Property Albi (81)

A 15th century Seigneurial house in the midst of the Cathar town of Cordes-sur-Ciel.
This medieval town, 75 minutes from Toulouse airport and 25 minutes from Albi, is one of biggest tourist attractions as regards European Heritage.
On the heights of the town, dominating a vast panoramic view, in a quiet street, this house conceals an architectural masterpiece. Its layout bestows it with a facade terrace, featuring an unobstructed view over the surrounding valleys, as well as a small garden opposite the house. An underground tunnel leading to the garden, dominating the valley, could be rehabilitated. Skilled craftsmen (Compagnons du Devoir) took four years to restore this property.
The Seigneurial houseThis house spans three levels laid out around an inner courtyard, with exposed stone walls, packed mud floors and two half-timbered balcony corridors, double and triple mullioned windows as well as leaded lights.
Ground floor
The first entrance door opens into a large reception room, with old-fashioned, white-washed walls under stone vaults. A meeting room, a storeroom and a laundry room. A robust door provides a view of the medieval courtyard, a period gem, and the two half-timbered balcony corridors. A second entrance provides access to a study, flanked by a wooden stairway leading to the private sections. The patio gives direct access to a first suite.
First floor
At the end of the medieval courtyard, an impressive, spiral stairway, marked by the centuries, goes up to the first floor and the two half-timbered balcony corridors. Reflecting ochre hues, their brick walls and wooden, balusters have been magnificently restored by skilled craftsmen (Compagnons du Devoir). The mullioned windows, with their leaded lights, assert the medieval character of this area. The first balcony corridor leads to the so-called “Governor’s bedroom”, with its exposed stone walls. A chessboard is inset in the stone separating the bedroom from the shower room. At the end of the balcony corridor, a large lounge is adorned with a monumental fireplace and exposed stone walls. Its high ceiling features robust joists. At the end, a glazed opening provides access to a large terrace, with an unobstructed view over the surrounding valleys. A kitchen, with a half-timbered wall, also opens on to this terrace, creating a living space between the kitchen and the large lounge. A landing provides access to a study-library, with a closed-hearth fire in its fireplace.
Second floor
The spiral stairway continues up to the second balcony corridor providing access to four bedrooms. The first, with a fireplace, old parquet flooring, a lounge, with a fireplace, and a shower room. The second “Chancellor’s bedroom” is air-conditioned, with exposed beams, stone walls, a double mullioned window, a lounge area and a bathroom. The third, vast “Seigneur’s bedroom” has the same characteristic features as the other bedrooms. The fourth “Knight’s bedroom” is enhanced with authentic features. Right at the top of the spiral stairway, the last, south-facing “Seneschal’s bedroom”, with its unobstructed view over the valley, is also air-conditioned.
Garden
Garden on a lower level with a completely unobstructed view over the surrounding valleys.