Description
This sumptuous castle is located in the heart of Gascony, in the rich and diverse region of Armagnac, equidistant between Bordeaux and Toulouse (1h45). On d'Artagnan's native lands, the estate is in a dominant position, offering a panoramic view of the valley. Surrounded by fields bursting with a tapestry of changing colors throughout the summer months, from the vibrant yellows of sunflowers to the neat rows of verdant vines, the property is located just minutes from the picturesque village of Montreal (one of our favorite villages of the Gers) and just ten minutes by car from the town of Condom, with its many shops and restaurants. This region is one of the most popular in Gascony, with visitors coming from Lectoure and Condom, Bordeaux or Toulouse throughout the year. It is a region famous worldwide for its music festivals (Condom and its traditional Bandas festival, or Marciac for its world-famous jazz festival). The long, warm summer evenings come alive with colorful night markets, as well as many other events throughout the year that make this place a vibrant place to live during the winter months as well as the long and hot summers. The castle is located on the edge of a small hamlet and is surrounded by a private park. On arrival, we walk alongside the beautiful stone walls of the gardens, the original ramparts of the castle which border the property and are visible from afar. A traditional wrought iron gate between two stone pillars marks the entrance. From here, when we pass through the gates, there is an immediate feeling of magic as we enter the gardens. A private driveway leads through a line of elegant trees. We pass the caretaker's house and two guest houses, reaching a private driveway where we first glimpse the castle. To the side and rear of the castle, a vast expanse of 12 hectares of land borders the estate. A rich variety of mature trees adorn the park. On either side, fields and pastures are currently tended by a local farmer. Visible even from the castle, you can clearly admire a young vineyard below, planted by the current owners. On an architectural note... The castle dates from the second half of the 19th century and was once the home of a religious order founded by the Premonstratensian Fathers. The property is built in the shape of an 'L' with magnificent golden stone walls and Parisian style shutters painted in muted tones of elegant grey. The sun caresses the walls of the south, east and west. Roses and many varieties of shrubs dot the landscape. The property comprises two main wings, connected on the ground floor, basement and first floor. The main house has been lovingly restored by its current owner, who is an interior designer. The renovated wing is the South Wing, blessed with a magnificent flow of light from the South, North and West, bathing the rooms in natural light throughout the day through its tall windows. The property has undergone a considerable program of works overseen by an architect specializing in historic buildings, but as we will see in more detail later, this property has the advantage of including a second wing, as yet unrestored: l west wing. The west wing, once restored, would be perfect for parties (a large reception room), weddings or summer rentals. The south wing The entrance A small stone staircase on the north side separates a courtyard from the majestic entrance, with its winding staircase and door opening onto a beautiful courtyard. This south-facing courtyard is decorated with an explosion of pink flowers from its trees in spring. A long corridor on the north side leads to the kitchen, a living room and a laundry room. On the other side there is a second living room and the guest toilet. The ceilings are high and the floors are covered in stone tiles. The elegant sculpted cast iron radiators diffuse heat to complement the underfloor heating in the entrance hall. The castle's lighting system is particularly well designed, it is delightful to visit the property in the evening, when the lights twinkle on arrival, as they might at The Great Gatsby's house. The perfect setting for a summer evening. Reception room 1: Like every room in the castle, this living room offers high ceilings and large windows allowing a panoramic view of the valley and the Gascon countryside. A stone fireplace and double doors separate this first room from the kitchen, both clad in the same stone tiles. Reception Room 2: With its warm and welcoming interior, this room is perfect for evening events. It offers the same splendid views as well as a stone fireplace. Cloakroom & Guest WC: At the end of the entrance hall, discreetly positioned behind a carefully designed cloakroom wall, is a spacious guest sink and WC. The kitchen, scullery, laundry room: It would be more accurate to say that the kitchen is another large reception room! Warm and welcoming, majestic in its size with a long table to welcome guests or for breakfast overlooking the valley, this kitchen is the heart of the property and spacious enough to accommodate large tables. French doors open onto the garden on the west side, where guests can dine under the plane trees and admire the fabulous stone ramparts and balustrades offering stunning views across the valley. Guests also enjoy views of the medieval ruins of the original castle and dovecote. A large central island with ample work surface allows for large meals to be prepared on the AGA. The scullery is also directly accessible from the garden and the main kitchen, equipped with a traditional oven, is an ideal space for caterers serving meals in the garden or indoors. A beautiful carved wooden frame overlooks the laundry room in the hallway opposite the kitchen. The First Floor: Bedrooms Opposite the courtyard entrance, a magnificent stone staircase rises to the first floor, leading to a spacious landing and a second long corridor which overlooks the ground floor hall. All the rooms are decorated with beautiful parquet floors. To the right of the landing, two bedrooms have en-suite shower rooms and fitted wardrobes adorned with decorative doors from old French wardrobes. To the left of the landing is a third en-suite bathroom with stunning views to the south, and a long hallway leading to a vast master suite, one of the most spacious bedrooms and bathrooms to be found in Gascony . The master suite includes a huge bedroom with five large windows, a double dressing room and a bathroom equipped with a double sink, a shower and an oval bathtub. The West Wing At the opposite end of the ground floor entrance hall, near the kitchen entrance, a pair of double doors open onto the west wing, providing two floors with approximately 400m2 additional space for future development, with the necessary permissions. The west wing has a hall leading to a staircase leading to the first floor. On the ground floor, a large reception room is revealed, with large openings onto the park and offering a breathtaking view of the medieval ruins. This hall has been the setting for many weddings hosted by the family and is a great place to dance and party. It opens onto the park and offers a panoramic view of the ramparts, the medieval castle and the folly located at the end of the garden. Our thoughts at Bliss This property offers a home that is both beautiful and elegant. It is both comfortable, majestic, and imbued with a magical (!) warm and welcoming aura. The current owners have undertaken an intensive program of renovations and have benefited from assistance from the local Historic Monuments Commission (as is required for all listed buildings). This guarantees the property a restoration respecting regional architecture, with meticulous attention to detail, thus offering the new owners the fruit of much thought and effort put into bringing this residence back to life. The new owners will be able to arrive with their suitcases, ready to host their first reception with a bottle of champagne in hand. The possibility of continuing the works and further developing the property, with the necessary authorizations, particularly in the west wing currently undergoing complete restoration, offers unlimited potential. This property represents the epitome of the perfect family home, with its two guest houses (full details available from the agency) and the caretaker's house. It offers enough space to accommodate family and friends, or the possibility of creating two independent gîtes. The ROSE and WISTERIA guest houses, located at the entrance to the castle and far from the main residence, offer total privacy to their occupants. This unique and exciting opportunity allows you to acquire a magnificent historic building (manor house), as well as the remains of a medieval castle, a folly, 2 guest houses and a caretaker's house, all nestled in the heart of a park sumptuous and surrounded by vineyards.
