Aquitaine, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Navarrenx, France

Built in about 1650, this charming 7 bedroom farmhouse, with a spacious living area of 324m2, is set in a quiet rural hilltop location, yet is just a short drive from the local village, where it is possible to buy bread, and from several small towns with supermarkets.

The farmhouse is in the picturesque Jurancon wine area - which is a veritable haven of peace and tranquillity.

The property comprises of the main house of 225m2, which has 3 bedrooms and an adjoining guest cottage/gite of 97m2, which has 4 bedrooms. The property can be used as a single huge house with 7 bedrooms, it would be relatively easy to create internal access between the 2 buildings on each of the 3 floors.

From a quiet country lane, a short tree-lined entrance drive leads down to the property. There is a double garage for covered parking, as well as an outdoor parking area in front of the main part of the farmhouse. From the parking area, a paved path leads up to the front door. To the left of the path is a south-facing courtyard with a sunny dining terrace, as well as a covered seating area where you can dine in the shade.

The front door of the farmhouse opens into an entrance hall with a WC and a traditional wooden staircase to the upper floors. To the left of the hall is a spacious kitchen, which has a small dining area, a large pantry and a door out to the garden and swimming pool. Beyond the kitchen is a large sitting room with a stone fireplace and wood-burning stove. Huge curved French doors open to the dining terrace and walled courtyard. To the right of the entrance hall is a large utility room, which leads into a wonderful dining room with a huge open fireplace. This room has a door to the outside. Adjacent to the dining room is a room of 14m2, which could be used as an office.

The first floor of the farmhouse comprises of a study/office area on the landing, library area, master-bedroom suite with a dressing room and en-suite shower room, second bedroom with a decorative marble fireplace and a family bathroom. There is also a cloakroom/storage room which could be knocked through to connect the main part of the house to the guest cottage/gite.

The second floor of the farmhouse is currently used as a sitting room/games room with a bar area, but which could be transformed into a lovely bedroom suite for a teenager. Adjoining this room is unconverted loft space, which could be used to create an additional bedroom (permission required).

The guest cottage/gite is accessible from the outdoor parking area via an east-facing dining terrace. Arched doors open into a large main room comprising a sitting area with a fireplace and wood-burning stove, a dining area and a kitchen area.

The first floor comprises of a bedroom with an en-suite shower room, a second bedroom and a family bathroom.

The second floor has 2 further bedrooms, 1 of which has an en-suite bathroom.

The farmhouse is set in of 1.45 hectares (3.6 acres) of meadows and woodland. Behind the property is a gorgeous swimming pool (12 x 6m) with a sun terrace and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. There is ample space for keeping 1 or 2 horses on the grounds - and you may even like to think about creating a summer kitchen area, a barbecue area, a children's play area, a boules piste, tree houses.

The farmhouse is 5 minutes away from a picture-postcard village with a primary school, library, post office and a "depot de pain" where you can collect your fresh baguettes. A little further on, the delightful bastide town of Navarrenx has exciting waters ports on the nearby "gave" (river), as well as numerous cultural and sporting activities for you - and your visitors - to participate in throughout the year.

The town also has a great choice of lively bars and restaurants, shops and boutiques - and there is even a bilingual school (French/English). The International School of Bearn in Pau is just 35 minutes away from the property. The Medieval market town of Oloron-Ste-Marie is also easily accessible, where you will find several hypermarkets, a hospital, a theatre and a twice-weekly farmers' market. The many ski resorts in the Pyrenees are about an hour away to the south - and the surfing and family beaches on the Atlantic coast are about 70 minutes away to the west.

FARMHOUSE (225m2)

Ground floor: south-facing courtyard with dining terrace - an entrance hall (6m2) - a sitting room with a fireplace and wood-burning stove (27m2) and doors opening out to the dining terrace and courtyard - a dining room (23m2) - a study/office adjoining the dining room (14m2) - a kitchen (22.5m2) with a dining area and pantry - a large utility room (10m2) - a WC (2.5m2).

First floor: landing (7m2) with a study/office area and access to a cloakroom/storage room and a library area - a library area (7.5m2), which adjoins the master bedroom, dressing room and family bathroom - a master bedroom with an en suite shower room (28m2 + 3m2) - a dressing room (8.5m2), which adjoins the master bedroom and library area - a second bedroom with a fireplace and marble surround (32m2) - a family bathroom (9.5m2).

Second floor: huge salon/games room with a bar area, which could be used as an additional bedroom (25m2) - access to unconverted loft space (17m2).

ADJOINING GUEST COTTAGE/GITE (97m2)

Ground floor: east-facing dining terrace - a large main room with a sitting area with a wood-burning stove, a dining area and a kitchen area (32m2).

First floor: bedroom with an en-suite shower room (15 + 2.5m2) - a second bedroom (17m2) - a family bathroom (6.5m2).

Second floor: - a third bedroom with an en suite bathroom (10m2 + 2m2) - a fourth bedroom (5.5m2).

GROUNDS AND THE OUTBUILDINGS

The farmhouse is set in delightful grounds of 14,553m2 (1.3 acres) with - a swimming pool (12 x 6m) with a sun terrace - a south-facing courtyard with a dining terrace and a covered seating area - an east-facing terrace in front of the guest cottage/gite - a double garage with a workshop area (47m2 + 15m2) - 2 open-sided barns - a garden shed - a fully functioning well.

REFERENCE: 244877