 16th century, openings were made to let in more light.
Rest assured, my tower, although defensive, offers breathtaking panoramic views from several points! 360° views over the surrounding countryside!
Windows onto the rolling hills of my native Gers, which so many people love to immortalise on postcards, or to be even more modern, what our young ladies and gents might call ‘Instagrammable’ landscapes.
My tower certainly suffered during the Wars of Religion when Montgomery's troops passed through, as they did throughout the region.
The two wells on the property and the silos filled with grain on the ground floor, in what was the guard room, enabled my ancestors to hold out during the sieges.
I myself worked hard, with the help of one of my friends, to save my tower. The restoration of the roof and the corbelling in 2006 earned us a Heritage Award for its preservation.
The years have gone by, and we're now in the 21st century, with its overcrowding and concrete, where space is becoming a luxury because it's almost impossible to find. On my land: space, light, blonde stones that reflect the sun like nowhere else!
There's no noise or visual pollution, just the chirping of crickets, birds and the occasional frog in the little pond, offering their courtship to anyone who enjoys observing nature.
THE 15TH-CENTURY TOWER
The south door opens onto a room that was once the guards' quarters. The first floor, with its mullioned windows, was reserved for the nobility. A beautiful monumental fireplace where more than one boar and poulard must have roasted!
On the ground floor, we can still make out the grain silo openings.
A dividing wall separates this entrance from another room, which houses the staircase to the first floor. A beautiful south-facing arched double door brings a great deal of light into this space. We can also make out an old opening to the north, now closed off but easily reused.
The first floor features the same layout as the ground floor, as well as a second large stone fireplace whose lintel has been restored.
On the second and final level, we find the place where the town's protectors kept watch for any attackers. It's an incredible vantage point, with a breathtaking view!
The framework and roof have been completely redone, under the supervision of a heritage architect, for which we won a prize awarded by the Société Arquéologique du Gers. This is also the largest level, thanks to the corbelling, which rests on the original stone corbels, as can be seen from the outside.
THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY HOUSE
Next to the tower is a single-storey house dating from the 18th century. The year of construction, 1768, is still engraved in stone above the door.
This building, as the saying goes, is ‘in its original state’, which will allow the future lord of the manor to put his personal stamp on it without having to demolish an unfortunate restoration.
It too has retained its fireplace and beautiful beams.
But yes, I admit it, the person to whom I pass on the torch will have to love stone and history, but also major works!
And at the end of all this effort: what a reward!
SOME TECHNICAL NOTES
The house to be restored measures 117.13 M2 including the attached garage.
The three-storey tower measures 261.67 M2
The hangar measures 148 M2
Septic tank to be reviewed
Two wells
A pond
Of the almost 35 hectares surrounding the estate, just over 2 hectares are planted with organic vines.