A manor house from the late 18th century with a courtyard, garden
and swimming pool, between Montpellier, Nîmes and the wild Camargue countryside
and swimming pool, between Montpellier, Nîmes and the wild Camargue countryside
Aigues-Vives,
GARD
languedoc-roussillon
30670
FR
Location
On the outskirts of the Camargue, this property features a prime address in Aigues-Vives – Aqua Viva in Latin – a name that recalls the prolific natural springs that enabled humans to settle here during the Gallo-Roman period, whose ancient presence is confirmed by the proximity of the Via Domitia, which once connected Italy to Spain.
As for the village, famous for being the birthplace of several major political figures from the Third Republic, including a president, it boasts a green market, shops, schools, medical services and a rich community life centred around bullfighting and winemaking traditions.
In addition, Aigues-Vives is twenty kilometres from Nîmes’ high-speed rail station and thirty kilometres from the one in Montpellier, whereas the centre of Nîmes can be reached in 10 minutes from the TER train station in Vergèze, three kilometres away. Lastly, the airports in Nîmes, Montpellier and Marseille, with flights to both domestic and international destinations, are easily accessible, while the A9 motorway, four kilometres away, makes it possible to reach Spain in two hours, ideal for a weekend getaway.
Description
The manor house, which was once part of a winegrowing estate, is nestled within a peaceful village in the Gard department with approximately 3,000 people, while, accessible from the village square via an impressive 19th-century wrought-iron gate, which opens on to a stone path lined with cypress trees that leads to the dwelling, it also features another entrance, via a more modern gate, on the northern side of the square, providing direct vehicular access to the garden on the left side of dwelling.
Built along a northwest/southeast axis, the L-shaped edifice was designed with a rectangular main building facing east, whereas the architectural complex extends over nearly 500 m² and boasts a minimalist façade with uniformly coursed ashlar stone masonry. As for the blond ochre-colour limestone, it was probably extracted from the nearby Pondres quarry, while the two-storey dwelling is cadenced by 11 rectangular windows/doors, including three evenly spaced glass double doors.
With a projecting cornice highlighting the top of its long-wall façade and creating a clear separation with the dazzling blue sky, the edifice is topped with a barrel tile gable roof, whereas, on its courtyard side, each window and door, flanked by “grey-blue” shutters, very characteristic of the region, opens on to an enclosed courtyard planted with a variety of Mediterranean shrubs, such as lavender, rosemary and agave, under the watchful branches of a centenary Lebanese cedar.
Lastly, its eastern-facing exterior, coated in sand-colour lime plaster, which matches perfectly with the local stone, and topped with a double genoise cornice, providing an elegant touch, faces an initial stone patio, followed by the garden, which combines both stone and vegetation as well as offers unobstructed views of the surrounding hillsides.
Built along a northwest/southeast axis, the L-shaped edifice was designed with a rectangular main building facing east, whereas the architectural complex extends over nearly 500 m² and boasts a minimalist façade with uniformly coursed ashlar stone masonry. As for the blond ochre-colour limestone, it was probably extracted from the nearby Pondres quarry, while the two-storey dwelling is cadenced by 11 rectangular windows/doors, including three evenly spaced glass double doors.
With a projecting cornice highlighting the top of its long-wall façade and creating a clear separation with the dazzling blue sky, the edifice is topped with a barrel tile gable roof, whereas, on its courtyard side, each window and door, flanked by “grey-blue” shutters, very characteristic of the region, opens on to an enclosed courtyard planted with a variety of Mediterranean shrubs, such as lavender, rosemary and agave, under the watchful branches of a centenary Lebanese cedar.
Lastly, its eastern-facing exterior, coated in sand-colour lime plaster, which matches perfectly with the local stone, and topped with a double genoise cornice, providing an elegant touch, faces an initial stone patio, followed by the garden, which combines both stone and vegetation as well as offers unobstructed views of the surrounding hillsides.
The Main Dwelling
Located to the south, the dwelling’s oak front door, which still features its original metal hinges and whose warm tones elegantly contrast with the dwelling’s stone façade, opens on to a foyer with a terrazzo marble floor that traverses the dwelling all the way to the garden on the other side. As the house’s backbone, this initial room provides access to a small sitting room and a dining room, which illustrates the sumptuous Second Empire period, whereas the dining room’s sculpted white marble fireplace, woodwork decorated with trumeau panels depicting pastoral scenes, and wide limestone floor tiles also illustrate the opulence of this house’s past.
The ground floor
Between the courtyard and garden, this floor includes, not far from the sitting room and dining room, an immense living room, with a Burgundy stone tile floor as well as an impressive stone fireplace, in perfect condition, which primarily faces an open kitchen/dining area, of approximately 110 m², communicating, on one side, via glass double doors, with the courtyard and, on the other, with the garden thanks to another pair of glass double doors and a window. As for the kitchen, it was renovated in a contemporary manner, while the ground floor also includes a bedroom, accessible via a door towards the back of the living room, as well as a separate lavatory, the dwelling’s boiler room and a staircase to the cellar.
The upstairs
The stone staircase, safeguarded by a wrought-iron bannister, leads to a landing with grey Montpellier barre limestone floors. Each of the five bedrooms on this floor, accessible via a small corridor from the landing, comes with its own shower room or bathroom and all look out on to both the courtyard and garden, ensuring dual-aspect light that changes with the seasons.
Accessible via the same hallway, a utility room and two adjacent attic spaces – in all likelihood the property’s former hay barn where the feed was stored – extend over nearly 115 m², whereas, located above the current living room, these spaces, to be converted depending on the future owners’ wishes, provide spectacular views of the surrounding garrigue-blanketed countryside.
The Outbuilding
Next to the main dwelling and abutting its southeast corner, this two-storey stone structure is topped with a barrel tile roof, accessible via glass double doors from the garden and includes a living room, a study and two bedrooms with a shower room and lavatory.
The Garden and Swimming Pool
Completely enclosed by walls and sheltered from view, the garden is planted with Mediterranean vegetation and, specifically, nettle trees, oleanders, pruned olive trees and birds of paradise, while, partially covered in grass and facing east, it extends over 1,800 m² and provides breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside.
Skirted by several stone patios, in front of the dwelling’s oldest section, a shaded patio is used for al-fresco dining, whereas, near the outbuilding, an enclosed flagstone courtyard includes a freestanding fountain and a patio festooned with centenary wisteria.
In addition, a flight of steps provides access to a terraced area encircled by a tall wall where a heated infinity pool (approximately 10 x 5 metres) is surrounded by an immense wooden deck, while a gate to the north of the garden provides access to a parking area.
Our opinion
Ideally located on the outskirts of the Camargue region between Nîmes and Montpellier, this edifice’s stately and relatively austere façade conceals the warm and inviting spirit of a family dwelling. Exuding a sense of overall peace and only a stone’s throw away from the village’s amenities, its internal layout creates a fluid circulation between rooms that have been meticulously updated to modern standards of living, whereas, facing southeast, the dwelling provides enchanting views of the surrounding countryside and its changing colour palette depending on the season.
Whether one chooses to live here all year long or stay here for shorter getaways, this property, which could be turned into a family residence, a place to host friends and family or tourist accommodations, as it is currently operated, could be adapted for a variety of different purposes, which only increases its overwhelming interest and appeal.
Reference 937726
| Main building floor area | 445 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 8 |
| 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.
