A 17th-century estate, combining heritage and modernity,
with stables, a guest cottage and other outbuildings, near Agen
with stables, a guest cottage and other outbuildings, near Agen
Montesquieu,
LOT-ET-GARONNE
aquitaine
47130
FR
Location
Located in the heart of Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the property enjoys a strategic position in the Lot-et-Garonne department, while Agen is approximately ten kilometres away as is the A62 motorway, which provides access to Bordeaux or Toulouse, as well as their international airports, in less than 1.5 hours. Today, Paris can be reached in three hours and ten minutes via train, but the future high-speed rail station in Agen will soon reduce this amount of time to two hours and forty minutes.
In addition, the proximity of the department’s administrative centre as well as major infrastructures, such as a university hub (an annexe of Bordeaux University, I.U.T.), the National School for Penitentiary Administration, upper secondary schools, universities and shops, a hospital and a medical clinic all add to the drawing power of this part of Gascony, whereas the interest for the region is also supplemented by its rich heritage, renowned gastronomy and mild climate.
Description
The private lane, which leads to the property, ascends the wooded hillside overlooking the alluvial plain, traversed by the Garonne Canal and ideal for growing grain as well as fruit trees thanks to the local temperate climate featuring hot summers and plenty of rain, before running alongside a substantial retaining wall and the property’s initial buildings.
Constructed on the side of the hill, the dwelling provides a panoramic view of the Garonne River valley, which defines the border with Gascony. Historically incorporated with a farm and protected from flooding, the estate provides a typical example of a noble dwelling from this region around Agen, while the two-storey dwelling, built over a basement level and bordered by a patio to the northeast, is composed of three buildings arranged around a courtyard, all with understated, plaster-coated stone exteriors, which are cadenced by rectilinear windows and doors surrounded by ashlar stone and topped with brick genoise cornices.
Like the main dwelling, completely renovated, all the other edifices are operational, in accordance with the current owners’ wishes, and arranged around a private enclosed garden. As for this rectangular interior courtyard, covered in both cobblestones and lawn, it provides access to both the dwelling and agricultural buildings, the latter of which feature rendered or pointed rubble stone exteriors, genoise cornices as well as their brick entablatures, evidence of some architectural revisions that date from the Restoration period, while all the buildings are topped with either gabled or hipped roofs covered in barrel or interlocking tiles.
Set back from the building complex, a large barn with its long gallery has been converted into a guest cottage, whereas the grounds, blanketed in lawn and planted with many different varieties of trees, feature a central swimming pool and its pool house, a half-timbered dovecote to the north, an orchard to the southeast and a small grove of trees to the west.
Constructed on the side of the hill, the dwelling provides a panoramic view of the Garonne River valley, which defines the border with Gascony. Historically incorporated with a farm and protected from flooding, the estate provides a typical example of a noble dwelling from this region around Agen, while the two-storey dwelling, built over a basement level and bordered by a patio to the northeast, is composed of three buildings arranged around a courtyard, all with understated, plaster-coated stone exteriors, which are cadenced by rectilinear windows and doors surrounded by ashlar stone and topped with brick genoise cornices.
Like the main dwelling, completely renovated, all the other edifices are operational, in accordance with the current owners’ wishes, and arranged around a private enclosed garden. As for this rectangular interior courtyard, covered in both cobblestones and lawn, it provides access to both the dwelling and agricultural buildings, the latter of which feature rendered or pointed rubble stone exteriors, genoise cornices as well as their brick entablatures, evidence of some architectural revisions that date from the Restoration period, while all the buildings are topped with either gabled or hipped roofs covered in barrel or interlocking tiles.
Set back from the building complex, a large barn with its long gallery has been converted into a guest cottage, whereas the grounds, blanketed in lawn and planted with many different varieties of trees, feature a central swimming pool and its pool house, a half-timbered dovecote to the north, an orchard to the southeast and a small grove of trees to the west.
The Main Dwelling
Facing a verdant interior courtyard to the east, the house is accessible via several entrances: from the south, one opens on to the kitchen, which overlooks the grounds, while its glass double-door main entrance, as well as two other doors, also provide access to the ground floor.
As for the northern side, a small carriage entrance communicates with the interior courtyard, whereas the dwelling’s stone front steps, to the east, provide access, via a large entranceway, to this level's living areas. In addition, tall glass double doors topped with glazed fanlights open on to the immense patio, while, on the garden level, two large doors communicate with the cellar.
The ground floor
From the interior courtyard, the front steps ascend to an entryway – wide enough to be turned into a billiard room, for example – that communicates with several different rooms. On one side, a dual-aspect dining room, illuminated by tall windows, features a carved and painted wooden fireplace, in which a wood-burning stove was installed, while, to the south, a small hallway leads to a cloakroom with a cupboard as well as an inconspicuous staircase to the upstairs level.
To the right of the entrance, a living room with a marble fireplace opens on to the large patio and provides views of the Garonne plain, whereas, directly opposite the front door, a study stands next to a large bedroom with a fireplace, followed by a bathroom, which includes a shower, bathtub, bidet and lavatory, as well as underfloor heating. Lastly, at a right angle, a long corridor provides access to two other bedrooms, each with their own private bathroom, including one with underfloor heating, as well as a separate lavatory and the cellar.
On the southern side of the interior courtyard and giving on to the dining room, the kitchen, facing north and south, combines tradition with convenience, and features, specifically, a fireplace, 2.2 metres wide, fitted with a removable wood-burning stove, while, extending on from here is a large scullery, with simple floor tiles, which could be turned into a summer kitchen. The latter also gives on to the courtyard and a utility room, which abuts a former prune-drying oven with turning trays, which only requires a simple restoration in order to be operational once again.
With the exception of the dining room and kitchen, which feature original Gironde floor tiles, all the main rooms on this level boast new wide-plank parquet floors, whereas the rooms’ floor-to-ceiling heights and wide glass windows provide plenty of sunlight throughout the dwelling’s interiors. Topped with visible wooden ceiling beams, one of which has been carved with the year 1650, the rooms’ décor, with its crown moulding and wood panelling, suggest a major refurbishment during the Regency and Louis XV eras.
The upstairs
A wooden staircase, which provides access to the upstairs level, ascends to a large landing converted into a fitness room topped with visible wooden rafters, while, extending on from here, two large rooms, completely restored and featuring gently sloping ceilings, bull’s-eye windows and skylights are used for storage and as a game room.
Slightly set back from the landing, an independent guest room with a kitchenette could be expanded by creating additional bedrooms, especially since a lavatory and a shower already exist on this part of the floor.
The basement
Underneath the dwelling, two rooms with gravel floors were converted into a wine cellar and storage for the central heating system’s wood pellets, on one side, and a machine room with a recent boiler, two hot water tanks, a compressor and a water softener on the other. Each room is extended by a long vaulted hallway, which passes underneath the patio and provides access to two large doors that open on to the property’s drive.
The Converted Outbuildings
The barn, separated from the dwelling via a blind wall to the north, includes a large covered area, closed off on three sides and open to the east, with small original cobblestones and a floor-to-ceiling height of more than five metres, while its proportions (approximately 20 x 8 metres) give the whole the appearance of a reception hall.
Extending on from here, to the south, a chicken coop is awaiting to be restored, whereas, to the north, a single-storey guest cottage was furnished in a clean and modern style, combining convenience with comfort.
Inside, a living room with a fireplace provides access to two bedrooms, including one that gives on to the covered outdoor area, as well as a tiled shower room, a separate lavatory and a fitted kitchen. With new parquet floors throughout, except in the shower room, each room features individual electric heat and double-glazed windows.
The Adjacent Outbuildings
Surrounding the courtyard, and accessible from the carriage entrance to the north, seven adjacent stone buildings are fully operational in terms of their respective original purposes. The longest of the seven, the stable, includes eight looseboxes for horses, in excellent condition, whereas, following on from here is a low round tower with a lavatory, as well as a covered outdoor area for storing hay and straw. Lastly, in one corner, a large woodshed with impressive wooden rafters precedes the garage, the workshop and, in the back, the former wine storehouse.
The Grounds
Extending over nearly eight hectares and bordered by a thick row of young oaks as well as shrubs, they are planted with mimosas, oaks, chestnuts and Lebanese cedars, while, in the middle, the swimming pool with stone edges and a wooden deck, is surrounded by lawn and flowers and comes with a pool house built out of local stone and topped with a tile roof.
Closing off the property to the west, woods, with a variety of trees, is located at the end of a bridal path lined with centennial trees, not far from two secluded duck ponds, whereas, further to the north, a 17th-century dovecote, typical of the region, acts like a sentinel near the main drive, which winds its way up from the small road below. As for the southeast part of the grounds, in front of the barn, a piece of land features rows of seedbeds, while, behind the barn, an orchard, concealed by the covered outdoor area’s high wall, faces an arbour festooned with abundant roses.
Our opinion
Designed with equal precision, this architectural and landscaped composition features understated interior décor, balanced proportions and immaculate exterior amenities that require little maintenance. Ideal for entertaining, both inside and outside, the estate also boasts a large interior courtyard guaranteeing privacy for all.
As for its future owners, they will be able to enjoy activities such as horse riding, hiking, gardening, golfing as well as exceptional musical programming thanks to the Prayssas auditorium or recitals in Ferrassou, while the proximity of Agen also facilitates the supply of materials needed for any future renovations of the outbuildings, all the while relying on the overall excellent condition of the annexes’ structural elements, which have significant aesthetic and worthwhile potential.
Reference 177243
| Land registry surface area | 7 ha 68 a 20 ca |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
Share
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.
