Aquitaine, in Les Landes, close to the border with the Gers

A long drive leads through an area of woodland to this interesting - as yet unfinished - tourist development centred around a spacious C13th farmhouse in just over a hectare of mature parkland. The current owners have obtained planning permission (still valid) for a scheme which includes two potentially prestigious blocks of flats and a large, swimming pool, all in attractively landscaped grounds with designated parking bays and facilities for handicapped holidaymakers.

Unfortunately ill health has prevented the current owners from completing the scheme. To date the main house has been restored to provide 4 well-appointed letting rooms with good bathrooms/shower rooms and a private salon. One apartment block (B) is nearly finished but the other building (A) is just a shell -  to be finished or to be demolished. The external features - swimming pool and parking areas - are only in the planning stage.

The situation is good, with easy access to airports at Bergerac, Bordeaux, Biarritz and Pau. The TGV passes through Mont de Marsan, Dax, Bordeaux and Agen. It is an area of interesting bastide villages, with St Justin a few minutes away and Labastide d'Armagnac( famous locally for its monthly antiques fair) less than 10 minutes away. It also is within about one hour's drive of Mimizan on the Atlantic coast.  

Accommodation: House: 521m². Summer kitchen & boiler house - 62m².  Apartment block (A) - 850m². Apartment block (B) - 680m².

Ground Floor

¨     From a wide, covered terrace glazed double doors open directly into an impressive salon, 65m², with lovely, original terra-cotta tiling, 2 windows, huge open fireplace, exposed stonework, magnificent timberwork and open staircase leading to the galleried mezzanine which overlooks the salon.

¨     Converted from the former stables is the kitchen, 26m², with 2 windows a pair of French windows leading to the garden from the dining area, tiled floor, sloping wood-clad ceiling and a full range of units in old carved wood, separated from the dining area by a fitted breakfast bar. The equipment includes a double sink, 5-ring Scholtes ceramic hob, 2-ring gas hob, extractor, dishwasher, double oven and green Godin solid-fuel cooker.

¨     Owners' suite:

¨     A corridor, 5.30m², with a window overlooking the garden, leads to the bedroom and bathroom.

¨     Bedroom (1), 15m², with terra-cotta tiles, exposed beams window and walk in cupboards, 4.70m².

¨     Bathroom (1), 14.40m², with bath, shower, twin basins, bidet, wc, window, exposed beams, fitted cupboards and points for washing machine & drier.

¨     B & B wing:

¨     From the salon a few steps lead up to a charming siting room, 15.50m², a very light room with Velux window, tiled floor, exposed stonework and white-painted beams.

¨     Corridor and rear hall, 9.60m², with large rear door to a courtyard garden and access to the letting bedrooms.

¨     Bedroom (2), 13m² with tiled floor, exposed beams and wide French windows to the garden.

¨     Bathroom (2), 7.80m², on two levels, with high-level sunken bath, twin basins, bidet, window and wc.

¨     Bedroom (3), 11.60m², with French windows to the garden and en suite shower room.

¨     En suite shower room, (3), 3.10m², with shower, basin and wc.

¨     Bedroom (4), 14.20m², with window and en suite shower room.

¨     En suite shower room (4), with shower, basin and wc.

¨     Bedroom (5), 14m², with window and ensuite "coin toilette" - shower and basin.

¨     Separate wc for bedroom (5).

¨     Front covered terrace, 25m², under the main eaves.

¨     Side covered terrace, 26m².

Mezzanine.

¨     The salon staircase leads up to a splendid mezzanine room, 114.55m², currently used as guest accommodation, study and drawing room. It has a wall of glass on the west façade, three other windows and a cathedral roof with massive exposed timberwork.

Cellar

¨     Steps lead down from the ground floor to an excellent, well-ventilated cellar, 90.40m².

Boiler House

¨     Large boiler house, 36m², containing the gas-fired central heating boiler.

¨     Summer kitchen, 28m², with built-in barbecue.

Apartments

¨     Apartments (A), 850m², which are linked to the main house via a courtyard, are nearly completed and will provide:

¨     8 apartments each with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living/kitchen and balcony.

¨     Some of the apartments have a groundfloor bedroom and bathroom to accommodate handicapped visitors.

¨     It was planned to provide each apartment with underfloor heating.

¨     The building has been built with heat, sound and fire proofing.

¨     A large area has been set aside to provide a communal room (games room) a kitchen and a laundry room.

Outside.

¨     Just over a hectare of attractive, landscaped grounds, with splendid mature pines and oaks.

¨     A swimming pool, 14m x 7m,  was included in the plans together with a pool house to provide 5 changing rooms and sanitation.

¨     Seventeen parking bays were planned.