The discreet, almost mysterious residence is hidden behind tall trees, barely visible from the main road. The tarmac drive becomes a stony track as it winds its way between rows of trees. After passing a pond and a bamboo hedge on the right, followed by the first evidence of the property in the form of two impressive stone pillars, the main driveway leads to two wrought-iron pillars supporting lanterns and to the dwelling. A few well-arranged flagstones guide visitors towards the entrance. The three-storey castle is set between oak trees and a chestnut tree right beside the building. To the east, the meadow bordering the garden provides some distance from the few neighbouring houses. To the west, a high stone wall with its back to the entrance emphasises the other adjoining part of the castle. On the south side, a meadow stretches as far as the banks of the river Lot below.

The residence

Built of coursed rubble masonry and brick, this three-storey building includes a convertible attic. The roof is laid with both Roman and interlocking tiles.
An adjoining part of a 13th-century castle, this was originally a toll tower on the banks of the river. Construction work began in 1291, was halted three years later due to the course of history, and then resumed when the Agenois region was returned to England. The building was erected around 1375 as a defensive tower with a stone ground floor and brick upper levels. A fortified house in the 14th century, it was enlarged in the second half of the 16th century and a Renaissance-style gallery was built in the courtyard. Evidence of this former structure can still be seen in the attic in the form of a walled-in opening and in the kitchen in the form of a window with cross bars. Two straight fireplace jambs in two attic rooms also bear witness to a truncated upper storey. The openings were altered in the 19th century to create its current appearance. The entire castle was listed as a historic monument in 2007.

The ground floor
A glass door provides natural light for the entrance hall, which serves the dining room, a lavatory and the quarter-turn wooden staircase leading to the first floor. A ceiling with exposed period joists underpins a more recent wooden floor, while the walls are partly of grouted brick and partly plastered. The floor is laid with old terracotta tiles. A heavy studded wooden door with band-and-hook hinges leads to the lavatory under the staircase. In the dining room, 1960s features left untouched - flooring of black and white tiles and fireplace with red brick mantle - coexist with the stone walls and 19th century wooden windows. As in all the rooms on the ground floor, the maximum ceiling height here is around 3.75 metres. Continuing on is the kitchen with its two fireplaces. A range cooker has been placed in the first fireplace, and the mantel of the second stone fireplace, opposite the first, features a carved fleur-de-lis. The walls are of brick and grouted rubble masonry. Access is via two half-glazed wooden doors from the dining room, a wooden door leading to the garden on the east side, another door opening into the next room, as well as a doorway leading to the cellar. The room is lit by newly installed wooden windows. The flooring is of terracotta tiles in the dining area and 20th century cement tiles in the preparation area. The next room awaits refurbishment. The stone walls are not grouted. There is a door leading to the garden with a workshop of around 30 m². Built of breezeblock by a previous owner, it has been strengthened by an additional stone wall. Reopening the currently blocked up windows would provide a direct view of the river. This room supports the tiled terrace upstairs.
The first floor
Accessed via the 19th century wooden staircase starting from the entrance hall, this floor comprises a study, a bedroom and a bathroom. The generous bathroom features a white panelled ceiling and ochre-coloured plastered walls. The floor and the lower part of the walls are finished with marble tiles. The bathroom includes a bathtub, a shower with curved masonry walls, two washbasins and a toilet. The wooden door to the adjoining bedroom is flanked by a monumental stone fireplace, still in use today both for comfort and enjoyment of the log fire. As in almost all the other rooms, the walls are rendered or of exposed stone. The beamed ceiling is 3.65 m high, and the flooring is of 19th century parquet. Near the first door, on a side wall, a back door leads to the upstairs drawing room, enjoying soft light pouring in through two large windows. A 19th century inset fireplace with a wooden mantel stands next to a wall cupboard with an 18th century wooden door. On one side, a semi-circular arched passageway leads to the study.
The attic
The garrets are suitable for conversion but have not been renovated, with the exception of a light cement screed covering part of the floors. The historic aspect of the building is omnipresent: two jambs from demolished fireplaces, a passageway with 13th century carved stone reliefs and a 16th century window with a carved stone sill that probably used to open onto the former Renaissance gallery. The four rooms located directly under the roof frame are definitely of interest and would benefit from a renovation highlighting the existing medieval and Renaissance features, as well as the views over the grounds.
The garden
The garden resembles a thicket, with shrubs and perennials taking shelter in the shade of oaks, acacias and a chestnut tree. Choisyas, acacias, mock-orange shrubs and other fragrant plant species fill the air with scents to the rhythm of the seasons. Bordered by a row of poplars and a moat extending towards the road, the grounds include roughly 2 hectares of meadows with young oak trees on one side. They also feature a fish pond and are separated from the river bed by a stretch of land.