A restored medieval tower and a Historical Monument, with a dwelling,
10 min from a charming town in the Gers department, between Bordeaux and Toulouse
10 min from a charming town in the Gers department, between Bordeaux and Toulouse
Lectoure,
GERS
midi-pyrenees
32700
FR
Location
In the rolling countryside of the Ténarèze region and within the greater Gers department, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, the property is located ten kilometres from the lively episcopal town of Condom with its 6,500 inhabitants and amenities, such as schools, a hospital, services, shops, as well as a well-known weekly green market.
In addition, La Romieu, a charming village eight kilometres away, recognised as one of the most beautiful in France and a stop along the Way of St. James, attracts many tourists and also contains local shops, while Agen and its high-speed rail station, a 30-minute drive away, provide access to Paris in three hours and 15 minutes. As for the international airports of Toulouse and Bordeaux, they are 135 and 160 kilometres away, respectively.
Description
A small road, winding its way through the neighbouring fields, leads to a very sparsely populated hamlet, while the property’s medieval tower, which stands out from the landscape, is located at the entrance to a group of free-standing dwellings, set back and sheltered from sight. As for the lot, on which the two buildings face one another, it looks out over farmland, whose colours change according to the season, whereas, surrounded by a stone wall, which recalls the former fortified enclosure, and accessible via a tall carriage entranceway with a wrought-iron gate, the dwelling is completely shielded from view.
Along the enclosure wall, a grassy and shaded area provides vehicle parking, while the square-shaped tower grounds planted with trees, the latter of which are accessible via a small door located to the left of the property’s main entrance. In addition, the rectangular stone dwelling, placed perpendicular to the enclosure wall, features three floors, the top one of which is located under a sloping barrel tile roof highlighted by a triple genoise cornice, whereas an immense covered open-air structure abuts the dwelling’s southern end.
Accessible from the garden via a carriage door entrance followed by several steps that descend to this open-air space, this structure communicates with a passageway behind the dwelling, via an impressive wooden gate, while the ornamental garden, extending in front of the dwelling and communicating with the tower, features a variety of different vegetation, a covered well and low walls that define the separation between the grounds’ upper and lower sections.
Along the enclosure wall, a grassy and shaded area provides vehicle parking, while the square-shaped tower grounds planted with trees, the latter of which are accessible via a small door located to the left of the property’s main entrance. In addition, the rectangular stone dwelling, placed perpendicular to the enclosure wall, features three floors, the top one of which is located under a sloping barrel tile roof highlighted by a triple genoise cornice, whereas an immense covered open-air structure abuts the dwelling’s southern end.
Accessible from the garden via a carriage door entrance followed by several steps that descend to this open-air space, this structure communicates with a passageway behind the dwelling, via an impressive wooden gate, while the ornamental garden, extending in front of the dwelling and communicating with the tower, features a variety of different vegetation, a covered well and low walls that define the separation between the grounds’ upper and lower sections.
The Main Dwelling
Oblong in shape, the renovated dwelling, with approximately 370 m², has been meticulously maintained, while its main façade features stonework alternating between evenly cut stone blocks and rubble stone, evidence of the building’s successive periods of renovation. Exuding a certain authenticity, which is further highlighted by burnished lime pointing visible here and there, the dwelling is accessible via double doors topped with a fanlight, which are located between tall single-glazed, small-paned windows that cadence this side of the dwelling.
As for the latter, surrounded by ashlar stone, they are crowned with smaller windows, recently created in order to provide additional sunlight from the east, whereas several more modest size windows punctuate its western exterior and a glass door opens, to the north, on to a secluded patio, shaded by an arbour, which is located between the dwelling and the wall facing the nearby alleyway.
The garden-level floor
This floor features an initial sitting room with a fireplace, an original terracotta tile floor and a tall ceiling, cadenced by immense beams, while the dining room, a second living room and the music room, with lime-pointed stone walls, succeed one another to the east. On the dwelling’s western side, a kitchen, with an adjacent utility room and boiler room, is followed by a cosy reading room and a study, whereas, extending on from the reading room, a hallway provides access to a shower room, two lavatories, as well as the quarter-turn stone staircase, which ascends to the upstairs level.
The upstairs
This floor is arranged around a central hallway, which extends from one end of the dwelling to the other in order to provide access to six bedrooms, each with a traditional wardrobe, as well as a bathroom with lavatory, a shower room with lavatory and several storage cupboards. With parquet floors and whitewashed walls throughout, this level’s sloping ceilings feature visible wooden rafters.
The Adjacent Covered Open-Air Structure
Extending on from the dwelling’s main façade and accessible from the dwelling’s cellar as well as the garden to the east, via a carriage door entrance, followed by a few stone steps, this structure, of more than 120 m², is enclosed by walls on all four sides. As for its southern wall, its is punctuated by two wide openings, facing the grounds located below, which then extend towards the countryside, while, further on is a reception room that has been designed with a rustic and bucolic ambiance.
The Medieval Tower
Once a watchtower, built in the 13th and 14th centuries with a 10 x 14-metre quadrilateral shape and a height of 15 metres, the tower of Estrépouy has been recognised as a national Historical Monument since 1982, while its restored exteriors feature stunning architectural details such as arrowslits, three-lobed windows and pigeonholes. In addition, a corbelled circular turret, appended in the 16th century, houses the spiral staircase connecting the second floor to the former rampart walk, whereas the tower’s hipped roof has also been restored according to standard practices.
Originally divided into four floors, the last of which, under the eaves, was used as a living space, today, a workshop is located on the garden level and two rooms, connected by a mezzanine, are located on the tower’s upper levels.
The Garden
Extending over approximately 4,000 m², it has been landscaped into a number of different spaces.
Our opinion
This medieval Gascon architectural complex, whose elements have been perfectly conserved, restored and meticulously highlighted by its occupants over the years, represents an ideal family home thanks to its seven bedrooms, welcoming living areas that can be adapted to the seasons, easy accessibility from the main roads, as well as the presence of nearby shops and points of interest, which come together to create a property that is pleasant to live in on a daily basis as well as throughout the year. In short, an inviting dwelling, ready to inhabit, which combines modern standards of comfort with the bygone charm of its original décor.
Reference 399502
| Land registry surface area | 4604 m² |
| Main building floor area | 370 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 540 m² |
| including refurbished area | 270 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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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.
