A restored former farmhouse in the Quercy area, near Cahors, with a guests' house, barn, swimming pool and 9 hectares of grounds - ref 790817
A restored former farmhouse in the Quercy area, near Cahors, with a guests' house, barn, swimming pool and 9 hectares of grounds.
The municipality of Francoulès in the heart of the Occitanie region, in the Lot area, is part of the greater Cahors urban area. It is located fifteen kilometres to the north of Cahors and is situated in the Causse de Gramat hills, which is the largest and wildest of the four plateaux in the Quercy area, where nature is still untamed. The green slopes and bottoms of the Natura 2000 classed Rauze Valley are dotted with old wash houses and walking trails. The medieval village boasts a wealth of heritage: the Saint-Pierre-de-Liversou church, a listed historical monument, and the Saint-Firmin church, whose sculpture of the Burial of Jesus is a fine piece of sacred art. Francoulès can also be easily reached thanks to the good road infrastructure. Toulouse is 1 hour 30 minutes away, while Paris can be reached in 4 hours 30 minutes. The railway station in Cahors is 15 kilometres away, while the Toulouse-Blagnac international airport is 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Seen from above, the property seems to spread over the Causse de Gramat plateau. Its light-yellow colour, typical of the Quercy region, contrasts nicely with the green meadows and woods. At the end of a private lane, the two-storey main residence, its traditional agricultural outbuildings and a remarkable, circular dovecote pay witness to the estate's historical agricultural status. The volumes of the main house are laid out on a horizontal axis in keeping with tradition. Its walls made of local limestone are a natural match for the landscape and its authentic as well as characteristically brown tiled roof protects the rooms below. The farm buildings - a barn, workshop and bread oven - are set around the house on several sides. A little further away, a traditional building, which has now been converted into a guest's house, overlooks the swimming pool. The garden is a mixture of flat and gently sloped areas surrounding the house. A patio sheltered by climbing plants on a pergola and lawns in the shade of oak trees make up some of the different areas. In the middle of this landscape, a swimming pool provides a refreshing note. The property spreads over several hectares, enclosed by dry stone walls and hedgerows. It follows the relief of the land and boasts wide open views of the Causses plateau and surrounding valleys.
The houseThis edifice perfectly illustrates the traditional rural architecture of the Quercy area, combining sober volumes and functional efficiency. Its rectangular façade is made of local light-yellow limestone, whose patina has produced a warm palette of colours ranging from gentle ochre to off-white. The walls made of carefully arranged rubble stone and pointed with lime pay witness to the local stonemasons' know-how. The two-storey building is topped by a gabled roof made of red half round tiles. The main façade is punctuated by three symmetrical vertical rows of openings. Depending on their original proportions, the windows are topped by straight or arched ashlar lintels and are fitted with shutters painted in pale bluish grey, a traditional hue in the Quercy area that combines well with the light-yellow coloured stone. On the ground floor, the larger windows are a reminder of this level's original agricultural purpose. An external stone staircase leads to the top floor, which is typical of the area.
The ground floor
This level was originally used for cattle and crop farming work and has been entirely renovated, resulting in a large living room divided into four separate spaces: a scullery that opens onto the patio under the shade of a pergola covered with climbing plants on the southwest gable, a kitchen, a dining room and a lounge in which there is a large farmhouse fireplace with a massive ...
