Cordes-sur-Ciel, Midi-Pyrénées 81170

A large house with a terraced garden in the heart of Cordes-sur-Ciel, one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France'. The bastide is reached via a steep cobbled lane with a colourful medieval feel. The large Rue de l'Horloge runs alongside the Bouteillerie district on the left-hand side of the central road in Cordes as you climb up the hill. This part of the town was protected by a fifth wall in the 14th century, as it rapidly expanded to having over 5 000 inhabitants just over 100 years after it was built. Probably built in the 14th century, the three-storey building has an ochre-toned stone facade flanked by a tower. Typical of the village houses in Cordes-sur-Ciel, it has a terraced garden level, a ground floor and a first floor with attic space. The simple windows, protected by painted wooden shutters, have been meticulously restored. The two-sloped canal tile roof is emphasised by a double line of Genoise corbelling. From the street, the main entrance is accessed through the inner courtyard, which has plants on both sides and is bordered by stone walls. A comfortable tiled terrace, covered by a section of the roof, runs along the house.