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Village castle facing the Pyrenees
Location
On the borders of the French departments of Haute-Garonne and Ariège, 45 minutes from Toulouse (French TGV train station, international airport) this castle stands in a dominant position on the outskirts of a small village, its facades facing south and north. There is a primary school in the village which is less than ten minutes from a bigger town with all shops, amenities, doctors and schools (school bus for the secondary school).
The nearest hospital is 20 minutes away.
Description
The property spanning a surface area of 1 ha 70 a 65 ca (4.22 acres) is built on a motte: to the south of the Pyrenean mountains; north of their foothills. The property is accessed via an entrance formed by two brick pillars that support the entrance gates. The south side is bordered by the narrow, little used road that leads to the village. The north side has a superb view of the undulating hills where the nearest house is just over half a mile away.
It is therefore the topographical contrast that takes pride of place here. A monumental brick archway topped by a pediment materialises this contrast. The castle thus appears to be laid out like a theatre set, the principal actors of which would then be two aspects of nature, as well as the residence’s raison d’être. A residence which could not be imagined elsewhere.
According to certain architectural features (candle-snuffer roof tower atop a buttress, and the structural shape of the beams in the large Renaissance-style room) the origins of the castle date back to the 16th and even late 15th century. The castle was redesigned over the years up until the 19th century. Its construction is typical of the architecture in the Languedoc region: brick-built with a Roman tile roof. This castle was used as a large residence for a rural noble family even though there are no longer any traces of a coat-of-arms.
The buildings dedicated to farming activities cover a large floor surface area (615 m² / 6,620 sq ft).
House and outbuildings are in pristine condition as they have always been maintained. And, although the swimming pool is but a few yards from the north facade, it is extremely discreet and does not distract from the architectural unity of the buildings.
Our opinion
Enthusiasts of the nuances of the Languedoc brick will take their daily dose of pleasure from this property. The brick, which focuses the eye, is not uniform, in tone or in texture, but produces astonishing chromatic nuances in accordance with the light: it is worth spending days and seasons here just for the experience. On entering the courtyard, visitors are immediately taken by the architectural aesthetics of the buildings and their proportions.
The monumental archway facing the entrance of the grass courtyard frames the sky. It inevitably arouses curiosity and a desire to explore the property. The spectacular aspect of the view over the Pyrenees contrasts with that of the hills situated to the north. As the house is in such a good state of repair it can be lived in straightaway without any prior works.
Furthermore, the majority of the buildings are currently unused, thus enabling the new owners to put them to whatever use they so desire. Stables, attic space, wine storehouse, large Renaissance-style room, storerooms and attics are the major features of this property. The potential to carry out works in parts which serve no current purpose is all the greater as it is more than possible to live comfortably on the premises at the same time. It is rare for comfortable living conditions to co-exist with free rein. The surrounding countryside exudes a real tranquillity.
785 000 €
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.
Reference 3043PF
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 70 a 65 ca (4.22 acres) |
| Main building surface area | 557m2 (5996 sq ft) |
| Outbuilding surface area | 1163m2 (12,519 sq ft) |
Regional representative
Philippe Fritsch +33 (0)6 35 45 00 83
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
