A fully renovated 15th-century rural estate in 4-hectare grounds,
with a swimming pool, in the north of the Lot-et-Garonne area
with a swimming pool, 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 land 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. Lastly, the property is also well positioned in relation to Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, which is 1 hour 15 minutes away. The cities of Bordeaux, Agen and Toulouse are respectively 1 hour 15 minutes, 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 the surrounding 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 broad, unbroken, 360° view from the hillock is a broad, 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, double-leaf openings, allowing light to generously stream in. The hipped roof made of traditional local barrel tiles is supported by a roof frame with remarkable volumes that can be perceived from outside thanks to the size of the roofs.
A vast 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 white-painted window frames, double-glazing and double-leaf shutters pay witness to the care lavished upon the renovation.
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, double-leaf openings, allowing light to generously stream in. The hipped roof made of traditional local barrel tiles is supported by a roof frame with remarkable volumes that can be perceived from outside thanks to the size of the roofs.
A vast 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 white-painted window frames, double-glazing and double-leaf shutters pay witness to the care lavished upon the renovation.
The main house
A stone staircase leads to a covered patio. Behind the entrance door, there are remarkable volumes housing a period roof frame, with beams made from hundred-year-old oaks structuring the living rooms. Some of them boast exposed dowels and tenons, revealing traces of how they were assembled. The combination of these features and volumes with light-coloured walls creates a dialogue between heritage and modern renovation. In the lounge and dining room, there is terracotta tiled and oakwood stripped flooring, with the lounge boasting a large ashlar fireplace. The many windows make it possible to enjoy panoramic views of the countryside. After the dining room, there is a fitted kitchen. A central landing leads to a bedroom with an en suite bathroom and to a shower room. To the north, a patio provides shade from the 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 sleeping area 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, in which the carmine red lacquered counter with yellow edging, the saffron coloured walls and an imposing untreated oakwood beam create a warm and pleasant ambiance. An office/study with plenty of bookshelves, a utility room and storage space complete the layout of this level.
The guests’ house
This entirely independent stone construction is adjoining to the main building and is ideal for welcoming passing guests, usage as holiday cottage rental or creating an artist’s studio. The ground floor includes a living room/dining room with exposed stonework on the walls, dominated by an imposing period fireplace. A kitchen area with geometric patterned cement tiles, two bedrooms, one of which is in its original state with exposed stonework, and a modern shower room in polished concrete, grace this level. On the upper floor, two vast rooms beneath the rafters are awaiting conversion.
The grounds
They surround the buildings with rolling greenery, spread over 4 hectares. This harmonious rural scene is made up of undulating meadows, young plantations and coppices of trees. In the foreground, a 14-metre by 4-metre salt-filtered swimming pool, surrounded by sun-bathed decking and a jacuzzi, fits into the landscape, like a mirror reflecting the Gascony sky. From there, the unobstructed view stretches across the rolling countryside to the horizon.
Our opinion
This is a place of calm and concentration that is conducive to creation. Several authors previously set up home between these walls, finding the hillock overlooking the valleys of Gascony to be an ideal location for inspiring their writings. The vast volumes bathed in light, the 360° view and the 4-hectare grounds form an especially well-suited environment for literary or artistic activity, in a bucolic setting that is nonetheless near to all essential amenities. The residence is the fruit of a both respectful and ambitious metamorphosis that has preserved the spirit of rural Périgord edifices, while integrating requirements for modern comfort. Furthermore, the place’s layout provides a plethora of possible purposes: a family residence with an independent guests’ house, bed and breakfast accommodation or a creative retreat.
975 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 490538
| Land registry surface area | 3 ha 96 a 80 ca |
| Main building floor area | 422 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 97 m² |
| Number of lots | 1 |
Aucune procédure en cours menée sur le fondement des articles 29-1 A et 29-1 de la loi n°65-557 du 10 juillet 1965 et de l’article L.615-6 du CCH
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.
