residences for sale - lot-et-garonne - in a historic town in the southwest

A little background

In the 16th century, protestants as well as Reform sympathizers were banned from the French Court. Marguerite-de-Navarre, a renowned writer, a great politician and the highly influential sister of the powerful King of France, François 1st, chose to welcome them with open arms in her province. The Court of Nérac finished by becoming extremely influential and acquired such weight that it was not wise to remain at a distance. The great historic characters that succeeded one another have left their marks and the town’s cobbled streets still echo with the steps of such well-known personalities as Jeanne-d’Albret, Queen Margot, Henri IV and his minister Sully, Rabelais and Montaigne, who were later to be followed by Georges Sand, Baron Haussmann as well as President Fallières.

The mansion house

As with all old town houses, the various constructions are superposed or overlap one another. This is a particularly good example as the building is in the centre of the old Medieval town. Consequently, the blind wall that borders the alleyway to the rear of the house is none other than that of the old town hall, partially dating from the 14th century, which was abandoned following a fire at the beginning of the 17th century.
Town plans dating from the time of Henri IV show that there were gardens on the site of the house. They include the facade of a house opening on to what was called the “Allée-des-Quatre-Seigneurs” (avenue of the four lords) at the time, but it was set much further back than the current facade.
It is still possible to admire the exterior Medieval-style windows of this old residence set in the wall framework of the central stairway.

The self-contained flat

This house currently comprises a self-contained, 3-roomed flat running the length of the ground floor on the east side and opening on to a small private courtyard at the back.

The children's flat

At the end of the corridor, half-way up the main stairway, is a surprising library illuminated by wide, small-paned windows which provide copious amounts of character and light. Two walls covered with shelves, a very attractive Louis XVI wooden fireplace and astonishing panelled cupboards opening on the sides provide additional refinement to this elegant room overlooking the garden.
The children’s flat, adjoining the library, comprises an L-shaped living room, a shower room with a toilet and a bedroom exuding rustic charm and featuring a half-timbered wall.
The kitchen area planned in the living room has not yet been created but all the plumbing and electric wiring are already in place. This section is, therefore, in need of minor works in order to become functional.
Another access to this flat, via the stables, could make it completely self-contained with a view, for example, to renting it out.

The outbuildings

One half of the stables which opens on to the private alleyway is still in its original condition with its paving slabs and its four old horse loose boxes currently in use as a workshop. A wooden stairway provides access to the floor above the stables, to the children’s flat and to the vast attic in the main house.