ASTAFFORT, Aquitaine, Address available on request

The farm is located south of Agen, 30 minutes from the town centre and Tgv bus station.
More precisely, we are in the Lot et Garonne, on the border with the Gers, just 2.5 km from Astaffort and its shops.

The Brulhois is a natural region of France, famous for its wines and its landscapes of terraces and hillsides.
Numerous châteaux, fortified houses and mills can be seen around the bend in the hill.
Not far from a meander in the Gers, we pass through landscapes dotted with buildings that remind us of the area's agricultural past, including an old fortified mill dating from the 14th century.

Our arrival at the farm

For a few kilometres we follow the tree-lined Gers valley. We cross small old bridges over the river, then a country lane dotted with cornfields, and finally the last few metres shaded by the many oak trees, and here we are.
An enchanting bucolic setting welcomes us. At any moment, we expect to see the famous gleaners from Millet's painting.
To the left of the path, a number of trees, including a huge chestnut tree, provide an ideal spot from which to contemplate the farm that stretches out in front of us. It stretches out over its arched plot facing west. On the right, the wooded plot of land facing east.

The old traditional stone farmhouse

The current owner's grandparents ran the farm and lived there until 1985.

The farmhouse comprises a 152 m2 dwelling, a stable, a 410 m2 shed and wine storehouse, and a superb 160 m2 attic. In total, there is over 700 m2 of usable floor space!
There is also a recently restored water well in the barn.
Here we have all the elements of a traditional farmhouse.
The whole property reflects the sun's rays, with golden and coppery tones that add a soft, romantic touch to the tranquillity of the setting.

After passing through this delightful courtyard covered in old tiles, we enter directly into the kitchen, and at the same time into the 19th century!
Terracotta floor, massive fireplace in front of us and old sink on the right.
As the current owner explains, everything has been kept as it was.

On the east side, just behind the kitchen, is a vast room with a fireplace that was probably used as a sitting room.

On the west side, there are two rooms served by a small corridor, also paved with terracotta tiles. The rooms all have wooden floors and beamed ceilings. After a few steps, a second small perpendicular corridor leads to a beautiful wooden door giving access to the west side of the house. It undoubtedly marks the boundary with the second part of the farm, which was also inhabited at the time: the rear of the stable, which comprises a fourth room like the previous ones, and the old kitchen, which still bears the marks of the fire in one of the corners.
At the end of the corridor, the passageway to the cowshed.

The cowshed

The current owner fondly remembers the cute calves of her childhood, when she used to visit her grandparents. Today, it's a beautiful space that has preserved all the traces of its past, in particular the old wooden troughs and a beautiful hay wagon. These are features that are often preserved, adding character and cachet to today's restorations.
The many openings to the east bring a beautiful play of light to this area.
To the rear, there are also two stone animal pens, each with its own entrance facing west.
Just above the boxes is the former henhouse, which offers breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside.

The cellar

Here you have an enclosed area of just over 44m2, where the old barrels, which were probably used for numerous family meals and celebrations, are still to be found.

The stone barn

Its size and especially its height are impressive!
The beautiful, sound roof structure rests on wooden pillars, which in turn rest on dice of stone posts. This is a very positive point, as it prevents the wood from rotting and adds solidity and elegance to the building.
The restored water well, fitted with a pump, is sheltered in the barn.

The attic

This covers part of the house and all of the stable.
Incredibly beautiful, you can give free rein to your imagination in designing this extraordinary space.
In some places on the floor, you can see the old hatches through which hay was thrown for the livestock below.
The traditional timber frame gives it a most majestic appearance, accentuated by the many diamond-shaped oculi that add a touch of originality.

BLISS'S OPINION

The current owners were initially thinking of moving in.
That's why they've already carried out some very practical work, such as levelling the ground between the house and the rural road and laying a drain to protect the eastern facade from any possible damp.
For aesthetic purposes, they also buried the Edf line right up to the boundary of their property.
Everything is already in place for the fibre optic connection.
The corner quoins and ashlar door surrounds have been added.
Apart from that, everything remains to be done: Electricity, plumbing, heating system and septic tank.
What's in it for the new owners? Everything will be made to measure!
Very often, we meet buyers who tell us they don't like the tiling or certain finishes, but there's no question of that here.

This is a great project for stone lovers, for those looking for a quiet location, but not too isolated. Close to the Lot-et-Garonne tourist routes, it could also be used to develop a craft business.

Its low price makes it possible to buy a property in the heart of the south-west, in the middle of the countryside, while remaining a short drive from a medium-sized town like Agen.