A 16th-century village house featuring covered walkways,
an inner courtyard and a swimming pool, just 40 minutes from Toulouse
Verdun-sur-Garonne, TARN-ET-GARONNE midi-pyrenees 82600 FR

Location

Situated in the south of Tarn-et-Garonne, on the banks of the Garonne, between Toulouse and Montauban, the village where the house is located – whose origins date back to the Palaeolithic era – flourished in the 13th century. Its historic centre has a strong medieval character with its half-timbered facades and narrow streets. The area, a Natura 2000 site, enjoys a temperate climate and a rich culinary tradition. The internationally renowned vineyards of the South-West provide the perfect accompaniment to the local cuisine. The small village offers all the amenities of a thriving community: shops, restaurants, a library, a cinema, doctors and a pharmacy, and schools within walking distance. It also has a secondary school, whilst a renowned lycee is less than 15 minutes’ drive away. Just 30 minutes from Montauban and its TGV station, which serves Bordeaux and Paris, and 40 minutes from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.

Description

Ideally situated between Toulouse and Montauban, the property lies at the heart of the medieval historic centre. Bordering a quiet square and facing east, its main facade overlooks a semi-circular arch that once housed the front of an old shop. Today, it frames a blue-painted wooden entrance door. Worn by five centuries of comings and goings, a stone marks the threshold of the property. Built in an L-shape and oriented east-west, the house stands three storeys high above two cellars and is protected by canal-style tiled roofs with two or three pitches, from which four chimney stacks rise. It features half-timbered and fired brick facades typical of the local or bourgeois architecture of Quercy and, beyond that, of much of south-western France. The result of the merger of three former buildings, the house, which covers an area of over 390 m², is divided into sections, with the two storeys connected by a unique walkway. These levels comprise six bedrooms, three bathrooms and two shower rooms, whilst the ground floor houses the living and reception areas. A landscaped inner courtyard featuring a swimming pool offers its occupants a sheltered outdoor space, protected from city noise and prying eyes.

The house


The ground floor
Paved with large terracotta tiles, an entrance hall leads to two reception rooms. Facing south-west, a first living room enjoys generous sunlight, provided by two double windows with access to the inner courtyard, and a dark carved wooden fireplace, which occupies half a wall. It flows naturally into a dining room facing the same way, which connects to a second living room featuring a carved dark wood fireplace. These two spaces could be combined to form a vast, open-plan reception area. In this lounge, a spiral staircase leads to the first floor. Lit by a large patio door with a black metal frame, a corridor runs alongside the inner courtyard. Surmounted by the first level of a dark-wooded gallery, it leads to a kitchen with white-painted beams, terracotta floor tiles and a fireplace in need of restoration, which opens onto the courtyard. The corridor also leads to the inner courtyard and a majestic staircase of dark oak, which rises nobly to the upper floors. Finally, two separate toilets and a storage area discreetly complete this level.
The first floor
With a cement tile floor, a landing leads to a first bathroom and a corridor, which leads to two bedrooms, a second staircase and separate toilets. The first bedroom is adjoined by a bathroom. The floors of these first three rooms are laid with large terracotta tiles in shades of pink typical of the region. The bathroom features a dark grey marble fireplace veined with white. Running the length of the room, it opens onto a bedroom and its dressing room. Light pine parquet flooring adds a warm touch to everything. A glazed wooden door leads to the first gallery. Its irregular walls, a succession of sections where aged beams and Toulouse bricks, dark beams and pale yellow cob blend together, and its terracotta tiles feel like a step back in time. Protected by straight, dark wrought-iron balustrades, it leads to the top bedroom on this level, which includes a shower room. With its exposed beams and floorboards coated in light grey whitewash, its carved wooden fireplace painted black and its terracotta tiles, the bedroom subtly echoes the unique atmosphere of the kitchen. Running parallel to the external staircase, a second, internal flight leads to the top floor.
The second floor
A landing with pine parquet flooring, exposed beams and floorboards, painted white, leads to two bedrooms, a bathroom, a toilet and a study. The two bedrooms, each lit by two windows, feature whitewashed beams and terracotta tiles. The study, the focus of the most recent renovation, covers an area of approximately 54 m², spread over two levels separated by three steps. Exposed beams punctuate the ceiling, which is insulated and painted white. Whilst it is currently used as an office and laundry room, it could be converted into a separate flat. It leads to the second corridor, which connects to the house’s final bedroom, situated under the eaves. Blending tradition with its exposed beams and modernity with its medium-grey polished concrete, it includes a shower room.
The basement
Located beneath the courtyard-facing living room and used for storage, a first cellar with a clay floor covers an area of some 47 m², whilst the second occupies approximately 30 m² spread over two levels, one of which, vaulted, is suitable for wine storage and the other houses the swimming pool machinery.

The inner courtyard, its terraces, well and swimming pool

Expertly laid out, the inner courtyard, largely covered in gravel, covers an area of over 100 m². Occupying one of its corners and sheltered by three sides of the house, a terracotta terrace of some 13 m² is bordered by a low pink brick wall, behind which a masonry well was once used to water the garden. A few steps away, a 1.75 x 5.65 m swimming pool with a swim current is bordered by mauve hydrangeas and a wooden terrace. Furthermore, various flowerbeds planted with cypresses, palm trees, rose bushes and a pink camellia, amongst shrubs of other varieties, punctuate or run alongside the walls. Japanese stepping stones connect them. Several Virginia creepers climb the facades, with their shades of pink brick, and frame various windows. Finally, a large double-leaf wooden gate, painted blue, opens onto a secondary square in the village, where parking is easy.

Our opinion

A property that is a delight to behold thanks to the consistency of its restoration, carried out with a constant concern for respecting the original architecture, and through the integration of the outdoor spaces into daily life, thus transforming them into living areas. Whether a main residence or a holiday home, the new owners will benefit from the rare combination it offers: the vibrancy of a lively village, well-served by shops and amenities, and the tranquillity of a home sheltered from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Its layout, as thoughtful as it is original, makes it ideal for running a guesthouse right in the heart of the historic centre: two separate bedrooms are particularly suited to tourist accommodation, whilst the independent access via the back gate, together with the adjoining kitchen, makes it easy to rent out part of the property as a gite.

Exclusive sale

595 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense


See the fee rates

Reference 843652

Land registry surface area 336 m²
Main building floor area 392 m²
Number of bedrooms 6

French Energy Performance Diagnosis


Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr

Consultant

Carole Perraud +33 1 42 84 80 85

contact

Share

send to a friend Pinterest linkedin Facebook

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.

By continuing your navigation, you accept the use of cookies to offer you services and offers adapted to your centers of interest and to measure the frequentation of our services. Learn more