At the end of a 100 metre long drive off a quiet lane deep in the Armagnac countryside not far from Labastide d'Armagnac and Barbotan les Thermes, lies this magnificent 18th century country house. Built on the site of what would have been one of the more important properties in the region, this grand country residence (habitable surface area 440m2) has been beautifully renovated with great style, attention to detail and tremendous artistic flair.
The house is set in a U-shape; the grand centre section and the southern wing comprise the main body of the house and the northern wing has been converted into a four-bedroom gite. The main house has five bedrooms, three in the centre section and two in the southern wing meaning that if you have guests to stay they are in their own separate section of the house. It is in the centre section of the house with its big rooms and high ceilings where the owners have allowed their artistic talent full reign. There are different styles in different rooms, but the whole thing knits together extremely effectively. Thus you have an English Georgian drawing-room, a Moroccan bedroom, and the dining hall looks as though it's been lifted straight from a French palace! The rest of it is beautifully decorated in the style you'd expect in a grand French country house.
The property is situated in absolutely fabulous grounds of about two and a half hectares. A gardener's paradise and clearly a labour of love, the garden has been intelligently laid out and is an ingenious mix of formal garden with beautiful country garden with lovely lawns and cleverly positioned flowerbeds providing colourful views from the bedroom windows. There are some great mature trees, a potager (vegetable garden) and there is even a secret garden complete with ruin! To the side of the house there is a fantastic covered terrace with a summer kitchen and great views overlooking the vineyards and surrounding countryside. To the front of the house is a paved courtyard of approximately 200m2, which leads to an outer courtyard of around 400m2 which is gravelled. To the side of this courtyard there is a beautiful koi pond built into part of the ruin of the original house. To the front of the outer courtyard are two stone steps which lead down to a gravelled area which is suitable for car parking. Behind this, some 25 or so metres away from the house, there is a massive armagnac chai in need of restoration. Built around a small central courtyard, it has at least 650m2.of space, considerably more if you include the areas of it that have a second floor. There is also a cow barn with hayloft of approximately 270m2 over both floors. Beyond the barns there is the secret garden, at the bottom of which lies a cottage with a small barn. More accurately described earlier as a ruin, this has its own separate access road, and could therefore be restored as a rental property which, at over 200m away, would not intrude at all on the privacy of the main house.
Early viewing is recommended, just in case I win the lottery...
The property comprises:
Main House - ground floor:
Double doors from the courtyard lead into a lobby area and then into the hall (36m2). Although "only" a hall, it is so large the current owners use it as a formal dining hall. Through to the right is the living room (33m2) with wood-burner and then through to a wonderfully cosy sejour (28m2) with dining and seating area around the fireplace and wood burner. Kitchen (20m2) with small lobby leading to a shower room. There is also bedroom 1 (16m2). Bedroom 2 (15m2) and then further up the hall there is a large family bedroom 3 (36m2) with en-suite bathroom. Through to the left from the hall is the Master Bedroom 4 (37m2) with en-suite bathroom and a further bedroom 5 (26m2) also with en-suite bathroom. Utility room and larder (25m2)
Gite
On the ground floor:
Open plan kitchen (28m2) and living room (41m2) with corridor through to bedroom 1 (15m2) with en-suite bathroom and another bathroom at the end of the hall. There are two staircases to the first floor.
On the first floor:
Staircase 1 leads to a bedroom (19m2) and Staircase 2 leads to bedroom 3 (19m2) and Bedroom 4 (16m2). There is also a WC on this floor.
Outdoor space:
Covered terrace (44m2) including summer kitchen and barbecue. 2.5 ha of garden, mostly laid to lawn with flower beds. Mature trees, vegetable garden, formal garden, koi pond. Inner paved courtyard (200m2), outer gravelled courtyard (400m2), gravelled area for parking.
Outbuildings:
Chai - over 650m2
Cow barn with hayloft - 270m2 over both floors
Small cottage with barn in need of total renovation
Other features:
Connected to mains water, electricity and telephone (ADSL)
Gas central heating and fireplaces with wood-burners
Septic tank
Amenities and other facilities:
7 km from village and all amenities
1 hour 45 minutes from Auch
1 hour 30 minutes from Pau and Airport
2 hours 40 minutes from Toulouse and Blagnac International Airport
2 hours 40 minutes from the Pyrenees and ski resorts
2 hours from the Atlantic Coast
Energy Classification:
Summary information:
Area LABASTIDE-D'ARMAGNAC, Landes
Condition Excellent
Bedrooms 9
Rooms 15
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