House

Untouched by time, this property sits in a quiet village in the south of the Gers. According to the dates inscribed inside the property, it dates back to 1783 on one side, and 1784 on the other. We enter the property through two large wrought-iron gates, with imposing stone pillars to each side. The road is very quiet, leading to a leafy residential area, and the traffic is of little if any consequence in this peaceful location. With 5000m² of gardens, the property has a typical Gascon appeal, with its imposing façade. The original windows are still in situ, a rambling vine heavy with red grapes hanging over the door-frame. The property was purchased by its current owners fifteen years ago, when the process of stripping back the inside began. The current owners tell us: “ We bought the property having fallen completely in love with its authentic features; such as the original windows and sink, and its grand and magical staircase. Every inch of its surface area was covered in bright blue and brown paint. Even the wood had been treated with the same colours. These were stripped back to their original wooden frames and repaired. We then proceeded to gut anything from the inside that was not in-keeping with the period elements we wanted to preserve. We also loved the light inside the property. All the three large front rooms of the property have big windows outside. The location is perfect, being peaceful yet non-isolated for a property we would not be living in permanently, we liked the not too distant presence of neighbours in this sleepy location. We later learnt from locals that the grandeur of the property (including the rather fabulous staircase) could have been copied from the design of the chateau, as it is rather too grand for a typical village house. An aspiring builder copied the chateau staircase with the minstrel’s gallery at the top.” Today, thanks to a lot of hard work, the original wattle and daub interior walls have been revealed, and the property must look very much as it once did to the original architect, before successive generations of owners applied their many layers of coloured paints and wallpapers. Stripping back the years the years has proven a slow and arduous process, especially as work was carried out by the current owners from a distance, coming over to France for working holidays. The result today is a grand and spacious shell, seeking a new owner who feels passionate at the thought of a blank canvas and who can bring the property back to life and make it habitable once again in 2023. Our thoughts here at Bliss What appeals to us most on our visit to the property, and what makes this property a worthwhile project, is the architecture of the house. A once grand Gascon building with an imposing façade, and a spacious 5000m² village garden, with a further wing of outbuildings extending to the rear for potential development (planning permits providing) or storage. The two elements which are of greatest note internally, are the light that seeps in through every room (most rooms have two windows, increasing twofold the property’s sunny disposition) and secondly the sheer volume of each room. The bedrooms, the downstairs reception room (with its original old fireplace) and the kitchen provide generous spaces. The wattle and daub walls with their own oak beams and struts are solid. The house feels dry and healthy, appearing to breathe and without any visible signs of damp. If ever there were a blank canvas one wanted to begin painting on, and filling in with colour: it is truly this one! It is easy to see what this house might become…… but who will be the one to take on this project?