'Corps de Ferme' with 'Pigeonnier' mm-k, Tarn,

3 Bedroom Farmhouse: 284,850 (EUR)

3 BEDROOMS, 3 RECEPTION ROOM CORPS DE FERME, PLUS THREE BARNS AND A PIGEONNIER.

Don’t be fooled by the rather tatty exterior of this property – inside the main farmhouse there is a certain grandeur to the three reception rooms with their large fireplaces and solid beams. It has three bedrooms already but with one barn attached and wonderful attic space – including three existing chiens assis (dormer windows) the accommodation could be greatly extended. Two huge further barns and pigeonnier allow further scope for development – gîtes, workshops or just storage.

Each of the three reception rooms has a wood-burning stove in the fireplace so those, combined with propane gas central heating radiators in each room, will ensure your comfort. You’ll need the fires first though, as the current boiler must be replaced. The property owner has a quotation for a new boiler. Another job requiring urgent attention is the roof of the pigeonnier but the owner has a quotation for this and will undertake to have this work done early in 2008. The roof of the main farmhouse was completely redone about 20 years ago so is in excellent order.

The town of Villefranche de Rouergue is just 15km away but for daily needs a market town is at 4.5km.

Double iron gates lead through to a courtyard formed by the three main buildings, with the main farmhouse facing, and the two barns on either side, the one on the left having the pigeonnier attached.

There are two entrances to the farmhouse, one via stone steps from the courtyard but the main one is round the other side of the property again up stone steps to a wisteria covered terrace. This door takes you into a small hallway with a door directly ahead into a RECEPTION ROOM (4.54m x 5.5m) with windows to the side and rear, beams in the ceiling and a fireplace with insert wood-burning stove.

To the left of the hallway another door leads into the main LIVING ROOM, (4.5m x 5.75m), an impressive room with its beamed high ceiling, large fireplace with wooden mantel and arched glass-panelled doors inset into a stone arch leading into the next room. This fireplace also has an insert wood-burning stove. It is the central room of the house with a door out at the rear to the stone steps providing an alternative entrance to the house, as well as a window on the same wall. On the other side of the room is an arch to the KITCHEN (6m x 2.2m)). This is basically equipped and would benefit from a complete refit but the two windows have a lovely south-facing outlook over the fields, and all the plumbing and electrics are already in place.

Through the previously mentioned stone arch with glass-panelled doors is a further RECEPTION ROOM, again of good size (4.5m x 5.5m), again with a fireplace with insert wood-burning stove. This room has two exposed stone walls and windows to the rear. There is the possibility to continue the living accommodation from this room into the barn attached.

From this room and also from the main living room doors lead into a short corridor and into the newer addition to the house which provides the sleeping quarters – three BEDROOMS and a BATHROOM. All three bedrooms (12m2, 10m2, 13m2) have floating parquet floors and windows to the south with far-reaching views. Between the first and second bedrooms is a separate toilet, and the bathroom (sink, bath, bidet).

The loft space above the first reception room, kitchen and main living room, currently accessible from the main living room, has ample head height, no restricting beams and three dormer windows, so further accommodation could be put above these main rooms.

At the rear of the property, access can be gained to the sous-sol beneath the first reception room, as well as beneath the main and third reception room. From here the new timbers in the floor of the first and main reception rooms and the concrete base of the third reception room can be clearly inspected. There is yet a further sous-sol (basement) beneath the bedrooms, again with good head height.

Now to the barns - attached to the farmhouse is a barn of approx 38.75m2 with sous-sol thus giving scope to enlarge the existing accommodation. The barn at the rear of the property provides a further 145m2 of storage or workshop space as well as screening the property from the lane. Then there is a series of barns and storage spaces (186m2), culminating in the pigeonnier (37.4m2 over three levels). At one time the pigeonnier would have been the sleeping quarters for staff and the cot bed is still built into one corner of the first floor room, above the bread oven on the ground floor.

The entire ensemble of buildings sits in around 6100m2 of land, facing south from the main house. There is therefore plenty of room for a pool with lovely views over the countryside.

Services

Mains electricity and water (possibility to switch at will between well and mains water), septic tank (location and age unknown), propane gas central heating (new boiler essential), telephone and ADSL available.

Taxe fonciere: 600€ pa

Villefranche de Rouergue - 15km

FURTHER PICTURES ON REQUEST