An ancient dwelling with 650 m², a bar, theatre, cinema and garden, to be reimagined, in a medieval fortified town in the south of the Quercy region -
An ancient dwelling with 650 m², a bar, theatre, cinema and garden, to be reimagined, in a medieval fortified town in the south of the Quercy region.
Located in the southeast of the Lot-et-Garonne department and perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Séoune River valley, Puymirol is the oldest fortified town in the department. Founded in 1246 under the impetus of Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of King Louis IX, also known as Saint Louis, today it still contains the methodical layout of its medieval origins, cadenced by cobblestone alleyways and shaded arcades, while the vestiges of its ramparts still bear witness to its defensive role, emphasised by the fortified door that marks the entrance to the city. From the village's heights, there are breath-taking views of the surrounding rolling landscape where fields and copses alternate with one another and create a mosaic of changing hues, whereas, only fifteen kilometres away, is the city of Agen, whose high-speed train station makes it possible to reach Paris in 3.5 hours. In addition, the fortified town is also equidistant between Toulouse and Bordeaux, each accessible in approximately one hour.
In the middle of the central square, the massive dwelling with its ground-floor arcades is emblematic of the architecture found in fortified villages in south-western France. Thanks to its symmetrical exterior, highlighted by ochre-colour plaster and ornamental décor clad in red brick, its main façade is both stately and eye-catching.
As for the ground floor, cadenced by ashlar stone arches, it bears witness to the building's original commercial vocation, typical of fortified village houses where the dwellings were usually located over the ground-floor shops, while, upstairs, tall arched windows, framed by bricks and topped with sculpted motifs, embellish the whole with an almost Florentine-like appearance.
In addition, its dark-colour louvred shutters add a touch of refinement to the whole and bear witness to the care given to the building's architectural details both inside and outside, whereas, thanks to its barrel tile hipped roof, the building blends in harmoniously with the rest of the edifices around the village square. It should also be noted that behind its exterior adorned with southern accents, its interior spaces contain substantial volumes and a number of original elements.
With three storeys, the main building includes seven bedrooms, two living rooms, a former theatre, a library, a bar and, on the second floor, a patio, while, sharing a garden, to be reimagined, with the main edifice, an annexe dwelling would provide the property, once it is renovated, with additional inhabitable spaces.
The Main DwellingUnder the protection of its arcades, the building's wooden front door is framed by wide picture windows, which provide views of the exterior and make it possible for both visitors and residents to enjoy the shaded patio.
The ground floor
On the floor of the dwelling's very threshold, a tile displays the word "Hotel", recalling the premises' initial purpose. Decorated with wood panelling and a ceiling with geometrical patterns, the entrance hall provides access to several rooms on this floor as well as on the upstairs levels thanks to the central staircase. On the right, two ionic columns frame the doorway to the bar, which has preserved its wide windows, antique wooden bar and cement floor tiles decorated with black, grey, white and blue patterns, while, to the left, the kitchen still contains its original cast-iron enamelled stove as well as its cement floor tiles, which are identical to those in the entrance hall. In addition, a door, decorated with a large stained glass vase in shades of pink and green, provides access to the dining room whose rectangular terracotta floor tiles highlight the green almond colour of its wood ...
