A stone farmhouse, with a cottage, a barn and a swimming pool lined with olive trees,
in the Lot-et-Garonne area, in the former province of Guyenne
in the Lot-et-Garonne area, in the former province of Guyenne
Laroque-Timbaut,
LOT-ET-GARONNE
aquitaine
47340
FR
Location
The property is located in the Pays de Serres countryside, between the slopes around Agen and the lower reaches of the former Quercy province, in which the fertile landscapes are planted with hundred-year-old trees, where hamlets of medieval origin are perched overlooking the valleys and where farmhouses are sited at hills’ bottoms. Many waterways wind through the bottoms of the valleys. In a territory steeped in the Roman presence of the past, such as the old Roman road between Laroque-Timbaut and Agen, the architecture gives pride of place to solid grey and white stones and tidy façades. The essential shops, services and amenities are all nearby. The property can be reached easily: Agen is 20 km away, Toulouse is 1 hour 30 minutes away, Montauban is 1 hour away and the motorway is 45 minutes away. It takes 2 hours to reach Bordeaux and also the Pyrenean ski resorts.
Description
A private drive leads to the house from a country road. Its elevated position allows visitors to discover the property in its entirety. The farmhouse, set on the gentle slope of the hill, looms into view with its surrounding buildings like a hamlet. It is encircled by meadows and fields of crops, with a small wood at the southeast tip of the property. The simply built barn comes into view first, with the large door wisely situated at the side of the drive. To the left, a gravelled area can be used for parking vehicles. In a low wall opposite the drive, a metal gate leads into the courtyard.
On the northern façade of the main house, built in white limestone typical of the area’s traditional buildings, there are few windows, giving a somewhat austere impression. However, on the eastern side, it has the look of an opulent farmhouse. The terracotta colour of the half-round roof tiles, underlined by a genoise corbel, and the light grey wooden shutters contrast elegantly with the white stone façade. The vertically rectangular doors and windows are in keeping with the classical proportions of this type of rural architecture. The windows have ashlar frames and some boast an arched lintel. Close by, another similar building, but with only one level, is currently used as a holiday let. There is a large patio between these two edifices, partially made of travertine stone and partially gravelled. It is adorned with Mediterranean vegetation and overlooks the valley below, boasting superb views over the undulating relief of the Pays de Serres countryside. Lastly, to the rear of the house and the barn, there is a swimming pool with wood decking and an olive grove alongside. The remains of a white limestone building complete the property.
On the northern façade of the main house, built in white limestone typical of the area’s traditional buildings, there are few windows, giving a somewhat austere impression. However, on the eastern side, it has the look of an opulent farmhouse. The terracotta colour of the half-round roof tiles, underlined by a genoise corbel, and the light grey wooden shutters contrast elegantly with the white stone façade. The vertically rectangular doors and windows are in keeping with the classical proportions of this type of rural architecture. The windows have ashlar frames and some boast an arched lintel. Close by, another similar building, but with only one level, is currently used as a holiday let. There is a large patio between these two edifices, partially made of travertine stone and partially gravelled. It is adorned with Mediterranean vegetation and overlooks the valley below, boasting superb views over the undulating relief of the Pays de Serres countryside. Lastly, to the rear of the house and the barn, there is a swimming pool with wood decking and an olive grove alongside. The remains of a white limestone building complete the property.
The main dwelling
This robust, traditional rural edifice is made of irregularly hewn blocks of limestone. It was designed to adapt to the local climate, retaining heat in winter and preserving cool during the summer months. The windows are regularly laid out but not in symmetrical fashion. The house’s structure is in perfect condition. The walls, rendering, roof frame and roof tiles are all in a good state of repair. It is oriented east/west, making it possible to enjoy the sunshine throughout the day.
The ground floor
The half-glazed main entrance door opens into a hall boasting a custom-made cloakroom and, to the right, a utility room and lavatory. Opposite, there is a lounge with a tiled and carpeted floor, with limewashed walls and exposed stone frames around the doors and windows. The ceiling boasts natural oak beams. This room opens directly onto the patio to the west. Following on, a vaulted passageway with dressed stone frames dating from the 13th century, leads to a living room with a tiled floor, exposed stone walls pointed with lime rendering and exposed oak beams on the ceiling. This room opens to the south onto a balcony that is linked to the patio. Between the lounge and the living room, a monumental fireplace equipped with a dual-aspect wood-burning insert means that in both rooms it is possible to enjoy the heat generated at the same time. A horizontally rectangular opening in one of the walls of the living room reveals views of the fitted kitchen with white units as well as modern and functional appliances. The kitchen also opens onto the patio to the east, meaning meals can be enjoyed outdoors with ease. This level is equipped with underfloor heating.
The first floor
A vast landing leads to a first bedroom to the right, a shower room with a lavatory opposite, as well as a suite at the other end of the house including a large, south and west facing master bedroom, an en suite shower room and two storage spaces. The floor on this level is carpeted and the ceilings boast exposed natural oak beams.
The second floor
This level is made up of a vast bedroom with a sloping ceiling and carpeted floor. The beams and rakes are painted white. The currently unused loft space could be converted into an extra bedroom.
The basement
The cellar can be found underneath part of the house. It can be reached from the outside and is made up of two spaces. One has a cement floor, while the other is made of wooden floorboards and rammed earth. Both parts of the cellar are well-ventilated and in good condition.
The barn
This building is made of limestone and topped with a roof of half-round tiles. It is used as a workshop but could also be used as a garage thanks to the door opening onto the property’s drive. It has a cement floor, the walls are covered with wooden facing, it has an exposed roof frame and is in perfect condition. To the south of the barn, there is a lean-to housing all the control elements for the property’s photovoltaic solar panel system.
The swimming pool
The 10 metre by 5 metre swimming pool includes semi-circular stairs to enter the water. It has stone coping, is surrounded by wooden decking and boasts a salt filter system. There is a shaded summer lounge at the edge of the decking. The swimming pool’s equipment is stored in an adjoining shed.
The holiday let or guests’ house
This single-storey edifice, built in limestone during the same period as the main house, has been fully restored and modernised. It boasts a marble tiled floor, walls pointed with lime rendering and white-painted exposed beams on the ceiling. The windows face south towards the valley and east onto the patio, meaning light streams into the building. Its layout is similar to that of a loft: the kitchen, daytime and nighttime areas are open-plan, but the privacy needed is achieved by cleverly devised configurations. An old bread oven underlines the historical standing of the property. A shower room and a lavatory complete this edifice.
Our opinion
This elegant farmhouse has been maintained with care, providing comfort as well as peace and quiet to the property’s occupants and visitors alike. Its sober exterior contrasts with a certain decorative opulence in the houses’ rooms, in both the main house and holiday let. The purposes to which the property could be put will naturally vary according to the desires and ambitions of the future buyers, who will write the next pages of its history. From stone vaults dating back to the 13th century to the troglodyte fountain carved out of the limestone in the lower reaches of the grounds, there are many traces of the past. All in all, it boasts significant rural heritage, paying witness to a time when water was a precious resources and nature as well as the seasons were indissociable elements of the inhabitants’ lifestyle. The swimming pool, 3 hectares of land and views over the valley are additional assets.
Reference 278169
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 89 a 75 ca |
| Main building surface area | 240 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 108 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 45 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.
