A restored sheep barn, with outbuildings and 1.5 hectares of land with a swimming pool, in the Gers area, 40 minutes from Agen and 1 hour from Toulous
A restored sheep barn, with outbuildings and 1.5 hectares of land with a swimming pool, in the Gers area, 40 minutes from Agen and 1 hour from Toulouse.
This property stands on the slope of a hill, along an old part of the Saint James' Way, opposite the Arrats Valley and the Pyrenees, below a hamlet with a 13th-century Gascony castle, in the Occitanie region, in the Lomagne landscape renowned for its quality of life and gastronomy, 5 minutes from a picturesque, lively fortified village with a population of approximately 1,000 and essential services, shops and schools. Many historical sites, colourful markets, cultural events and renowned restaurants can be found nearby. By road, the village of Saint-Clar is 5 minutes away, Fleurance is 13 kilometres away, Lectoure is 20 minutes away, Agen with its high-speed TGV train station is 40 minutes away and Toulouse plus its international airport is 1 hour away.
A country road leads to a group of stone houses that are overlooked by a 13th-century Gascony castle that dominates the valley. Just a few metres and a further bend separate the edges of the hamlet from the entrance to the property, via a discrete stone paved drive leading down to a grassy area where several vehicles can be parked. On the hillside, opposite the valleys of the Gers almost reminiscent of Tuscany, the buildings are so well integrated into their environment that they are almost invisible. Tucked away among the vegetation, only a small part of a roof peeks through the foliage, revealing the presence of a house.
In the same alignment, two recently constructed buildings with wooden cladding are set against a backd-rop of lime trees that provide shade on sunny days. They nestle into the hillside and are well integrated into the grounds. Between them, a concrete staircase leads to the upper part of the plot where the main residence and an outbuilding standing opposite can be found. Inspired by Provence, small stone walls underline the terraced garden, filled with many tree types typical of southern France. From a patio adjoining the residence's southern façade, a flight of steps leads to a vast swimming pool area, surrounded by lush and exotic vegetation. The buildings overlook the various terraces in the grounds and approximately 1.5 hectares of land on which there is an orchard and a meadow, bordered by old trees.
The main dwellingThis rectangular building has three storeys, each of which leads outside into a part of the garden. It was previously made up of two separate buildings. One, a sheep barn, was erected in the 13th century, while the other was built in the 19th century. The edifice was fully restored in 2003, with the chief aim of creating a functional residence, steeped in history, where noble materials blend with simple as well as slightly modern lines and this challenge was successfully met. The building boasts stone façades dotted with windows with ashlar frames, most of which are rectangular, apart from three, which are arched. A double genoise corbel underlines the renovated gabled roof made of half-round tiles.
The street-level floor
After passing through the olive-green entrance door with identically coloured shutters that enhance the hue of the stone, the Provence-inspired and authentic charm that reigns supreme outside switches to a sober and elegant ambiance made up of noble lines and materials. The floor paved with black marble slabs strikes a contrast with the Catalan vaulted ceiling. To the south, beneath a high, sloped ceiling, in a row, there is a large study including workspaces, a bedroom with cupboards and its adjoining shower room and separate lavatory. Off from the hall, the lounge, which boasts a modern fireplace, includes a reminder of the hillside location, with a protruding rock integrated into the décor. Next to the lounge, a utility room that ...
