Two flats, which have been combined to form a single dwelling, with a garden, in the middle of Cotignac and the greater Var department - ref 376443
Two flats, which have been combined to form a single dwelling, with a garden, in the middle of Cotignac and the greater Var department.
In the Var department, within the greater Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, an 80-metre tall rocky tuff hillside overlooks the village of Cotignac, the latter of which has preserved the vestiges of its ancient history, marked specifically by Louis XIV's pilgrimage in 1660 in order to thank the Virgin Mary for his birth. In addition to this memory are a number of dynamic local traditions, such as the quince festival that animates local life each autumn, while an outdoor theatre hosts, during the summer months, a cinema festival under the stars.
Recently recognised as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", Cotignac has adopted a typically Provencal layout, cadenced by squares, fountains and ancient lanes, while Brignoles is only 20 minutes away by car and the Aix-en-Provence high-speed rail station and Marseille-Provence airport are sixty and 75 minutes away, respectively. Lastly, Saint-Croix Lake and the Verdon Gorge can both be reached in approximately 45 minutes, whereas the Var department's beaches are a 75-minute car ride away and the first ski slopes are accessible in two short two hours.
The three-storey building, constructed in the 17th century with a barrel tile roof, is can be found in the town's historical centre along a sloping alleyway where the kitchens of a hotel, situated a little further up the street, were once located.
As for the entryway, accessible via a solid wood arched doorway, it was formerly a stable whose floor still features paving suitable for horse traffic, while, today, the building has been divided up into five flats. Two of them - the one on the ground floor with a garden and the one on the first floor's western side - make up one unit in the commonhold property.
The Ground-Floor FlatThe building's shared entryway has preserved the characteristic dimensions of ancient constructions and features a staircase with Provencal terracotta tiles and wooden nosing, while the flat, with two separate entrances, is arranged into different spaces facing the garden. The first, a living room - also used as a study - abuts a shower room with a lavatory, whereas a second space includes the entryway, which communicates with a kitchen next to an outdoor patio. From the entryway, a hallway also leads to a vaulted cellar, illuminated by a small window, which provides a number of possibilities for further expansion.The First-Floor FlatBathed in ample natural light thanks to its windows, which provide unobstructed views of the garden, the flat is accessible via two entrances that open on to either the bedroom or living room. Featuring a living room with an open kitchen and a shower room with lavatory, the living area is extended by a large conservatory, which was once a patio.
As for the flat's main bedroom, it includes a work area as well as a wardrobe, whereas the flat's terracotta, stone or polished concrete floors, depending on the room, not only create continuity for the whole, but also emphasise each space's individuality. The GardenShielded from view, a rare commodity in the village centre, the garden, of approximately 400 m², is planted with an ancient mulberry tree, a date-plum tree, a Banks' rosebush, as well as lilacs and irises, while an old stone shed stands next to a rainwater collection basin located under a vaulted recess.The Common AreasThe building's top floor includes a shared covered patio, which was once used for drying laundry.
