Historical property

in the heart of Lectoure

 This beautiful and historical building sits in the heart of Lectoure, one of the most beloved towns in Gascony, popular with locals and visitors from all over the world, who flock here to enjoy respite at its beautiful thermal centre, or to admire the architecture of the town with its ancient medieval streets and glorious cathedral which can be seen on the hilltop of Lectoure for miles around.

The town itself has a wealth of shops and brocantes, eclectic restaurants and tea-rooms. There is also a primary school and a secondary school specialising in the Arts, named after the Maréchal Lannes, the Duke of Montebello one of Napoleon’s most brilliant generals.

Lectoure is infused with life all year round, with a theatre and a cinema, as well as a casino for those who fancy a flutter.

The surrounding Gascon countryside provides a rich tapestry with an ever-changing palate of colours throughout the seasons. The Gastronomical heart of France, the townspeople relish their weekly Friday morning market, which is a riot of colour, tastes and smells, from local food-stalls to flower-sellers.

This property sits in the heart of the historical centre of town with all its hustle and bustle, and yet provides a serene and tranquil home to its current owner, who has infused life into the property and much artistic flair; respecting both the history of the building and the local architecture of Lectoure.

The property sits in a quiet lane, and has a discreet stone façade. From the exterior it is difficult to discern the grandeur beyond its pale stone walls.

The property is impressive in size, and as the old wooden door swings open, we find ourselves in the quiet hush of 13th, 17th and 18th century France, the property having evolved over the centuries.

The ground floor, as is often the case in homes of nobility, is reserved for the more practical aspects of life, with a vast vaulted cellar, which could house a large collection of wine or Armagnac. The foundations of the property are very much rooted in the 13th century.

 The whisper of cool stone beneath our feet, a sizeable stone water-well in the cellar area, and a lovely artist’s studio on the other side of the hallway, with a second private artist’s gallery, provide immediate scope for a painter or potter.

We stop to admire the heavy wooden ceiling-beams which would have been lifted into place to support the rafters above, some time in the 13th century.

The ancient wooden staircase is a work of art. It rises gently, each step wide enough to stop and admire the high ceilings and stone walls.

The current owner reminds us that of course in days of old, the staircases of Lectoure’s most elegant homes needed to be wide enough to encompass the swish of a crinoline dress!

 We ascend to the first floor, dressed in our garish 21st century garb, and with each step upwards we leave behind a little more of our hot and flustered selves, and dive with a sense of calm, and relaxation, into this most peaceful of homes; a harmony and tranquillity which is enhanced at every turn by its faultless interior design.

Taking photographs is a delight – it’s like falling into the glossy pages of Elle Decoration. The colours are perfect, discreet chalky whites, creams and beiges; subtle colours that capture the sunlight from the outside, and casts a magical hue as we “glide” from room to room admiring the period features, which on the upper level in style at least, feel more 17th and 18th century, with the old terra-cotta flooring, original fireplaces, high ceilings and tall windows.

One lives in this property as one might in a luxurious apartment in Toulouse, Bordeaux or Paris.

The first floor

 On the first floor, we find a delightfully decorative yet well-appointed kitchen, with a servant’s corridor to the rear, which opens onto a set of stairs back down to the cellar (no longer in use), a laundry- room, with a large walk-in storage area, and a separate WC.

The kitchen sits beside a fabulous dining-room, with fitted cupboards to house the porcelain, for the elegant dinners one will host.

On the other side of the stairwell, a large double bedroom awaits, with a decorative alcove for the bed (another nod at days gone by) and a separate bathroom.

The second floor

 On the second floor, a long hallway flooded with light from the tall windows which punctuate its entire length, leads to a reception room at the far end, which is currently dressed with a large library style vitrine cupboard, with a fireplace.

Besides here, there is a study, and a room which has been converted into a useful laundry/dressing-room, and which enables the current owner to store everything neatly away without the need for large wardrobes which might clutter the bedrooms.

On the other side of the stairwell there is a sitting room, which opens directly onto a large double bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. A small servants hallway runs behind the bathroom, providing a discreet passageway back to the main sitting-room.