Mill in Tardets-Sorholus , Pyrénées-Atlantiques , Aquitaine

Built in 1762, this superb mill property is bursting with history, character and cachet! It has been lovingly restored and renovated by the existing owners over several years (in consultation with an architect) and it is completely ready for the new owners to move into, especially since much of the furniture will be included in the sale! The main house of 250m² includes a self-contained one-bedroom apartment of 47m² on the ground floor and an unconverted second floor of 80m², along with an adjoining holiday cottage/gîte of 55m².

The approach to the mill is along a private track. The track stops at the property where there is ample room for parking. The ground floor of the mill comprises a small, self-contained apartment of 47m², a machine room and a wine cellar. The small apartment is all on one level and has an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen with a wood-burning stove, a bedroom, a shower room and a WC.

The machine room of 44m² leads out to a balcony, which overlooks the mill race. The mill's turbines and pulleys are fully operational, but it is not possible to use the machines to generate electricity. Beautifully restored and preserved, it is possible to observe the machines working beneath the room's glass floor!

Stairs from the ground floor lead up to the mill's first floor, which has a wonderful south-facing dining terrace with fabulous mountain views. The first floor comprises an open-plan sitting room/dining room with a wood-burning stove, an adjacent kitchen, two bedrooms, a dressing room/laundry room which could be used as a nursery or as a small third bedroom for guests, a shower room and a WC.

The second floor of the mill (80m²) is currently unconverted. Subject to permission, this floor would be perfect for creating extra living space, bedrooms, bathrooms, a games room, a home cinema, a gym, an art studio...

Adjoining the mill is a self-contained guest cottage/gîte, which is rented out to holidaymakers. The ground floor is used as a storage area and houses the heat exchanger for the cottage's reversible air-conditioning.

Steps lead up to the first floor of the cottage, which is has an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen area. At the far end of the room is a balcony, which is the perfect spot to enjoy a sunny breakfast or an evening aperitif accompanied by the sound of trickling water!

Behind the main room is a bedroom, a shower room and a WC. There is a second mezzanine bedroom above the main room.

Set in gardens and grounds of 2.6 acres (10,504m²), there is plenty or room to install a swimming pool next to the mill and a plan has already been prepared. You could also create a beautiful summer kitchen and a barbecue area where you could enjoy long lazy lunches in the sunshine and romantic suppers gazing at the stars!

The mill race is a fantastic water feature! The race passes underneath the mill - and the water level of the race can be altered by sluices in order to turn the turbine. Because the canal was dug in 1762, before the French Revolution of 1789, the mill benefits in perpetuity from a "droit d'eau" (the right to exploit the passage of water).

The nearby river is accessible from the land. There is a small beach where you can sunbathe and the water is deep enough for you to swim and canoe.

Please note that the land of 10,504m² includes a field of 7,000m², which is currently rented out by a farmer ("en fermage") until July 2023.

Situated in the beautiful Basque Country, but close to the Béarn and its famous Jurançon vineyards, there are always things to see and do whatever the season. For mountain lovers, there are ski resorts and mountain trails 30 minutes away in the Pyrénées. If you prefer watersports, you can canoe and swim in the nearby river (which is also great for fly fishing) - and the fabulous beach resorts on the Atlantic coast are perfect for surfers and for family days out.

THE MILL

Ground floor:
- access to the small apartment (47m²), which comprises a sitting room/dining room/kitchen with wood-burning stove, a bedroom, a shower room, a WC
- a machine room (44m²) which houses the mill's original turbine, which is still in perfect working order
- a balcony overlooking the mill race
- a wine cellar

First floor (104m²):
- a paved south-facing dining terrace of 30m² with fabulous mountain views
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room with a wood-burning stove
- a kitchen
- two bedrooms
- a dressing room/laundry room/small third bedroom
- a shower room
- a WC

Second floor (80m²):
- unconverted space of 80m² with cold water and electricity already connected... ideal for creating extra living space, bedrooms, bathrooms, a games room, a home cinema, a gym, an art studio (subject to permission)...


THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE/GÎTE

Ground floor:
- a storage room + heat exchanger for reversible air-conditioning for the gîte

First floor (55m²):
- a balcony
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen
- a bedroom
- a shower room
- a WC

Mezzanine:
- a bedroom with built-in storage


THE OUTBUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

- grounds of 10,504m², including a south-facing flat area of land of 3,000m² ideal for installing a swimming pool (plan available)
NB: the 10,504m² includes a field of 7,000m² which is rented out by a farmer until July 2023
- a mill race, which passes under the mill (controlled by sluices)
- a small outbuilding
- a garage


THE POTENTIAL!

This excellent property comprises 250m² of living space in the main mill building and a holiday cottage of 55m², making it perfect for a family home or a holiday home, with plenty of room to accommodate your friends and family. In addition, the unconverted second floor of the mill (80m²) could be transformed into more living space, bedrooms and bathrooms (subject to permission). Cold water and electricity are already connected.

Your teenage child might like to use the small apartment as a private bedroom suite - or it could be transformed into an office, a consulting room, an art studio…

The holiday cottage and the small apartment can both be rented out to guests wishing to self-cater - and out of season, you could offer Bed and Breakfast to guests who want to book shorter stays. The area’s proximity to the Pyrénées and the Atlantic coast brings many visitors to the Basque Country and Béarn, many of whom are looking for top-quality accommodation all year round, but especially during the summer months, the skiing season, Christmas and New Year...


SERVICES & TECHNICAL

Double glazing throughout
Telephone + ADSL (cable due during 2022)
Electricity
Heating: electric radiators + woodburners (main house + apartment) + reversible air-conditioning (holiday cottage)
Mains water
Mains drainage


THE LOCAL AREA

The mill is located in the Soule, which is one of the three provinces in the picturesque French Basque Country. The nearby town of Tardets-Sorholus has a choice of grocery shops, boulangeries, restaurants and bars, or you can go a little further to the larger towns of Mauléon-Licharre, Oloron-Ste-Marie or Pau. From Tardets-Sorholus, there is a direct bus to Bayonne, Ikea and the Basque coast.

Popular with tourists all year round for hiking, mountain-biking, white-water rafting and fishing, the region also offers a choice of winter sports, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing and snowboarding. For those who prefer beach-based activities, the famous resorts on the Atlantic coast are about 90 minutes away, with family beaches at Hendaye and St-Jean-de-Luz and surfing at Biarritz and Anglet.

Airports: Pau, Biarritz, Tarbes-Lourdes
Train: Oloron-Ste-Marie
Ferry: Bilbao, Santander

Ski: Issarbe, La-Pierre-St-Martin, Iraty, Val-d’Azun, Gourette, Candanchú (Spain)
Beaches: Biarritz, St-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, Hossegor...

Attractions: Le Petit Train d’Artouste, Aqua Béarn, Parc'Ours, Grottes de Bétharram, Gorges de Kakuetta, Passerelle d’Holzarte, Le Train de La Rhune...
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Information about risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website : https://www.georisques.gouv.fr