Quintessential Gascon homeglorious gardens, pool
& beautiful views
All measurements are approximate
- Lectoure
Where is this property located?
This property is situated close to the market town of Lectoure, in a residential area. The property provides easy access to Lectoure for schools, shops and a wide range of eclectic boutiques, as well as being a short drive to Agen and the fast train to Bordeaux and Toulouse. Blagnac airport is an hour and a quarter’s drive.
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 pool and outside eating areas
One of the most attractive features of the property lies in the scope of outdoor space.
We particularly love the adjacent barn with its covered terrace, characterful stone walls and feature beams. With a view over the pool, also sheltered by a neat hedge for privacy, the property is one of those rare finds where there are lots of secret corners to eat, read or dine.
As well as the covered terrace area (with its outdoor kitchen area) there is also a wrought iron “Gloriette” with climbing roses, covering its domed frame. From here there is a lovely view across the valley.
The pool may need a little loving care as it has not been uncovered in recent months, but it is beautifully positioned between the house and the views and utterly private from any overview.
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.
Our thoughts here at Bliss
This property has an undeniable “kerb” appeal being quintessentially “Gascon” in shape and architectural style.
From the outside it is one of those houses which has the “look and feel” of an elegant country house in South West France, with beautiful blue shutters. The gardens are gorgeous and are the perfect setting for the house and pool. Attractive and landscaped to provide a maximum numbers of areas in which to sit in the shade and use the gardens in the hottest months of the year. The property has a traditional feel to it. New home owners may wish to refresh the bathrooms and kitchen. It is however in good overall condition and has been lived in and much loved as a principle residence for many years.
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