On a hilltop near Lectoure, in the Gers,
an 18th-century chartreuse with service quarters and 22 ha grounds
an 18th-century chartreuse with service quarters and 22 ha grounds
Lectoure,
GERS
midi-pyrenees
32700
FR
Location
The property lies between Bordeaux and Toulouse, a few minutes by car from Lectoure — a cosmopolitan spa town in the Gers known for its historic buildings, shops and antique dealers. It stands at the edge of a village of some 150 inhabitants in the historic pays of Lomagne, in northern Gascony; the village is a stage on the Way of Saint James, overlooked by a Gascon château of 1340 that draws a steady stream of visitors. Agen and its TGV station are 35 km away, Toulouse and its international airport 100 km, Bordeaux 180 km. The Pyrenean ski slopes are within 150 km, and Paris is reached in just over three hours by train.
Description
A drive of over 300 m, sheltered by the canopy of centuries-old cedars, leads from the departmental road to the buildings. Two long, rectangular structures stand on a gravelled terrace within some 22 ha of grounds planted with mature trees. From the open ground between them, the view reaches to the village church tower and, beyond it, to the outline of the château. At the rear, a terrace rests against a fortified stone wall above a former fish pond. Facing the valley, the chartreuse offers 580 m² of living space, almost all on a single level. Remodelled in the 18th century, it follows the form of the late-17th-century country houses of the Gascon countryside: long and low, with a gabled roof of barrel tiles pierced by five dormers. The symmetrical main facade centres on a glazed double door, with four bays on either side. Patinated lime render coats the stone walls; dressed-stone lintels and jambs frame the arched openings. A tower flanks each end of the central block, and an orangery extends the south wing. Slightly apart stand a garden chalet and a timber above-ground pool.
The dwelling
Built in 1704 and flanked by two towers, the chartreuse opens from a wide hallway that runs the full depth of the building, from which all the rooms are reached. They follow one another in classical enfilade, connected by double wooden doors. The dwelling falls into three distinct areas: a principal living area at the centre; a large room set within the former orangery, opening onto the grounds and combining dining, sitting and a modern fitted kitchen; and service quarters with their own entrance, holding several bedrooms under the mansard roof along with washrooms.
The ground floor
The wide central corridor is floored with terracotta tiles. To the south, two decorated drawing rooms open from it, alongside a Directoire-style dining room, three bedrooms, a shower room and a lavatory. To the north, a vaulted passage leads to a kitchen fitted with a large open hearth, a baking oven and a traditional masonry cooking range, with a working back kitchen, four further bedrooms, a bathroom and washrooms beyond. Refined trumeau mirrors crown the fireplaces of the principal rooms, picked up in turn by mouldings and trompe-l'œil. The period windows mostly have large panes, and some retain their interior shutters and louvred outer shutters, which filter the light.
The upstairs
The wooden staircase opens onto a landing serving a first bedroom, restored and fitted with reversible air conditioning — as throughout the upper level. Beyond, beneath generous sloping eaves and a roof window, a dormitory has been arranged. A door leads to the insulated attics. A further bedroom, also lit by a roof window, a shower room, a lavatory and a library set within the former dovecote complete the level.
The winery
Two storeys high beneath a roof set off by a double-row génoise cornice, the building runs from south to north over some 300 m² of footprint. Two tall dressed-stone porches and a series of small windows fill it with natural light. The winery proper occupies around 150 m². A wooden staircase rises to the upper level, generous in height beneath the rafters and ready for conversion. Adjoining it against the north wall, a smaller single-storey building serves as a woodstore. At the south end, the garage opens onto the lawned esplanade of the grounds.
The stables and garage
Beyond the dwelling's service quarters, a third porch opens onto a garage topped by a former bedroom and an attic, the latter partly fitted as a tack room. Adjoining the garage, at the far end of the building, the stables carry further attics above. In all, the outbuildings amount to some 900 m².
The grounds and land
The buildings crown a hilltop set within 10 ha of grounds, densely planted with century-old trees and broken by broad expanses of lawn. Three further fields, totalling some 12 ha, are managed and tended by two farmers under farm leases.
Our opinion
Twenty-two hectares of grounds and fields wrap the estate in seclusion; within them, the slender chartreuse and its towers take shape in the distinctive light of the southwest. The setting is pastoral, the house unusual and elegant and kept with evident care, with the quiet of a picturesque village within easy reach. What it becomes next will follow the inclinations of those who come to it — and the 800 m² of outbuildings leave room for many directions.
Reference 259203
| Land registry surface area | 22 ha 43 a 53 ca |
| Main building floor area | 580 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 10 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 900 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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- Gers -
- Lectoure -
- Midi-Pyrénées -
- Occitania
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.
