A chateau and regional historical monument, with outbuildings and 8-ha grounds, including vineyards, not far from a historical city, in the Gers - ref
A chateau and regional historical monument, with outbuildings and 8-ha grounds, including vineyards, not far from a historical city, in the Gers.
Within the Occitanie region and in the north of the Gers department, halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse, surrounded by sun-drenched countryside, worthy of a Tuscan landscape, the property is located in a region that combines a rich cultural heritage with la dolce vita and an inviting atmosphere.
Seven kilometres away, an ancient episcopal city, with nearly 6,500 inhabitants, is a key stop along the Way of St. James, while the property, situated within a Gascon village, is accessible via the high-speed rail station in Agen (less than 50 kilometres away and providing access to Paris in three hours and 10 minutes) as well as the Bordeaux-Toulouse motorway (with international airports in both cities). Last, but not least, shops, amenities, services and school are all less than ten minutes away by car.
At the end of a B road, a 180-metre lane leads to a car park located next to the chateau's grounds' enclosure wall. From there, the lane becomes a footpath, providing access to a drawbridge that spans deep and currently dry moats, which gives on to the gravel courtyard surrounded by the property's edifices, while the chateau itself is made up of three buildings, each with two floors and laid out in a U-shaped composition around its courtyard.
Built up on a rocky promontory, overlooking the medieval village's dwellings, the chateau abuts a church to the south and looks out over its grounds and surrounding valleys to the east and north, whereas the central structure stands directly opposite the bridge that marks the entrance to the chateau's courtyard.
With its medieval foundations still evident, constructed out of magnificent ashlar stone, with no visible joints, the main façade features a classical style indicative of the 18th century with, in the middle, a heavy door accessible via the chateau's front steps and topped with a triangular pediment. In addition, a number of tall windows and doors cadence its exteriors, while most of its architectural details have been conserved, such as its mullioned windows, majestic stone staircase, parquet floors, crown moulding and fireplaces.
Constructed in 1247 by Montassin de Goalard, Abbot of Condom, the chateau, once a Gascon fortress, has, over the years, been progressively transformed, embellished and opened outwards in the direction of the village, whereas, in 1567, Blaise de Monluc made several improvements before Monsignor de Milon carried out significant modifications in a more classical style in the early 18th century.
The Chateau The main dwelling is made up of two perpendicular wings, creating a courtyard bordered, on its third side, by the church. As the oldest part of the chateau, its northern wing still features the walls of the former medieval edifice, whereas the central axis of the chateau's main façade is topped with a curved pediment and two flat pilasters flank its entrance.
With tall, mullioned windows giving on to the courtyard with a well, on its western side, the chateau's exterior is flanked by two towers, while a gallery with a wrought-iron balcony runs along the length of this exterior, as well as on its southern side, which provides access to the estate's wine warehouse.
To the north, a double flight of stone steps connects the chateau's ground floor and service quarters, converted into a boutique, with its grounds, which extend all the way to the property's vineyards, accessible via a lane lined with plane trees, whereas a rooftop terrace created in the 19th century is located on top of the building that overlooks the moats to the east and a carriage door acts as a gateway to the nearby village.
The intermediate level
An initial landing leads to an office, while a second one ...
