An urban chateau dating back to 1930 with an outhouse, a swimming pool and tree-dotted
grounds, nestled by the town of Cahors in south-west France, in the country's Lot department
grounds, nestled by the town of Cahors in south-west France, in the country's Lot department
Cahors,
LOT
midi-pyrenees
46000
FR
Location
The property lies in south-west France, on the west bank of the River Lot, beside the beautiful town of Cahors, which is known for its fine red wine, its well-maintained gardens and its famous bridge: Pont Valentré, a remarkable medieval construction listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with three towers – a bridge that the French writer André Breton described as ‘a miracle of stone upon the river’. The chateau is nestled in the south of a town that has 3,600 inhabitants and that offers many shops and amenities for everyday needs. The edifice towers upon a hill, around 150 metres above the river. Seen from above, the whole plot forms a heart shape. The chateau lies in the middle of this heart shape.
Description
The property’s entrance is at the top of a hill that looks down at a shopping zone of Cahors. The chateau was built upon a hill. The plot’s outer retaining wall, with its remarkable height and strength, is impressive. A former water tower made of brick welcomes visitors like a sentry positioned at the edge of the plot. A drive leads downwards and a meadow of horses extends on the other side of it. Beyond a long bend and the first trees, an esplanade, used for parking, comes into view. Across its gravelled ground, you can easily reach the stone terraces that surround the chateau. The chateau was built in 1930 in a style that recalls the elegance and harmony of classical French architecture. It offers a floor area of 455m². With its pure-white elevations and the perfect symmetry of its south-facing facade that looks out at the tree-dotted grounds, which cover over a hectare, the edifice seems to have been taken straight out of a picture book. Natural light shines through age-old trees with effects that vary from season to season. Bucolic views from each window in the dwelling embrace these majestic trees. On the grounds, there is a swimming pool and an elegant outhouse that could be turned into a workshop, a guesthouse or a garage.
The chateau
The chateau is made of stone and concrete. It has a basement, a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor. A roof of flat tiles in good condition crowns the edifice. Tall windows punctuate its elevations and bathe the interior in natural light. The home’s central heating uses mains gas. Several underground cisterns collect rainwater. They could be used to water the garden and the plants on the terraces.
The ground floor
Each room forms a living painting where the charm of former periods combines with touches of modern comfort. This ground floor contains the reception rooms. There is a dining room, three lounges, a kitchen, a scullery, a utility room and a lavatory. The main rooms have wood strip flooring, sculpted fireplaces and fine mouldings. They reflect the fineness of art deco. These rooms lead out onto terraces on the south and east sides.
The first floor
There are three spacious bedrooms on the first floor. Each one has its own private bathroom and terrace. The bedrooms have wood-strip flooring. The hallways are spacious too. And there are many storage spaces on this first floor.
The second floor
Up on the second floor, there is a spacious hallway, a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and two extra bedrooms, which share a large bathroom. From the landing, you can reach a loft space with a window. This loft space could easily be turned into an extra bedroom.
The grounds
The grounds are dotted with trees – especially pines, but also oaks and ashes. These grounds cover over one hectare. An Austrian pine towers over the main lawn that extends in front of the south elevation. This majestic tree offers pleasant shade for open-air lunches in the summer. Old box hedges frame paths along which children can run and play. A track crosses the grounds and leads down to the bottom of the garden, beyond which a shopping zone lies. The grounds form a lush oasis of greenery in the town.
The outbuilding
The long stone building offers a floor area of 120m². A loft that is not used extends across the entire structure. The edifice has doors of solid wood and windows. It currently serves as a workshop, a garage and a kennel. Yet it could be converted, depending on your needs, given that its structure and roofing are strong and well maintained.
The swimming pool
The swimming pool is 12 metres long and 6 metres wide. It is chlorine-treated. The pool is outlined with stone edging and surrounded by lawns where you can sunbathe. Having a refreshing swimming pool like this one is a precious asset in this region of France with hot summers.
Our opinion
This splendid chateau is a rare gem. The edifice is ready for you to settle into it straight away, with no need to carry out renovation work. But you could always extend the dwelling if need be. This remarkable property is the promise of happy days in an enchanting backdrop conducive to contemplation. The chateau’s beautiful white elevations and protective terraces provide a pleasant transition between the interior and the delightful garden. The whole haven is harmonious. It gives you the distinct sense that living here is a great privilege. And since the property is an urban dwelling, the town’s shops and amenities are conveniently close at hand. Yet in this oasis of greenery you can hear birdsong in the trees and horse gallops in the neighbouring meadow.
Reference 944034
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 9 a 85 ca |
| Main building surface area | 455 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 6 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 120 m2 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
