A 15th-century rural estate in almost 4-hectare grounds, with a swimming pool
and 360° views, in the north of the Lot-et-Garonne area
and 360° views, in the north of the Lot-et-Garonne area
Duras,
LOT-ET-GARONNE
aquitaine
47120
FR
Location
The property can be found in a sector where the Lot-et-Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde areas meet. Several minutes away, the characterful town of Duras, dominated by its imposing castle and boasting shops and a market, overlooks the Dropt Valley. The fortified towns of Eymet, Monpazier and Lalinde punctuate the landscape with their regularly laid out streets, while the castles in Biron, Bridoire and Monbazillac are interspersed along the Bergerac and Duras wine routes. Marmande is situated to the south, approximately twenty kilometres away. The River Dordogne runs through, Bergerac, a town renowned for its architecture as well as history, which also has a railway station, international airport and hospital, all within 30 minutes’ reach. The property is 1 hour 15 minutes from Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, while Agen and Toulouse are respectively 1 hour and 2 hours away.
Description
At the summit of a small hill, this former farmhouse made of light-yellow stone, whose origins date back to the 15th century, dominates undulating meadows. The property can be reached through an automatic gate opening onto a winding drive that gradually leads up to the buildings. The estate spreads over 4 uninterrupted hectares. The panormaic 360° view from the hillock takes in the countryside of southwest France.
The property is made up of two buildings: the main house, resulting from the transformation of a carefully renovated former barn, and a stone-built guests’ house, in keeping with the local tradition of hospitality. The south-facing buildings boasts long, light yellow stone facades, punctuated by tall, small-paned, windows, allowing light to generously stream in. The hipped roof made of barrel tiles conceals a roof frame with remarkable volumes that can be perceived from outside thanks to the size of the edifice.
A covered patio, whose roof is supported by square columns and which stands beneath a ceiling decorated with coloured cement tiles, stretches along the main facade. The frames of the double-glazed windows are painted white and fitted with double-leaf shutters.
The property is made up of two buildings: the main house, resulting from the transformation of a carefully renovated former barn, and a stone-built guests’ house, in keeping with the local tradition of hospitality. The south-facing buildings boasts long, light yellow stone facades, punctuated by tall, small-paned, windows, allowing light to generously stream in. The hipped roof made of barrel tiles conceals a roof frame with remarkable volumes that can be perceived from outside thanks to the size of the edifice.
A covered patio, whose roof is supported by square columns and which stands beneath a ceiling decorated with coloured cement tiles, stretches along the main facade. The frames of the double-glazed windows are painted white and fitted with double-leaf shutters.
The main house
The upstairs
A stone staircase leads to a covered terrace. Through the doorway, there is a remarkable space where the original roof structure and its imposing, century-old oak beams provide structure to the living areas. Some of these still bear traces of the original joinery, with exposed dowels and visible mortise-and-tenon joints. The flooring is made up of a combination of terracotta tiles and oakwood parquet, forming the basis of a living room boasting a large ashlar fireplace, and a dining room with a fitted kitchen extending from it. The many windows offer panoramic views of the countryside. A central landing leads to a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, followed by a second shower room. To the north, a second covered terrace, bordered by wrought-iron guard-rails, provides shelter from the intense summer heat.
The garden-level floor
This level can be reached by an inside staircase and is like a veritable independent apartment bathed in light. A long corridor with bright-coloured walls leads to rooms paved with period terracotta tiles. The level is made up of several carefully decorated bedrooms, all which open out onto the garden. The master bedroom stands next to a walk-in wardrobe as well as a shower room with a lavatory. Another bedroom also has an en suite shower room and a separate lavatory. A bar area makes up the main room, with a carmine red lacquered counter with yellow edging, saffron coloured walls and an imposing untreated oakwood beam. An office/study with plenty of bookshelves, a utility room and storage space occupy the adjoining part of this level.
The guests’ house
This entirely independent stone construction is adjoining to the main building. The ground floor includes a living room/dining room with exposed stonework on the walls, dominated by an imposing period fireplace. A kitchen area boasts geometric patterned cement tiles. Two bedrooms come next, one of which is in its original state with exposed stonework, followed by a modern shower room entirely in polished concrete. On the upper floor, two vast rooms beneath the rafters are awaiting conversion.
The grounds
The land covers an area of approximately 4 hectares, surrounds the buildings and features a gently undulating landscape, consisting of meadows, recent plantations and clusters of trees. Close to the buildings, a 14-metre by 4-metre, salt-water treated swimming pool is bordered by decking and a jacuzzi, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside.
Our opinion
This place is made for new occupants seeking a little distance from the hustle and bustle as well as peacefulness. Indeed, in the past, several authors chose to stay here to write. The rooms bathed in light, the 360-degree panoramic view and the grounds covering around 4 hectares create an environment conducive to literary or artistic pursuits, while remaining within reasonable reach of local amenities. Today, the house is the result of a meticulous restoration that has preserved the character of traditional Périgord sector rural buildings, while incorporating features required for modern comfort. The property’s layout enables a variety of uses: a family home with a separate guests’ house, bed-and-breakfast accommodation, or a place dedicated to creative pursuits for anyone wishing to make it a long-term retreat.
895 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 490538
| Main building floor area | 422 m² |
| Outbuildings floor area | 97 m² |
| Land registry surface area | 3 ha 96 a 80 ca |
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.
