An 18th-century stone barn, transformed into a holiday cottage,
in a historical village, at the base of the Jura foothills
in a historical village, at the base of the Jura foothills
Saint-Amour,
JURA
franche-comte
39160
FR
Location
Located in the southwest of the Jura department, along the outskirts of the Bresse plain and at the base of the first foothills of the Jura Mountains, the historical and charming town of Saint-Amour, featuring shops and other services, is located 28 kilometres to the north of Bourg-en-Bresse, 90 kilometres to the northeast of Lyon, 33 kilometres to the southwest of Lons-le-Saunier and 95 kilometres from Geneva.
In addition, a train from Saint-Amour provides access to Lyon in a little more than one hour, via the Lyon-Strasbourg rail line, while the A39 green motorway, three kilometres from the village’s downtown area, links Dijon to Bourg-en-Bresse in a little more than 1.5 hours. Boasting a rich multi-century history, Saint-Amour is also appealing thanks to its setting within a protected natural environment (featuring a type-1 Natural area of ecological, faunal and floristic interest located in the southern part of the region).
Description
The two buildings that compose “The small stone barns of Saint-Amour”, located in the middle of the aforementioned town, were built in 1750, while the holiday cottage, facing east-west, and the main dwelling, positioned along a north-south axis, feature a total footprint of approximately 350 m², including a small courtyard that separates the two edifices. As for the property, situated in the historical centre of Saint-Amour, it is only one minute from the former convent of the Celestines, one of the town’s landmarks, founded in 1621.
With two floors, the holiday cottage boasts an inhabitable floor area of nearly 400 m², while a car park was created in front of its entrance as well as a barbecue area for its guests. Purchased in 2021 by the current occupants, this former barn, with a pointed rubble stone exterior and rectilinear or basket-handle doors and windows surrounded by ashlar stone, was completely renovated and has incorporated all the features of a modern holiday cottage within a charming and ancient edifice.
Sharing the interior courtyard with the holiday cottage, the former of which also provides access to a vaulted cellar, the three-storey main dwelling has not been fully renovated and its ground floor waits to be completed. It should be noted that the holiday cottage’s electric heating system is supplemented with both a wood-burning stove and a wood-pellet stove in its areas dedicated to entertaining, such as the dining room and living room.
With two floors, the holiday cottage boasts an inhabitable floor area of nearly 400 m², while a car park was created in front of its entrance as well as a barbecue area for its guests. Purchased in 2021 by the current occupants, this former barn, with a pointed rubble stone exterior and rectilinear or basket-handle doors and windows surrounded by ashlar stone, was completely renovated and has incorporated all the features of a modern holiday cottage within a charming and ancient edifice.
Sharing the interior courtyard with the holiday cottage, the former of which also provides access to a vaulted cellar, the three-storey main dwelling has not been fully renovated and its ground floor waits to be completed. It should be noted that the holiday cottage’s electric heating system is supplemented with both a wood-burning stove and a wood-pellet stove in its areas dedicated to entertaining, such as the dining room and living room.
The Holiday Cottage
The ground floor of the two-storey former barn is reserved for leisure activities and dining services with a kitchen, dining room, living room, as well as an area, on the right, furnished with table football and a snooker table, while the left side has been turned into a wellness area with a swimming pool located towards the back of the room. With faux-wood floor tiles for both the ground floor and upper level, the latter contains the guest bedrooms and their associated showers.
The ground floor
The large front door, accessible from the parking area skirting the holiday cottage, opens on to a room of approximately 60 m², including a rather sizeable dining room area for festive gatherings and a kitchen space to the left with four gas burners, while a staircase, to the right of the entrance, ascends to the upper level.
In addition, a wood-burning stove located under the stairs provides a cosy touch for this immense space, in the back of which three steps provide access to the living room area, of approximately 20 m², featuring, on the left, a fireplace with a wood-pellet stove and, on the right, a lavatory.
Immediately after the entrance, a small room (which contains the swimming pool’s machinery) opens on to an area dedicated to relaxation, of approximately 50 m², with an indoor swimming pool in the back, separated from the rest of this space with a glass partition, while four steps provide access to this L-shaped, 6 x 6-metre pool, which comes with a jacuzzi.
The upstairs
Two staircases, one near the wellness area and the other near the living room and kitchen, provide access to this level with six bedrooms, ranging in size between 23 and 26 m², accessible via a wide hallway and all designed according to the same model, with a few slight variations in style. Each features a double bed, a shower and a lavatory, while their décor, quite tasteful and recent, creates a warm atmosphere, especially thanks to their considerable floor-to-ceiling heights and symmetrical proportions.
The Main Dwelling
The ground floor
Two large, unfinished adjacent rooms, of approximately 60 and 30 m², respectively, with concrete slab floors, pointed stone walls, new wooden double-glazed windows and ceilings awaiting insulation, extend over a major part of this floor, while a staircase near the front door, which opens on to the street, ascends to an initial flat.
The first floor
This floor features a completely renovated flat with a living room of approximately 50 m², which includes an open kitchen and a dining area. In addition, this room also communicates with two bedrooms, with approximately 20 and 14 m², respectively, one of which could potentially be used for a child, and the other for their parents, while to the left of the flat’s entrance, a lavatory and a shower area, of approximately 7 m², will need to be completed.
Lastly, this flat boasts pointed stone walls and wide-plank sprung floors that date from this level's renovation in 2022.
The second floor
The staircase then leads to the last level with an attic extending over approximately 40 m², located above the bedrooms in the first-floor flat, while a hallway provides access to this building’s second flat, which includes a living room with a kitchenette, of nearly 30 m², a shower room with lavatory, of approximately 7 m², and a bedroom with about 11 m². Completely redone, it features several pointed stone walls, visible ceiling beams, pale wood-panelled ceilings as well as a wide-plank sprung floor, all of which contribute to the premises’ overall understated and, yet, modern style.
The Cellar
Vaulted and built out of stone, it is located under the main dwelling, and accessible via a stone staircase from the interior courtyard. Extending over a floor area of approximately 40 m², it features a beaten earth floor.
The Interior Courtyard
Separating the holiday cottage from the main dwelling and providing access between the two, this area is surrounded by buildings – the two aforementioned edifices and a neighbouring construction – and extends over approximately 35 m². Currently devoid of any vegetation, it represents a blank slate to be landscaped according to the future owners’ wishes.
The Exterior Courtyard
Located in front of the holiday cottage’s front door and partially enclosed by buildings, this area extends over approximately 80 m² and provides direct access to the street next to the holiday cottage. Divided into two sections by a cobblestone path, and mostly blanketed in grass and planted with vegetation, it is skirted on one side by a gravel parking area for two vehicles, while Japanese laurels, oleanders, roses and other shrubs supply a burst of colour and a stone bench and a barbecue area provide additional amenities for this property’s guests.
Our opinion
This property, featuring a number of assets such as a beautiful indoor swimming pool, six tastefully-renovated bedrooms with all modern comforts, immense spaces for entertaining, like the dining and living rooms, as well as the area dedicated to relaxation, also boasts quality materials, such as wood and stone, which subtly assert their ageless charm through simple, but eye-catching designs and soft colours.
As for the small, delightful town in which the property is located, the proximity of the SNCF train station, serviced by a regular train, also represents an undeniable bonus, while the property is ideal for an individual or a couple who would like to take over a holiday cottage business, generating approximately €65,000 of annual revenue and operational immediately, as well as complete the main dwelling’s renovations.
689 000 €
Including negotiation fees
650 000 € Excluding negotiation fees
6%
incl. VAT to be paid by the buyer
Reference 676770
| Land registry surface area | 486 m² |
| Main building floor area | 396 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 9 |
| including refurbished area | 478 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
Share
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.
