Mill in Oloron-Sainte-Marie , Pyrénées-Atlantiques , Aquitaine

This delightful mill property is bursting with character and cachet, with the ancient mill itself dating back to the 1500s! Lovingly restored and renovated by the previous owners, the property and its holiday cottages are completely ready for the new owners to move into, although you might want to refresh some of the décor. The main house has a traditional gallery on the first floor, which overlooks a beautiful internal courtyard with a fountain. The mill building is set away from the main house and has a millstream running beneath it. There are two additional holiday cottages, along with an unconverted barn, which could be used for creating further rental accommodation.

Although the property is close to the centre of the village, there is no passing traffic, guaranteeing complete peace and tranquillity, with just the sound of the nearby river. Gates from the lane open into a parking area, with covered parking possible in the barn, which is located in the grounds at the end of a short track.

The main house (about 100m²) is adjoined by one of the holiday cottages, forming three sides enclosing the internal courtyard. The main house comprises a south-facing dining terrace, a kitchen and a main room with a sitting area, a dining area and an open fireplace. The internal courtyard is accessible from the main room, from where steps lead up to a charming gallery and two bedrooms, each with an en suite shower room. The bedrooms are used for accommodating Bed and Breakfast guests.

The holiday cottage adjoining the main house is just under 50m². (Should you need additional living space in the main house, this cottage could be integrated into the main building, making it accessible from the internal courtyard.) The cottage is accessible from the parking area via a private garden and covered terrace, which overlooks the river and grounds. The ground floor of the cottage comprises an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a shower room and a separate WC; the first floor of the cottage has two bedrooms, both with sloping ceilings.

Set away from the main building is the ancient mill (56m²), which still has the millstream passing beneath it. The main room of the mill now has a glass panel installed on the floor from where you can watch out for passing trout in the water below! Beautifully restored using traditional and ecological materials, the mill is now a cosy gîte with a private garden area, a covered terrace, an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a shower room and a separate WC on the ground floor. The first floor of the mill has two bedrooms - both with sloping ceilings - and a second WC.

The third holiday cottage is a single-storey cottage (60m²) and comprises a private covered terrace, an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a utility room, two bedrooms, a shower room and a separate WC. This cottage also has air-conditioning.

Alongside this cottage is a partly converted barn of 65m², which comprises two garages, a workshop and a studio-style bedroom area with an en suite shower room. Subject to permission, the barn would be perfect for creating an additional holiday cottage, B&B bedroom suites, a games room, a home cinema, a gym, an art studio...

Set in gardens and grounds of 2.5 acres (10,060m²), there is plenty of room to install a swimming pool near the main house or the barn, where the land is classed as constructible (subject to planning permission). There is already a children's play area with a badminton court - and you might also like to create a beautiful summer kitchen with a barbecue area, where you - and your guests - can enjoy delicious breakfasts and lazy lunches in the sunshine... and romantic suppers gazing at the stars!

The grounds are crossed by two millstreams, which join the nearby river bordering the land. With caution, the river is accessible from the land and the water is usually deep enough for you to paddle and cool off in the summer heat...

The property is located in a pretty village in the picturesque Vallée d’Aspe, not far from the riverside town of Oloron-Ste-Marie. There is a primary school in the village; local shops are about 5 minutes away. Oloron-Ste-Marie (about 10 minutes away) has an excellent choice of secondary schools, shops and hypermarkets, along with a theatre, a hospital, a cinema and a swimming pool. There are several Pyrenean ski resorts just 45 - 60 minutes away - and numerous beach resorts 80 - 90 minutes away on the Atlantic coast.

THE MAIN HOUSE (103m²)

Ground floor:
- a south-facing dining terrace
- an internal courtyard
- a sitting room/dining room with an open fireplace and underfloor heating
- a kitchen
- a utility room (2.4m²)
- a WC

First floor:
- an gallery overlooking the courtyard
- two bedrooms, each with an en suite shower room (21m² + 5.5m², 19m² + 4.5m²)


COTTAGE 1 (48.5m²)

Ground floor:
- a covered terrace and private garden area
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen with an enclosed fireplace (20.6m²)
- a shower room
- a WC

First floor:
- two bedrooms (9.96m², 9.88m²)


COTTAGE 2 (56.4m²)

Ground floor:
- a covered terrace and private garden area
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen with a wood-burning stove (27.7m²)
- a shower room
- a WC

First floor:
- two bedrooms (8.09m², 9.07m²)
- a WC


COTTAGE 3 (60.5m²)

Ground floor:
- a covered terrace and private garden area
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen (25.7m²)
- a utility room (5m²)
- two bedrooms (9.52m², 9.09m²)
- a shower room
- a WC
- air-conditioning


THE BARN AND THE GROUNDS

- a barn (65m²) incorporating two garages, a workshop and a bedroom (8.44m²) with an en suite shower room (2.94m²)
- gardens and grounds of 10,060m² bordered by a river
- two millstreams, one of which passes under the mill
- an open-sided summerhouse
- a children's play area and badminton court


THE POTENTIAL!

This excellent property comprises 100m² of living space in the main house, making it perfect for a couple or a young family. Should you need additional living space for a larger family, the cottage adjoining the main house could be made accessible from the internal courtyard to provide an additional 50m² of accommodation.

The thee holiday cottages re ready to rent out to holidaymakers straight away - and out of season, the cottages would be ideal to use to accommodate Bed and Breakfast guests who want to book shorter stays. The area’s proximity to the Pyrénées and the Atlantic coast brings many visitors to the Béarn and Basque Country, many of whom are looking for high-quality accommodation all year round, but especially during the summer months, the skiing season, Christmas and New Year...

Should you wish to create a fourth cottage or some luxurious Bed and Breakfast suites, the partially converted barn could be transformed into holiday accommodation - or you could use it as an office, a consulting room, a gym, an art studio…

Located on the Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrim route (Voie d’Arles), you may also wish to offer B&B to passing pilgrims as they make their way south from Oloron-Ste-Marie to cross into Spain at the Col du Somport.


SERVICES & TECHNICAL

Double glazing
Telephone
ADSL internet connection (cable due soon)
Electricity
Heating: underfloor (in the main house) + electric heaters (in all three cottages) + open fireplace (main house) + wood-burning stove (Cottage 1) + fireplace with insert (Cottage 2)
Air-conditioning (Cottage 3)
Mains water
Mains drainage


THE LOCAL AREA

Situated in a lovely village in the beautiful Béarn, this super property is about 10 minutes away from the Medieval market town of Oloron-Ste-Marie and 45 minutes away from the historic city of Pau. Oloron-Ste-Marie and Pau are both accessible by train from nearby villages in the Vallée d'Aspe.

The closest French ski resorts are at Issarbe, La-Pierre-St-Martin and Gourette (all about 45 minutes away); the closest ski resort in Spain is at Candanchú (50 minutes). Biarritz and other Atlantic beach resorts are just 80 - 90 minutes away.

The Béarn is extremely popular with tourists all year round, who visit the region to walk, cycle and ski in the mountains. The area is also excellent for fishing, especially in the nearby rivers (gaves), including the Gave d’Oloron, which is famous for its salmon.

Airports: Pau, Tarbes-Lourdes, Biarritz,
Train: Oloron-Ste-Marie, Pau
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: Aqua Béarn, Parc’Ours, Parc de Loisirs: Espace Ludopia, Le Petit Train d’Artouste, Aventure Parc Aramits, Grottes de Bétharram, Gorges de Kakuetta, Passerelle d’Holzarte, Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle…
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Information about risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website : https://www.georisques.gouv.fr