Condom, Midi-Pyrénées 32100

A chateau from the 17th and 18th centuries with a 1, 200m floor area, 1, 400m of annexes, a listed garden and 23 hectares of grounds, nestled in France's Gers department. From a secondary road that snakes down a valley, among fields, groves and vineyards, a lane stretches towards a steeple that looks down over the handful of stone houses that make up the local village. The property's discreet entrance comes into view at the last bend before the village. A stony lane, which you cannot even notice from the road, runs past trees to the chateau. The edifice can be seen through the arches of its tall, circular outer wall, which looks down at the moat. The remarkable home towers in its 23-hectare estate made up of fields, meadows and a listed French formal garden. These vast grounds are dotted with trees of many different varieties. There is a swimming pool set back at a lower level. It is hidden behind a double hedge through which a secret passageway has been made in tribute to the mazes that were created in gardens at the time of King Louis Xiv of France. A discreet lane runs alongside the moat on the south side and leads to the back of the edifice, its land and outhouses. Once you have crossed the fixed stone bridge, you reach a grassy courtyard in the shade of tall trees, including a magnificent fragrant linden tree. This open space provides a comfortable area for the different buildings that surround it in a U shape. A well from 1622 with water stands in the court. And on a gravelled path, you can easily get around this outdoor space and to the wings that make up the edifice. From this splendid property, you can admire sweeping views through the arches: vistas of the undulating Gers countryside that appear like paintings. You can also see the property's Italian-style garden, which is made up of successive ponds at different heights and which stretches eastwards.