A manor house with its three gîtes and other outbuildings, set in
8 hectares of grounds with a lake, in the Couserans region of Ariège
8 hectares of grounds with a lake, in the Couserans region of Ariège
,
ARIEGE
midi-pyrenees
FR
Location
Couserans is a vast region comprising eighteen valleys between mountains and foothills in the western part of Ariège in south-west France. The Ariège Pyrénées Regional Nature Park, overlooked by the 2,838m-high Mont Valier, nicknamed the "Lord of the Couserans", extends across the entire region.
Protected and enhanced by these green surroundings, the property is located close to a village with all the day-to-day amenities. The village itself is 20 minutes from Saint-Girons, which provides a number of additional services and facilities, notably schools and doctors.
Description
Hidden by trees more than three hundred years old, the property gradually emerges at the end of a gravel driveway bordered by low stone walls leading from the west to the centre of the estate. Leaving behind the lush foliage, a group of south-facing buildings comes into view. They comprise a manor house in the centre, dating from 1772, two outbuildings to the west - a garage and a small building housing a reception room - and two former farmhouses that have been renovated and converted into gîtes (guest houses) to the east. The monk-and-nun roof tiles unify the complex, while the varying heights of the elevations, sometimes rendered in white and sometimes of exposed stone, create a hierarchy between the different buildings.
The manor house is the tallest, rising to three storeys and flanked by a round tower with a cornice of shortened tiles.
Its facades have numerous tall windows with dressed stone surrounds, protected by wooden shutters and metal guardrails with floral scrolls. In front of the manor house, there is a semi-circular gravel esplanade with a central rose bed of the same shape, bisected by a central passageway linking a small two-level Baroque-style fountain, topped by a Buddha, to the main entrance door of the residence.
The gîtes and other outbuildings are located on either side of the gravel driveway and the manor house, separated from the latter by a U-shaped paved courtyard to the east. Restoration work in these buildings has showcased the exposed stone walls, and the roofs have been completely redone. Certain parts of the estate have also been modernised to provide year-round facilities for yoga retreats.
Two levelled expanses face each other: a vast parking area bordered by low stone walls, which runs in front of the buildings to the right of the driveway, and, at the eastern end, a relaxing terrace partly protected by a solid wood pergola with views over the surrounding area.
The property is surrounded by well-kept parklands that slope gently to the south, blending seamlessly into the Ariège Pyrenees Regional Nature Park.
The manor house is the tallest, rising to three storeys and flanked by a round tower with a cornice of shortened tiles.
Its facades have numerous tall windows with dressed stone surrounds, protected by wooden shutters and metal guardrails with floral scrolls. In front of the manor house, there is a semi-circular gravel esplanade with a central rose bed of the same shape, bisected by a central passageway linking a small two-level Baroque-style fountain, topped by a Buddha, to the main entrance door of the residence.
The gîtes and other outbuildings are located on either side of the gravel driveway and the manor house, separated from the latter by a U-shaped paved courtyard to the east. Restoration work in these buildings has showcased the exposed stone walls, and the roofs have been completely redone. Certain parts of the estate have also been modernised to provide year-round facilities for yoga retreats.
Two levelled expanses face each other: a vast parking area bordered by low stone walls, which runs in front of the buildings to the right of the driveway, and, at the eastern end, a relaxing terrace partly protected by a solid wood pergola with views over the surrounding area.
The property is surrounded by well-kept parklands that slope gently to the south, blending seamlessly into the Ariège Pyrenees Regional Nature Park.
The manor house
The rectangular, south-facing manor house with its hipped roof features a number of symmetrically placed windows, creating a well-balanced architectural effect and allowing plenty of natural light to stream into the rooms. The manor house is extended on the right by a wing currently used as a gîte and flanked by a round tower at its south-east corner.
The ground floor
The main entrance leads through a half-glazed wooden double door directly into the sitting room. Throughout this level, the flooring is of large beige tiles and the walls are simply painted white. The two tall openings illuminate the ceiling with its exposed beams and joists. The room is extended to the east by a dining room, whose former fireplace with its straight hood now contains a wood-burning stove. An access leads to the tower with a probably original wooden spiral staircase leading to the upper floors. On the same side, there is a fully equipped kitchen with plenty of wooden storage units. To the left is a study, the back wall of which is entirely covered with storage cabinets resembling wood panelling. In the centre of the wall, embedded in the decor, is a dark brick fireplace topped by its carved wooden overmantel with two pilasters framing a floral composition. Finally, a laundry room completes the ground level.
The first floor
The landing on the second level, which still retains its old terracotta floor tiles, leads to three large bedrooms, two shower rooms and a bathroom. A light-filled living room adjoins the master bedroom. This bedroom, with its exposed stone and timber-framed walls, features a working fireplace with a brick flue and a large closet. The floors are straight strip hardwood and some of the ceiling beams are exposed.
The second floor
With a floor area of approximately 80 m², this level has been converted into a luminous yoga studio under an exposed roof frame. There is also a soft white carpet covering the floor and a massage cabin.
The first gîte
Adjoining the main section of the manor house and located in its east wing, this gîte has exposed stone facades and a floor area of around 65 m². Accessed from a U-shaped paved courtyard formed by this wing, the main dwelling and a second gîte, it starts on the first floor and is accessed by a double quarter-turn wooden staircase with half-landings. The first level of this gîte has beamed ceilings and comprises a spacious fitted kitchen with a large, beige tiled floor, a vast landing with a straight strip hardwood floor, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The top floor features a sitting room with exposed roof frame. The floors in this room and the bedrooms are covered in seagrass.
The second gîte
Set at right angles to the main house, with a floor area of around 225 m², the second gîte has been renovated to allow a larger number of people to attend the yoga courses currently being held here. The ground floor has been designed in a pragmatic approach: five identical rooms with straight strip hardwood floors have been fitted out, each with its own shower room. The space is luminous, as light has been given priority by the choice of large white floor tiles and wall paintings in the same tones. Upstairs, to the right of the quarter-turn wooden staircase, there are two bedrooms with en suite shower rooms. At the end of the corridor, a large sitting room and an open-plan kitchen complete this level. The wall facing the park has been completely rebuilt and replaced by huge, wood-framed picture windows, offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside.
The third gîte
Called the "spring cottage" because it was originally a farmhouse, situated slightly lower down opposite the previous building, it has a total floor area of some 75 m² spread over two levels.
The entrance leads directly into a small, fully equipped kitchen, with large floor tiles, exposed beams and stone walls. All the rooms are similar in style to this reception area. Further on, there is a vast dining room with a sitting room area, bathed in light by a large glass door opening onto a terrace overlooking the park. There is also a straight wooden staircase leading to the first floor. This living room also connects to a generous bedroom and a bathroom.
Two bedrooms with straight strip hardwood flooring and a bathroom can be found on the first floor. The wooden ceilings recall those of Alpine chalets.
The other outbuildings
Two adjoining buildings are entered from their respective south-facing gable ends. Closest to the manor house, the first is a single-storey building with straight strip hardwood floors, used as a reception room or wedding hall, with a significant height under the exposed roof frame and a wall at the rear abutting a rock face, while the other three are of exposed stone.
The second building, opposite the parking area, is a large garage that links up with the first building. Connecting the two smaller buildings would provide a significantly larger reception area.
The grounds
Covering an area of more than 7 hectares, sloping gently towards the south and the bottom of the valley, this is an environment rich in biodiversity, with a small lake surrounded by monumental weeping willows at its centre. These provide shade for a wooden lakeside terrace with deckchairs overlooking a central island studded with trees. Beyond the meadows and woods, various species of trees grow in different parts of the grounds, producing a constantly changing palette of colours and fragrant scents as the seasons go by.
Our opinion
Built on the rock, in the heart of nature, on the banks of a lake and its majestic weeping willows, this property forms an ideal setting for all kinds of activities and festivities. Surrounding the gîtes, terraces and the imposing manor house, the manicured parkland combines elegance and abundance. It reminds us just how important the surroundings are for protecting a home, and that the surrounding countryside is much more than just a backdrop. Here, the character of the buildings mirrors that of the environment with both force and sobriety. With its large accommodation capacity, the property could retain its original activity as a yoga centre, or be turned into a venue for weddings, seminars and concerts. Or take a completely different path, given its wide-ranging potential.
990 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 159988
| Land registry surface area | 7 ha 43 a 56 ca |
| Main building surface area | 300 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | +20 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 600 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.
