Languedoc-Roussillon, Aude, Castelnaudary, France

Enchanting French chateau, full of character and history with spacious accommodation, a chapel and over 9 acres of mature landscaped grounds.

At the heart of this pre-Napoleonic ensemble of buildings lies an impressive and substantial main home with an elegant slim turreted roofline and grand tall, original windows giving the impression of being much bigger than it actually is.

The high ceilings of the entrance hall are mirrored on both the ground and the first floors. One wing of the ground floor enjoys an impressive dining room with an open fireplace and original stone detailing and a huge kitchen occupying the full end of the building with two large marble islands and modern appliances. The kitchen is a perfect marriage of modern eclectic and traditional pieces such as the Italian chandeliers that characterise so much of this property.

On the other side are an elegant reception room, salon and library.

Upstairs the 5 bedrooms are spacious with views over either the Black mountains to one side or the mature Mediterranean garden to the other.

The master bedroom is vast, spanning the width of the house with two separate bathrooms and a large dressing room adjoining it.

All the rooms are well proportioned and eye-catching.

The house has 4 separate working original fireplaces but there is also central heating throughout provided by an efficient air-pump system but utilising handsome original cast-iron radiators in keeping with the property.

The floors are either the original tiles or beautiful original herringbone parquet.

In front of the main house, flanking it either side are two solid stone garrison-like buildings which in previous times have been used as workman's cottages when this place was a farm or vineyard.

One currently is used to host magical dinner parties, the other needs developing.

Set in the grounds are also two large, attractive 3 bedroom stone houses which could serve as a friends and family accommodation or gites. Possible gite business (subject to necessary permissions)

There is also an artist's studio, further storage units, a large greenhouse and a tiny chapel.

The grounds feature century-old trees, including Lebanese cypress trees (popular with the Knights Templar), a manicured lawn with a curve that hints at the old roman wall on which it is terraced and a koi carp pond.

The property also has a swimming pool, some wild land and the whole 3.6 hectares of land are surrounded by trees making it completely invisible to even the odd car passing in the distance on what is a quiet, country road to the local village.

This is a unique property, ideal as a generous family home that is big enough for friends and to entertain, or as a property that could bring in an income.

More details on request.

REFERENCE: 247042