A country house and its outbuilding, on 5 hectares of landscaped grounds,
five minutes from a medieval fortified village, between Bordeaux and Toulouse
five minutes from a medieval fortified village, between Bordeaux and Toulouse
Fourcès,
LOT-ET-GARONNE
aquitaine
32250
FR
Location
In the Gascony part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the property, which provides breath-taking views of the Pyrenees, was built overlooking a small valley blanketed with meadows, vineyards and thickets, while a grocery shop, bakery and a medieval fortified village, considered to be one of the prettiest in France, are all easily accessible on bicycle.
In addition, within a radius of ten kilometres, several other villages include shops, local services and schools, whereas, Condom, an episcopal city that draws many tourists each year thanks to it being named a Top Occitania Site given its location in the greater Armagnac Abbey and Cities area, Nérac, a renowned royal city, and Eauze, the ancient capital of Armagnac, each boasting hospitals, schools and activity centres, are less than 20 kilometres away.
As for Agen, whose high-speed rail station provides access to Paris in three hours and ten minutes, it is 40 kilometres away, while, barely more than 100 kilometres separates the property from the Pyrenees Mountains and the ocean.
Description
The property is located below a small, quiet road, which runs along its northern edge, while, sheltered from view, thanks to a number of verdant flowerbeds and a bamboo grove, the buildings face immense pastureland, converted into paddocks, which provide plenty of light and unobstructed views of the Pyrenees, far off in the distance, for both its living areas and exteriors.
Accessible via a wide electric wrought-iron gate, framed on either side by two pillars, a passable track leads to a parking area for vehicles, located directly opposite the outbuilding/barn’s tall rear metal doors, as well as an immense courtyard bordered by low ashlar stone walls.
In addition, two buildings are situated on either side of a gravel courtyard, the latter of which is decorated with a long rectangular ornamental pond and an olive tree. As for the first building, rectilinear in shape and with 2.5 storeys, it is topped with a hipped roof and follows the grounds’ gently sloping topography, whereas the second, oblong in shape and with two storeys, extends along the courtyard to the west with a covered patio of approximately 40 m².
To the south, low stone walls frame the courtyard in order to create another large patio overlooking the garden, while the landscaped grounds, planted with flowering thickets, a variety of different trees and swaths of lawn, are entirely enclosed with fencing. Lastly, extending on from a vast patio located in front of the dwelling’s southern exterior, several wooden decks surround an octagonal swimming pool, whereas the whole, resembling the deck of a ship, provides dazzling views of the verdant countryside.
Accessible via a wide electric wrought-iron gate, framed on either side by two pillars, a passable track leads to a parking area for vehicles, located directly opposite the outbuilding/barn’s tall rear metal doors, as well as an immense courtyard bordered by low ashlar stone walls.
In addition, two buildings are situated on either side of a gravel courtyard, the latter of which is decorated with a long rectangular ornamental pond and an olive tree. As for the first building, rectilinear in shape and with 2.5 storeys, it is topped with a hipped roof and follows the grounds’ gently sloping topography, whereas the second, oblong in shape and with two storeys, extends along the courtyard to the west with a covered patio of approximately 40 m².
To the south, low stone walls frame the courtyard in order to create another large patio overlooking the garden, while the landscaped grounds, planted with flowering thickets, a variety of different trees and swaths of lawn, are entirely enclosed with fencing. Lastly, extending on from a vast patio located in front of the dwelling’s southern exterior, several wooden decks surround an octagonal swimming pool, whereas the whole, resembling the deck of a ship, provides dazzling views of the verdant countryside.
The Main Dwelling
Built out of lime-pointed stone, the main dwelling, the origins of which date back to the 17th century, is topped with a barrel tile hipped roof, which is, in turn, highlighted by a single genoise cornice. As for its exteriors, they are showcased thanks to ashlar stone quoins and window/door surrounds, while a glass awning protects the dwelling’s front door, on its northern side, from the elements.
Featuring interiors bathed in plenty of natural light thanks to a number of windows, the dwelling’s ground floor, on the same level as the garden, is slightly elevated compared to the courtyard, and only accessible after ascending several stone stairs, followed by the dwelling’s front steps, whereas a flagstone patio, of approximately 60 m² and shaded by several trees, including a tall pine, provides an idyllic outdoor area on nice days.
The garden-level floor
The entrance hall, with burnished terracotta floor tiles and timber framing, was once a dual-aspect hallway typical of Gascon dwellings, but has now been opened up in order to amplify the views of the exteriors, via a glass door and a number of windows on three sides of the living room. With a travertine marble floor, the latter abuts an open kitchen equipped with a central island and a wood-burning stove, while a doorway, created in one of the entrance hall’s timber-framed walls, communicates with a cosy sitting room, meant for playing music and reading.
Lastly, a quarter-turn wooden staircase is located in the middle of the floor, which also includes a bedroom, of 24 m², which comes with its own shower room and private lavatory.
The upstairs
A landing, with pine hardwood floors painted white, provides access to three bedrooms, a living room, a shower room and lavatory. The first bedroom, with sisal carpeting, is topped with a sloping ceiling, painted white, which helps highlight its dark ceiling beams, while the second, facing southeast with views of the valley, features two new glass doors, one of which opens on to a small balcony and a storage space. As for the third dual-aspect bedroom, located next to a sitting room, it comes with its own bathroom and private lavatory and is equipped with double reversible air-conditioning.
The intermediate level
Accessible from the courtyard as well as a set of stairs concealed under a trapdoor directly across from the kitchen staircase, this floor, with 35 m², includes a room with a former wood-fired furnace, a utility area with a sink, as well as a room used for storage.
The Former Barn
Constructed over thick stone foundations and oblong in shape, this building, with a floor area of 400 m², is topped with a barrel tile hipped roof, which has been fully renovated. Featuring two separate areas, its southern section, facing the main dwelling, boasts a tall metal and aluminium-framed atelier window fitted with wide double-glazed windows, which not only provides ample light for this space, of approximately 180 m², but breath-taking views of the surrounding nature as well.
Designed like a loft over two floors, it contains an art studio upstairs, a lounge on its mezzanine level and, on the ground floor, an immense room used to hold concerts. As for the edifice’s northern section, with two floors, it is used for storage and as an attic, and would require interior finishing work in order to make this space inhabitable.
The workshop
Although still pending its electrical connections in order to install a double reversible air-conditioning system, this insulated space, located upstairs with soaring floor-to-ceiling heights, has been designed to resemble a loft and is bathed in plenty of natural light thanks to wide aluminium-framed windows looking out over the garden and pastures.
As for the partition, which separates this space from the mezzanine, the latter of which was created in a corner of the studio for storage purposes, it features several windows, while this space could be used for a number of artistic endeavours, such as yoga, or for a professional activity.
The Grounds and Pastureland
The property’s buildings are located on approximately one hectare of landscaped grounds, which slope slightly downward to the north, thereby guaranteeing unobstructed views of the valley and the swimming pool area, while three hectares of pastureland and three shelters are reserved for their equine residents. In addition, another shed was built in order to store the garden equipment, whereas, a one-hectare plot of land, with a natural spring, a well, as well as many trees, has been left untouched, allowing nature to flourish unchecked and creating a refuge for wildlife, but could be used to extend the size of the paddocks, if necessary.
Our opinion
This undeniably one-of-a-kind dwelling, which not only exudes a bucolic atmosphere both inside and out, but also promises la dolce vita on a permanent basis, is surrounded by trees, verdant nature and a swimming pool, guaranteeing peace and quiet as well as uninterrupted relaxation.
Timeless, this comfortable property, inhabitable as is, would be ideal for a large family, artists seeking tranquillity and inspiration, horse lovers, as well as entertainment enthusiasts, thanks to the concert hall in the outbuilding, while tourism accommodations could also be developed here, especially given its proximity to Occitania’s many must-see landmarks and picturesque villages.
Reference 722425
| Land registry surface area | 4 ha 86 a 15 ca |
| Main building floor area | 235 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 400 m² |
| including refurbished area | 194 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
