Midi-Pyrénées, Ariège, Bélesta, France

The house probably dates back to the 12th century, but has been altered over the years.
The street facade is very simple, with grey cement, an old double door and old shutters that have been deliberately left as they are.
It faces east/west.
The sun rises on the half-timbered rear façade and stays there all morning.
In the afternoon and evening, it shines on the street side of the highest part of the house.
There are no neighbours on the street side.

The ground floor comprises an entrance room with a cloakroom, a laundry area, a large cupboard, wood storage and a bicycle shed.
The room has a wood-burning stove that partly heats the house.
This room can be used as a dining room from time to time.

The kitchen is a passageway leading to an open-air patio.
A working fireplace heats the kitchen in winter and is ideal for grilling, etc.
The technical appliances and cleaning equipment are all concealed in the wood panelling (gas cooker, extractor hood, fridge, sink, etc.), as are the cupboards for crockery and foodstuffs.
The patio is a green space with a fountain and a seating area for aperitifs.
The patio is bright but not sunny.
In fine weather, the sun shines only on one wall, at the end of the morning, for around two hours.
It remains cool and pleasant in the heat of summer.
From this patio you enter a summer room, currently used as a dining room.

On the first floor there is a landing with a blind shower room and toilet, and a master bedroom overlooking the patio.
The patio is overlooked from a neighbouring balcony and terrace, which are used as clotheslines.
All the bedrooms are fitted with fixed woodwork (bed, wardrobes, cupboards, etc.), all of which are antique.
The bedrooms and bathrooms have electric fan heaters (for that extra warmth) and electric heated towel rails.
There is also a street-facing lounge with a working fireplace and study area.

On the second floor, which is more for guests, there's a blind shower room with toilet, and 3 bedrooms in the "mountain cabin" style.
Small, easy to heat quickly and functional.
One bedroom overlooks the patio,
One bedroom facing the street,
One bedroom with twin beds
The two bedrooms overlooking the street open onto a loggia or souleiou (no window frames) when the shutters are open (which can be used as a relaxation area with a view of the village rooftops and also as a place to dry your washing).

It's an 'old' house with an 'old' decoration, but it's comfortable, even if it's a bit like living in the 19th century!
I'm not at all in favour of insulation, heat pumps etc... so this house is for people who are a bit "out of the norm".
No insulation, no double glazing etc... the maximum is original, the windows are made of old bubble glass etc... as a result, it's going to be a guaranteed heat sink when it comes to diagnostics.

Technical: mains drainage in the village.
The electricity has been revised for the existing part and new for the rest (the panel has been completely redone).
Electric hot water tank.
Fan heater and heated towel rail, very recent hot water tank.

Carcassonne is 1h, Toulouse is 1h30

More information upon request