Idyllic rural property with

converted pigeonnier & guest cottage

 This idyllic rural property is located close to the market town of Lectoure, and comprises a trio of ancient stone buildings which nestle in a small private hamlet, comprising a 17th century Gascon farm-house, a converted pigeonnier and a small guest cottage.

These stone buildings date back to the 17th century or earlier, and are steeped in authentic Gascon charm, providing a bucolic home both for year-round residence or as a holiday home.

The property is located in a tranquil rural location, far from the road, and is surrounded by lovely private woodland.

The property is located a short driving-distance from the popular market-towns of Lectoure, Fleurance and Saint Clar, and is tucked away in a tranquil spot in one of the most sought-after areas of Gascony. The airport in Toulouse is approximately one hour fifteen minutes away by car, and the fast train to Bordeaux, Paris and Toulouse, less than an hour away, in Agen.

The property is beautifully presented from the outside, with a long private pathway to the house.

 The lawns and gardens around the main house, the pigeon-tower and the cottage, are made up of neat lawns, lovely flower beds and a terrasse area peppered with wild flowers.

At the bottom of the garden, a small and private pathway leads us far away from the hustle and bustle of the world to a lovely woodland clearing, the perfect spot in which to meditate in the shade of one of the many ancient oaks, or in the heart of a cluster of tall bamboos, which offer their dappled shade to visitors on a sizzling hot day.

The main house

 The original front door opens onto a typical Gascon hallway, which bisects the property in two.

To the left of the entrance, there is a cosy sitting-room with a wood-burning fire. The room is full of original features, from the fireplace, to the original door; the mantelpiece above the fireplace, the oak beams and floors. This is a restful room which, like much of the property, feels timeless.

On the other side of the hallway, there is a large spacious kitchen/dining-room with a central fireplace, equipped with a modern Polyflamme heating system, and an Aga which blasts ambient heat, adding to the warm and cosy feel of the room in the winter months. There are many characterful features in the kitchen, from the ancient storage cupboard with its old door, the fireplace, floors and ceilings. The room is dressed with eclectic individual pieces of furniture sourced over the years, and without fitted units, the room has a timeless aura which is in keeping with the rest of the property. The kitchen sink is tucked away in the far corner, and a large breakfast table beneath the window provides the perfect place to dine, work or listen to the radio over coffee.

In the central hallway itself, there is a Godin wood-burner, and a small informal sitting area.

Further down the hallway two rooms sit in symmetry, one across the hallway from the other. The first is dressed as a bedroom, the second (vast in size) is used for yoga and meditation. This room has a doorway to the garden at the front.

The far end of the hallway leads to a bathroom, separate toilet and a wooden staircase ascending to the first floor.

A door also opens onto a beautiful old stone barn, in the corner of which a laundry area has been created.

The first floor

 The upstairs comprises a large landing-area, the far end of which has been dressed with chairs thrifted from an old cinema, to create a snug place to hunker on down for a movie night.

The master bedroom is a vast room, divided in two by a brick chimney-breast which makes a natural partition in the centre of the room, with a sink on the side and the sleeping area beneath beautiful exposed beams. This room is spacious enough to feel like a small apartment!

Across the landing, there is a second bedroom, with a considerable amount of loft space for another bedroom.

What we love about the main house:

 The timeless feel of the property, with its ancient doors and windows, and roses around the door. This property will appeal to lovers of romantic, cottage-style properties. The spacious kitchen is used very much as a second reception-room. With two downstairs bedrooms, a first floor suite, a fourth bedroom under the eaves, and room for one more, the property has an undeniably authentic charm and appeal.

Our favourite room is the kitchen with the Aga, with its old pine table by the fireplace. One can imagine passing many hours in this room, cooking or beside the fireplace.

The pigeonnier:

 This beautiful old pigeon-tower, so synonymous with the South West of France, has been beautifully restored to provide a quirky guest-house for friends and family. With a sitting-room and kitchen on the ground-floor, a first-floor bedroom and beautiful ceilings with ancient beams, this is a delightful place to stay, with roses round the door, and easy access to the path down to the woodland.

The Guest Cottage

 The second cottage also provides independent accommodation for friends and family. The cottage is divided into two segments, with a bedroom and shower on one side of a sweet terrasse, and the sitting-room and kitchen next door.

The Gardens

 The gardens are full of interest, with various different sections, from the wild woodland at the bottom of the garden path, to the neat lawns at the top, with their flowerbeds, climbing roses, shrubs and bushes.

The gardens link the three buildings together harmoniously. This is a property which has enough outdoor space not only in which to stroll, but also to lose oneself down in the woods, where you can hide away from the world in the bamboo forest, or admire the views.

Parking

A substantial hangar provides adequate covered parking space for vehicles and the family tractor, etc.

On a technical note:

 This property has a Polyflamme system installed it the kitchen fireplace, which radiates heat and can be closed up for safety when not home, or used as an open fireplace. There is a barn fitted with a fully equipped laundry-room.

There is also electrical heating.