Superb 18th-century presbytery

with swimming pool

This elegant former presbytery sits at the end of a quiet, private lane, just moments from the main square of a peaceful village, a short drive from Lectoure, with easy access to Toulouse International Airport and the TGV high-speed train station for journeys to Paris.

The property has that rare sense of presence found in places that have endured through the years without losing their elegance. Set in a beautiful part of the Lot-et-Garonne, it has been completely renovated with particular attention to materials, colours and detail, while preserving the character and charm of a fine period residence.

The impressive butter-coloured stone building features two original doorways and a handsome façade whose grandeur is immediately apparent.

The large, rounded windows on the first floor are typically 18th-century in style, complemented by charming wrought-iron balconies. At ground level, a double stone staircase leads up to the main entrance.

The entrance hall creates a wonderfully welcoming first impression. There is space to leave coats and belongings before the eye is drawn towards a beautiful wooden staircase rising through the floors of the house.

To the left, the first sitting room immediately catches the eye. The petrol-blue walls bring a particularly successful contemporary touch, while the mouldings, fireplace and original features serve as reminders of the house’s history. The contrast works beautifully: elegant, warm and never overly formal.

Beyond this, a second room is currently arranged as a study and library. More intimate in feel, it provides a private space for working, reading or simply enjoying a quiet moment.

Returning to the entrance hall, the kitchen lies to the right. Fully equipped, light-filled and generous in proportion, it has been designed as a true living space: somewhere to cook, gather and spend time together.

A few steps lower, the atmosphere changes once again.

A second, more relaxed sitting room is centred around a pellet stove. It is easy to imagine long winter evenings spent here, while in warmer months, doors open directly onto the terrace, almost entirely erasing the boundary between indoors and out.

It is now time to follow the beautiful wooden staircase upstairs.

On the first floor, the house divides into two distinct wings. Each accommodates two generously proportioned bedrooms and a bathroom. This is an especially appealing arrangement for welcoming family and friends while allowing everyone to retain a sense of privacy.

And there is still more to discover above.

The attic has been fully converted, revealing an entirely different atmosphere. Beneath the sloping roofline, white walls and natural wood create a wonderfully soft and relaxed feel, giving this floor the character of a spacious holiday home.

Two additional bedrooms, a shower room and several play areas create an ideal world for children and grandchildren. One can easily imagine cousins coming together here, games spreading across the floor and evenings stretching on, with that wonderful feeling of having the whole house to themselves.

Outside, the property continues to unfold naturally.

The swimming pool sits beautifully within the garden, accompanied by an attractive pool house that is an open invitation to long summer days. Beside it, a former dovecote brings all the character one would hope to find in a property of this nature. Now used in part to house the pool equipment, it remains above all a beautiful and distinctive part of the property’s heritage.

And yet, despite the sense of countryside and tranquillity, nothing is ever far away.

A village grocery shop is less than a minute away, while the village’s cultural and community activities offer the opportunity to enjoy a genuine sense of local life.

Who might this property appeal to?

Lovers of traditional French country houses and admirers of 18th-century architecture.

Those looking for high ceilings and light-filled rooms.

Clients drawn to the classic layout of a house, with its principal reception rooms on the ground floor and bedrooms upstairs.

Chefs looking for a generous and inspiring space in which to work.

Buyers wishing to live within easy reach of both Agen and Lectoure.

Those seeking a property that is not isolated, yet offers complete privacy and is sheltered from the view of neighbouring properties.

What I might consider doing if this were my property

The presbytery is in excellent decorative condition and has been carefully maintained structurally. It is entirely ready to move into and enjoy from day one.

I would, however, wait until I had lived in the house through one winter before deciding whether to do so. The property has a southerly aspect and benefits from a gentle feeling of warmth, thanks both to its exposure and to the central heating.