A 15th-century chateau with three gîtes and 6.5 hectares of grounds, nestled
in France’s Lauragais province, 45 minutes south-east of Toulouse
in France’s Lauragais province, 45 minutes south-east of Toulouse
,
HAUTE-GARONNE
midi-pyrenees
FR
Location
The historical Lauragais province is a renowned corner of south-west France. It covers a vast area through which the Canal du Midi flows. On its north-west edge is the Toulouse urban area, to its east the city of Castres, and to its south-east the medieval citadel of Carcassonne. You can reach the property via the A61 motorway, 15 minutes away. The town of Villefranche-de-Lauragais, which has a train station, lies only 10 minutes from the chateau.
Description
From a country lane, the property’s main gate leads into a gravel court. The chateau and the three gîtes stand at the edge of this court. The property is made up grounds that cover 6.5 hectares and include woods and meadows. The gîtes lie at a right angle to the chateau. This layout structures the property, directs the flow of vehicles and pedestrians and separates the holiday homes from the grand edifice. The facades face different directions and gaze at the horizon. The back of the gîtes looks at a side wall of the chateau, with which the gîtes edge a court lined with trees and shrubby hedges. There are two swimming pools: one behind the chateau and the other one next to the gîtes.
The property dates back to 1492. Under an order from King Louis XIV of France, the chateau was extended and the Countess of Toulouse then lived in it. The edifice was redesigned in the centuries that followed, but its main section with three floors has kept its medieval appearance with a round tower flanking it and limestone masonry forming its old walls. Its facade is punctuated with windows in perfect symmetry. These windows are arched at the top. Their surrounds are made of dressed stone, their frames are made of wood and their shutters and pane bars are painted white. The rear face is different. The windows are similarly arched but laid out around several axes of symmetry and extensions adjoin the chateau on this side too: two orangeries that were built at each end of the main section. These two orangeries are identical to each other. Both are single-storey structures bathed in light from panels of glazing made up of small panes. Today, they house a wide range of plants.
The outbuildings are made up of four structures built on a slope in a long row with different roof heights. Windows punctuate the walls asymmetrically. These windows are of varying shapes, sizes and materials.
The roofs of the property’s different buildings are covered in monk-and-nun tiling and have either one or two slopes. Brick chimney stacks dot these roofs.
The property dates back to 1492. Under an order from King Louis XIV of France, the chateau was extended and the Countess of Toulouse then lived in it. The edifice was redesigned in the centuries that followed, but its main section with three floors has kept its medieval appearance with a round tower flanking it and limestone masonry forming its old walls. Its facade is punctuated with windows in perfect symmetry. These windows are arched at the top. Their surrounds are made of dressed stone, their frames are made of wood and their shutters and pane bars are painted white. The rear face is different. The windows are similarly arched but laid out around several axes of symmetry and extensions adjoin the chateau on this side too: two orangeries that were built at each end of the main section. These two orangeries are identical to each other. Both are single-storey structures bathed in light from panels of glazing made up of small panes. Today, they house a wide range of plants.
The outbuildings are made up of four structures built on a slope in a long row with different roof heights. Windows punctuate the walls asymmetrically. These windows are of varying shapes, sizes and materials.
The roofs of the property’s different buildings are covered in monk-and-nun tiling and have either one or two slopes. Brick chimney stacks dot these roofs.
The chateau
The chateau has been very well preserved. It was bought at the start of the 21st century: the new owners wanted to give its rooms a charming British style. So it was renovated in 2008: in particular, the flooring and walls were refurbished and tasteful furnishings added.
The ground floor
French windows lead into a hallway where a timber staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade and a wooden handrail climbs upstairs. On the right, a door leads to a large reception room with a marble fireplace in a Louis XV style. French windows and two other large windows flood this living room with natural light. Another door takes you to a spacious kitchen decorated with red and blue tones and steeped in British traditions. It looks out at the swimming pool. To the left of the hallway lies a dining room with a terracotta-tiled floor, a brick fireplace and walls painted blue. A passageway and a scullery with a tiled floor lead to a large office with a coir floor, which in turn leads into one of the chateau’s two orangeries.
The first floor
The elegant staircase that links the chateau’s different floors leads up to this level. This first floor is mainly made up of bedrooms with floors of terracotta or old stone tiles. A broad landing decorated in a baroque style with vivid hues leads to the two largest bedrooms. The master bedroom lies on the right. It has three windows, papered walls, a ceiling with mouldings and beams, and a large en-suite bathroom in the round tower. The second bedroom lies on the left. It contrasts with the master bedroom: its walls are painted white and its floor is adorned with terracotta tiles. It features a marble and brick fireplace and a spacious built-in wardrobe that forms a quarter circle in one corner of the bedroom. Three other bedrooms follow. All of them look out over the grounds. Bathrooms adjoin them. The 18th-century windows have all been preserved, flooding the interior with natural light and offering spectacular views over the grounds, the swimming pool and the gently undulating landscape.
The second floor
The second floor has six bedrooms with rustic charm. Small windows that are identical to each other fill these bedrooms with natural light and look out over the beautiful grounds. Exposed beams run across the bedrooms, which have sloping attic ceilings. The floors are covered with either a fitted carpet or coir. The decoration recalls the characteristic style of rural English cottages.
The outbuildings
The current owners wanted to give a new lease of life to the chateau’s outbuildings. So they converted them into three gîtes. Old features have been carefully preserved. The renovation was carried out meticulously with high-quality materials. Aesthetic harmony has been created throughout the structures.
The first gîte includes a living room with an open-plan kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. Its exposed timber beams, terracotta tiles and stone counter give the whole gîte a charming rustic feel. A partition of stonework and timber beams separates the bedroom from the living room and recalls the building’s old cowsheds.
The second gîte includes a living room with a splendid view of the undulating Lauragais countryside, a timber staircase, two large bedrooms and a bathroom. The floors are mostly covered with terracotta tiles.
In the third gîte, the wood flooring has been preserved, as have the structure’s old doors in its main room and its two bedrooms. Like in the other two gîtes, exposed timber beams give the gîte character and charm. Each gîte has its own wooden terrace with a sweeping view of the beautiful surroundings. Each terrace can be reached straight from the grounds via an outdoor timber staircase. The three masterfully renovated gîtes welcome travelling guests all year round.
The grounds
The chateau’s grounds cover more than six hectares, enclosed with shrubby hedges. These grounds offer grassy expanses adorned with fine evergreens and deciduous trees, including oaks, ashes, chestnut trees and cedars. The meadows are home to donkeys and sheep. These meadows form a natural extension of the gently undulating grounds, into which they subtly blend. Behind the chateau lies a large stone terrace where summer meals can be enjoyed in a spectacular natural backdrop that is not overlooked and that has been maintained with great care. This terrace includes a swimming pool that is roughly 12 metres long and 6 metres wide and that offers a relaxing stone pool-side area. It is set in a sunken section, just below the lawn. A low retaining wall forms this area’s far side to create a splendid semi-circular space that recalls a cirque. This outdoor space enjoys absolute privacy, sheltered and shaded by a hedge and a group of trees that extends to the end of the outbuildings, where a second swimming pool lies. This second swimming pool is similar in shape but slightly smaller in size: about 8 metres long and 4 metres wide. It is reserved for the gîtes and is surrounded by hedges.
Our opinion
This haven tucked away in the beautiful Lauragais countryside promises a life of rural authenticity. The chateau’s colourfully decorated interiors are cosy and inviting. Majestic trees dot its vast grounds, sheltering the peaceful dwellings from any unwanted noise.
The current owners have looked after the property remarkably well, having patiently renovated it with great care to give the edifice charm. The warm country atmosphere of the gîtes goes perfectly well with the bucolic surroundings at which they gaze. Colour, character and spaciousness make this unique place a splendid oasis of calm.
2 200 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 435682
| Land registry surface area | 6 ha |
| Main building surface area | 450 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 12 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 200 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.
