House in Marmande , Lot et Garonne , Aquitaine

This house is very secluded, with its own private driveway and no immediate neighbours, yet the village is only a 5 minute drive away. It would make a fabulous family home – all the benefits of the countryside, yet large towns and transport links nearby. Throughout the house, its historical origins are apparent with exposed beams and columbage: adding character and charm to many of the rooms.
The front door opens onto a short hallway and vestibule, with steps down to an impressive, open plan living room and fully fitted kitchen. This whole area is light and airy – with a high vaulted ceiling and many windows opening onto the terrace and garden. To the side of the kitchen is a laundry room [with double sink and toilet] and door leading to the back garden so the children can come straight in from the garden. There is also a bathroom with a bath shower and sink, and a separate small storage room / pantry located next to the hallway.
The other wing of the house is accessed via a few steps to a hallway and bureau, with bedroom one beyond. This room has its own ensuite bathroom [with bath and sink] and a door opening onto the garden.
From the bureau, a staircase leads to two further bedrooms, one of which has a separate dressing room which could make a child’s bedroom and an extensive mezzanine area.
From the entrance hall to the bureau is an area heated by wood. A large, original oak door leads to the second salon with an original fireplace and floor tiling. Beyond this salon are two further bedrooms: bedroom four with steps leading to an outside door, and bedroom five again with an original fireplace with a wood burner and a door leading to the outside garden area.
Attached to the side of the house is a large tobacco barn which provides excellent storage space. The gardens are extensive and consist mainly of grassland. The swimming pool is located to the top end of the garden and is fully fenced.

Room dimensions [approx.]
• Salon (112m²)
• laundry room (6 m²)
• bathroom (8m²)
• Bureau (21m²),
• Bedroom one (27m²) with en-suite (9m²)
• Bedroom two (24m²)
• Bedroom three (40m²) a separate dressing room (could be used as a further small bedroom (10m²),
• storage area
• Bedroom four (21m²)
• Bedroom five (39m²)
• sechoir de tabac (barn) (124m²)
The central heating is a renewable energy central heating (Géothermie) which provides underfloor heating to much of the building: living room, kitchen, downstairs bathroom and ground floor bedroom. There is some double glazing and a recent, fully insulated roof [2003].
The house is located on the outskirts of a small village with a restaurant, hairdresser, tabac, epicerie, and post-office, and close by there is the spa-town of Casteljaloux, which has a huge swimming lake and imported sandy beach (complete with a lifeguard), a café, bar and facilities. The town also hosts a Golf Club, riding stables and a Casino; and for those truly wanting to relax, the famous spa (Les Bains de Casteljaloux) which offers health and beauty treatments as well as sessions in the steam, sauna and zen room.
The area is well known for ‘bastide’ towns with beautiful medieval buildings, flower and food markets, and outdoor cafés competing for attention in the quaint side streets. There are fascinating towns such as Bazas with its 13th Century Gothic Cathedral and beautiful arcaded square. Most towns and large villages still have busy Farmers Markets and in the summer months you can eat ‘al fresco’ at the marché nocturnes. The river Garonne and the canal are nearby, offering access to a long walking and cycling pathway: the voieverte.
There are two international airports in easy driving distance : Bergerac[66km] and Bordeaux [90km]. The railway is at Marmande [11km] and then to Paris on the TGV in 2.5 hours, and the closest motorway is the A62, autoroute des deuxmers [3km]
This region of south west France is known for its temperate weather and agricultural heritage: there are tomatoes named after the local town of Marmande and beef named after their origin Bazas.