One of the most beautiful homes

in Gascony

The presbytery & 2 guest cottages
exclusively with BLISS IMMOBILIER.

By providing the exact address of this property for full disclosure, the owner wishes to make it clear that such transparency is not an invitation for visits outside those organised by the agency the owner has carefully selected to work with.

La Romieu

A property is always more than the sum of its parts. Where the property sits is paramount. As we say across The Channel : Location, Location, Location.

If you are in search of a refined town house with zero works to consider, then why not start with one that sits in the heart of a village voted « most beautiful in France » ?

Why is the village of La Romieu so popular?

A 15 minute drive from Lectoure (thermal centre and famous hill-top destination for tourists from all around the world) La Romieu is smaller and has preserved its authenticity. Ten minutes from Condom on the other side, Agen and Toulouse are both easily accessible for transport to Paris and the rest of the world.

Let’s take a stroll around the village and look at the delightful shops and restaurants on the doorstep of this beautiful home.

La Romieu : a brief history

Founded by Benedictine monks in the 11th century La Romieu and with a name derived from the Latin “romieu” or pilgrim, is recognised as one of the most beautiful towns in France – and is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The most “beautiful village” in France

La Romieu has been recognized as one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful Villages of France), an official designation awarded by an independent association created in 1982. This association identifies and promotes small rural communities with rich cultural heritage and outstanding natural beauty.

To receive this prestigious label, a village must meet specific criteria, including having a population of less than 2,000 inhabitants, possessing at least two protected areas (such as monuments or sites), and committing to preserving its heritage and promoting tourism. La Romieu’s historical significance, stunning architecture, and well-preserved environment have earned it a place on this esteemed list, making it one of the country’s recognized most beautiful villages.

The Collégiale

Established in 1312 by Cardinal Arnaud d’Aux, a native of La Romieu who rose to prominence within the Catholic Church during the papacy of Clement V. Collegiate Church of Saint Peter (Collégiale Saint-Pierre) in La Romieu is one of the most remarkable examples of Gothic architecture in the Gers department and a significant historical monument in France. Founded in the 14th century, the church is a key feature of La Romieu, reflecting the village’s rich medieval heritage and its role as a stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.

The Cloister

Adjacent to the church is a beautiful cloister, also from the 14th century. The cloister’s arcades are adorned with delicate stone carvings, and the space would have been used by the canons (members of the church community) for prayer and contemplation. The cloister is a peaceful, meditative space that offers insight into the daily life of the religious community.

The Arcades

The arcades of La Romieu are one of the village’s most charming and iconic features. These covered walkways, dating back to the medieval period, form part of the village’s central square and are a key aspect of its historic character. The arcades were traditionally built to shelter merchants and their goods from the elements, and they continue to serve as a bustling hub of activity in the village.

A hub of activity

Today you can dine on delicious local fare at the Etape d’Angeline and watch the world saunter by from beneath the shade of the cool stone arcades that adorn the square.

La Romieu has a fully-stocked grocery store, wine shop and bakery, several artisanal and antique shops, a Post Office, and just round the corner a fabulous new concept “On Va Vers Le Beau”, a lovely stone building that houses a café, bookshop, co-working space and rooms for pilgrims. A delightful place to enjoy a coffee and write your novel!

And two osteopaths (one English) to ease your tired bones after so much strolling.

The Presbytery

At the gateway to La Romieu, close to the cloister gardens, this impressive property, comprised of three buildings, sits discreetly behind stone walls and a wrought iron gate.

The garden is neatly tended, with a flourish of roses which bloom against its walls, an immaculate lawn, a stone pool, and a covered terrasse area for drinks or outdoor dining and a smart white stone path leading directly to the main door.

A second gate at the end leads to a charming stone courtyard filled with white hydrangeas, and to a separate small house.

The main house – the ground floor

We linger to appreciate the elegant stone façade, with its pleasing symmetry and lovely 18th century windows and to listen to the relaxing fall of water from the fountain in the pool. In the background we see the famous Collegiale of La Romieu with its tall Gothic towers piercing the azur blue sky.

A door painted in deep blue, with its orginal knocker, opens onto an elegant hallway, which is generous in size and leads to a glorious stone staircase.

To the right of the entrance, an elegant drawing-room overlooks the gardens. The room is bathed in light, with three tall windows; one to the side and two to the front. There is an original oak wood floor, and a black marble fireplace with an open grate, with fitted bespoke bookshelves to each side.

At the far end of the main hallway, there is an elegant guest cloakroom, with a beautiful stone floor, a marble sink and a separate lavatory.

The kitchen and open-plan sitting room are an important part of the property. The two rooms have been opened into one, with a half wall/counter between the two. This fantastic idea ensures that, as with the entire property, light floods in from all sides. This floor plan is also ideal for entertaining with the kitchen open to the dining and sitting areas.

The main kitchen is kept free of clutter, and presents as beautifully as any of the other reception rooms. You can certainly cook in style.

The kitchen has been recently fitted, with a central island, custom made quality cabinets, Carrara marble counter tops, a Lacanche range with 5 burners and a large oven, a small table by the window for dining for two.

The beautiful adjoining sitting room with a working fireplace is filled with light and decorated in delicate shades of white and blue. This is the perfect place to dine among friends or for afternoon tea, leaving the elegant drawing room for more formal entertaining.

A door in the kitchen leads to an ample, downstairs cellar area and garage with space for one good-sized family car. This opens out onto the lower street.

The main kitchen opens onto a second back kitchen, generous in size, with a coffee station with its own terracotta period sink, vast period-style cupboards, American-style refrigerator with ice-maker and enough space for a large table. This is a gorgeous area; equally as attractive for a utility area as the main kitchen.

Glass doors lead from there to the laundry room with a separate sink and second refrigerator.

We particularly love the elegant doors in grey with decorative frosted glass patterns, and agreed unanimously here at BLISS that the back kitchen is more attractive than the main kitchen in our own homes.

This completes our tour of the ground floor of the main house.

The first floor

The original 18th Century stone and iron staircase ascends elegantly to the first floor where it opens out onto a generous first floor landing. All floors are made of original antique poplar planks.

Study

At the top of the stairs there is a small study/TV room, the perfect spot to hunker down and watch a movie. This room could also be used as an additional bedroom.

The Master Bedroom, private dressing-room, WC and ensuite bathroom

The master bedroom is an apartment suite unto itself, with a vast bedroom, with elegant fitted wardrobes with period doors, and three tall windows overlooking the gardens. A small private corridor leads to a bathroom with both a double sink, bathtub and shower. The entire bathroom is beautifully adorned with Carrara marble.

A private dressing room and lavatory are dissimulated behind decorative vintage doors.

Guest bedroom 1, with it ensuite shower-room

This room is a spacious double bedroom and benefits from its own sumptuous bathroom; which as with all the bathrooms in both the main house and guest houses, has been recently designed by the current owner.

The second guest bedroom

On the other side of the first floor landing, a small corridor leads to a separate wing with the second guest bedroom and its own shower-room.

This is a large double bedroom, with high ceilings, parquet floor and exposed ceiling beams.

The garden cottage

This garden cottage is an added bonus to the spacious accommodation in the presbytery.

It faces the front garden & stone pool. This lower room is currently used by the owner as a massage room and an extension of the pool and garden, with its shower room perfect after swimming. It can also be used as an additional en suite guest bedroom.

The lovely iron door opens onto a view of the gardens.

A staircase leads to a second bedroom with en-suite upstairs.

The Village House

The village house was purchased in addition to the main house and opens both on to the main street and onto the rear courtyard garden.

This is a delightful house that has been fully restored, with a private courtyard, a downstairs kitchen and living room, a staircase up to a small landing, where on the first floor there are two good sized double bedrooms both with an ensuite bathroom. The house is fully equipped with washer and dryer.

The garden to the front of the property is elegant and carefully designed to incorporate a shady sitting-area and a small pool built to resemble an 18th Century “bassin” with its weathered stones. To the rear, there is a paved courtyard garden with a large table for evening meals. There are several tranquil nooks in the garden, with a burst of roses and topiary bushes against a backdrop of ancient stone.

On a technical note

Renovation completed in 2021
Roof redone complying with Bâtiments de France standards
Heating: Heat pumps
Air conditioning in all bedrooms
Plumbing and electricity redone
Smart meters
Sanitation: Connected to the village system
Fireplaces – 2 in working order (living room and small living room)
High-quality household appliances
Internet – Fiber optic
Alarm system connected to a central monitoring station (for theft and fire)
Automatic irrigation