An 18th century property

guest house

This fabulous family home is impressive in style, architecture and position, sitting on the ramparts of an ancient Gascon village with stunning views to the mountains.

This property will appeal to lovers of classical 18th century homes and who seek a « family » home with ample space for a large family and a separate guest house.

The guest house and the main house are separated by an upper level garden, full of trailing plants and herbs, with a stone wall and an glorious spot to sit and admire the view, with a second garden on a stepped and lower level with a courtyard, a pool and a hidden garden with a splendid old olive tree for shade and an inter-connecting courtyard with a private shady terrace.

The separation of the main house and guest house by the interconnecting gardens (with secondary access via a separate village road) means that in essence this estate comprises two entirely separate houses, the guest house being ideal for friends, family and potential lettings.

In the lower street there is a separate garage and a non adjacent private garden which is fenced off and provides a lovely retreat with a variety of fruit trees.

The main house

The main and original door is impressive in size, opening onto an elegant hallway with high ceilings.

To the left there is a television room or study.

On the other side of the hallway, to the right, there is a spacious double bedroom looking out onto the village, with the same high ceilings and tall windows. This bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and is an ideal room for anyone with reduced mobility.

In the far corner of the room there is a recess with a walk-in dressing-room area.

In the middle section of the hallway we find the glorious original turning staircase, which winds its way up two floors to the attics at the top. With a half landing and ceilings the stairwell is an architectural masterpiece adding much elegance to the property and a definite sense of noblesse.

To the rear of the hallway there is the double reception room with a bespoke oak library running against the rear wall and a charming open fireplace with a beautiful sculpted wooden surround. Although there is plenty of wall space for Art work, perhaps the most delightful piece of living Art one could fine is the view out towards the south and the mountains, over the village roof tops. This is truly a living tableau and a source of constant sunlight to the property.

Next to the main reception room is an equally grand dining room in the same 18th century style, with a fireplace (not currently in use) and two lovely windows to the south. This room has an interconnecting door to the kitchen.

The kitchen is a real family kitchen with a long breakfast table in the middle, the hub of the household, with plenty of space to prepare food and chat to guests at the table. The old stone sink is a delight and with the high ceilings and terracotta floors, this room is full of character. A window above the sink overlooks the upper gardens and the herb garden, the kitchen door giving direct access outside to this garden, where there is a lovely spot for the table for outdoor dining, and fresh herbs growing all around to season one’s plate.

Behind the kitchen there is a large working laundry room/ boiler room, with a big old sink and plenty of space for the washing room and dryer.

The inner hallway loops back round under the stairs, where we pass a door to the vast underground cellars and wine store, and back to the main hallway where there is a downstairs cloakroom and separate WC.

The first floor

On the first floor there is a spacious landing reflecting the space below on the ground floor. On the landing there is a walk-in laundry room, and a separate WC.

The master bedroom suite is a beautiful grand room, occupying the space directly above the main reception room below and with the same south-facing views and fireplace.

There is a private bathroom suite with a WC, shower unit and free-standing bathtub in a lovely spacious room occupying the area above the dining-room.

The bedroom and bathroom have interconnecting doors and form a fabulous suite.

Also on the first floor overlooking the village street, there is a large double bedroom with a private ensuite bathroom, an interconnecting bedroom with two twin beds and a third large double bedroom which shares a family bathroom down an internal hallway where there is a single bedroom at the end, forming a total of five bedrooms on the first floor.

The second floor has two further bedrooms beneath the eaves which share a bathroom, and on this level there is access to a vast attic space with high ceilings.

The Guest house

The guest house has an open-plan kitchen/ reception-room, a downstairs shower room, and a first  floor with two double bedrooms.

Summary

Between the two houses there are eight bedrooms (three of which are ensuite in the main house) and two in guest house : ten in total.

To whom might this property appeal

This property will appeal to lovers of grand 18th century properties providing a large number of bedrooms over two houses, either for a family or potentially for anyone wishing to organise retreats (which have been held in this property in the past.)

The property is in good decorative order and has preserved many of its original features such as its old moldings, its old parquet and tile floors, fireplaces adorned with trumeaux, staircase and interconnecting doors.