A renovated 12th century presbytery with swimming pool in a garden overlooking the Lot
river in the Occitanie region, in the centre of Cahors, the historical capital of the Quercy area
river in the Occitanie region, in the centre of Cahors, the historical capital of the Quercy area
Cahors,
LOT
midi-pyrenees
46000
FR
Location
In the heart of the historical district of Cahors, the capital of the Quercy area, between listed buildings and palaces that pay witness to the city’s wealth of heritage, in the narrow streets of medieval houses not far from the Lot River, this home stands in a position that is both dominant and set back from a quiet, narrow lane. In the highest reaches of the city, it boasts a stunning view of the waterway. Schools, amenities and public services are all nearby, as are restaurants, shops and cinemas. Cahors is near to the A20 motorway, on the Paris-Orléans-Limoges-Toulouse railway line and halfway between the Toulouse-Blagnac and Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne international airports. By road, Toulouse is 110 km away, Limoges 188 km and Bordeaux 232 km.
Description
From an aerial view, the district spreads out through a web of narrow streets nestled between the river and the city’s main avenues. A closer inspection reveals gardens behind the buildings. The presbytery is no exception: tucked away behind its stone walls is a green space with breath-taking views overlooking the valley. Ashlar arches were recently uncovered on the building’s façade. They have been dated to the 12th century by an architect from the Bâtiments de France heritage agency, who also determined that the building underwent successive alterations in the 14th, 17th and 18th centuries. As for the date when the monks left, it was in the 19th century. The presbytery has retained its architectural value and many of its original features but has been adapted to a modern lifestyle. The renovation commissioned by the current owners obtained a silver medal in the French Federation of Building’s competition. The work was carried out by local craftsmen, from the solid wood interior doors to the vertical radiators, including the specially designed fitted kitchen, the tiled floors, the wood stripped flooring, the free-standing bathtub and the extremely large walk-in shower.
The presbytery
The three storeys of this house rise above the cellars. It has recently been renovated, adding a number of comfort features and retaining most of its 12th century elements and characteristics. The doors and windows all have their original dimensions and the design and location of the staircase remains unchanged. The building’s structure and dividing walls have been smartly used to divide up the rooms. Each level is bright and airy with windows and doors to the outside.
The ground floor
The double-leaf solid wooden entrance door, made by a local craftsman, leads into an entrance lobby. To the right, a toilet is cleverly concealed in one of a set of custom-designed cupboards. A wooden staircase with iron balusters, wooden banister and copper newel post cap leads to the upper levels. After the staircase, there is a double door leading into the lounge, which contains an imposing fireplace and door into the garden. An eye-catching large window has been installed in the former carriage gate, giving the room an atmosphere worthy of a Vermeer painting, accentuated by the soft, subdued light shining through the long, thick curtains framing the windows. To the left from the entrance lobby, there is a TV lounge with a large arched window with a custom-made frame. A passage leads into the kitchen, which opens out into the dining room adjacent to it.
The first floor
It is made up of three large, bright bedrooms with wood stripped flooring. One of them has an en suite bathroom with toilet, whilst the other two share a shower room, bathed in light through its window, with a toilet. A laundry room makes this level very functional. All the windows are fitted with custom-made shutters.
The second floor
shower room and independent toilet. From this level, the view over the garden and the river lower down is stunning. To the left of the landing, there is an office space. Through a door you can reach an insulated attic space under sloping ceilings, with terracotta floor tiles. It could be converted into a bedroom, office or games room.
The garden
The 500-m² garden is concealed from prying eyes on the street. It has a lawn area brimming with plants, with a fruit tree in the centre as well as a large patio and swimming pool. The balustrades at the end of the plot were crafted by a blacksmith based on a design dreamed up by the current owners. You can easily reach the patio from the lounge, dining room and kitchen, which provides an outdoor dining area. The panoramic view rounds off what makes the garden so appealing, with the wooded slopes of the Lot River’s banks and, below, the river flowing slowly by, carrying boats and barges on its currents.
The swimming pool
The rectangular, heated pool measures 28 m² and is equipped with a salt filtration system. It also boasts a high-performance counter-current swimming feature. The large decking surrounding it was recently tiled using sandstone flags.
Our opinion
This home combines the fantastic four: heritage, comfort, calm and a stunning view. It is rare for a city centre location to be so appealing: it is close to services and amenities but without noise pollution and has a garden with an outstanding view, swimming pool and patio. The recent, award-winning complete renovation, from roofing to façades and interiors, was carried out to the highest professional standards, in collaboration with the architects of Bâtiments de France as well as archaeologists. It is akin to a secluded little world, full of authenticity, which can be adapted to many different purposes, particularly thanks to the possibility of extending into the attic space: a permanent residence or second home, a prestigious business headquarters or a seasonal rental property.
790 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 705324
| Land registry surface area | 655 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 245 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 5 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.
