This sumptuous castle is located in the heart of Gascony, in the rich and diverse region of Armagnac, equidistant between Bordeaux and Toulouse (1 hour 45 minutes). In the land of d'Artagnan's birthplace, the estate is in a dominant position, offering a panoramic view of the valley. Surrounded by bright fields of a tapestry of colors changing through the summer months, from the vibrant yellows of sunflowers to the neat rows of verdant vines, the property is just minutes from the picturesque village of Montreal (one of our favourite villages in the Gers) and just a ten-minute drive from the town of Condom, with its many shops and restaurants. This region is one of the most popular in Gascony, with visitors coming from Lectoure and Condom, Bordeaux or Toulouse throughout the year. It is a region world famous for its music festivals (Condom and its traditional Bandas festival, or Marciac for its famous jazz festival in the world). The long, warm summer evenings come alive with colourful night markets, as well as many other events throughout the year that make this a vibrant place to live during the winter months as well as the long, hot summers. The castle is situated on the edge of a small hamlet and is surrounded by a private park. Upon arrival, we walk along the beautiful stone walls of the gardens, the original castle ramparts that border the property and are visible from afar. A traditional wrought-iron gate between two stone pillars marks the entrance. From there, when we pass through the gate, we immediately feel a sensation of magic as we enter the gardens. A private driveway runs through a line of elegant trees. We pass the caretaker's house and two guest houses, reaching a private driveway where we catch our first glimpse of the castle. To the side and rear of the castle, a vast expanse of 12 hectares of land borders the estate. A rich variety of mature trees adorn the park. On either side, the fields and pastures are currently maintained by a local farmer. Visible even from the castle, one can clearly admire a young vineyard below, planted by the current owners. On an architectural note... The castle dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century and was once home to a religious order founded by the Premonstratensian Fathers. The property is built in an 'L' shape with beautiful golden stone walls and Parisian-style shutters painted in muted shades of an elegant grey. The sun caresses the walls of the south, east and west. Roses and many varieties of shrubs dot the landscape. The property comprises two main wings, connected to the ground floor, basement and first floor. The main house has been lovingly restored by its current owner, who is an interior designer. The renovated wing is the south wing, blessed by a magnificent flow of light from the south, north and west, bathing the rooms in natural light throughout the day through its tall windows. The property has undergone an extensive programme of works supervised by an architect specialising in historic buildings, but as we will see in more detail later, this property has the advantage of comprising a second, so far unrestored wing: the west wing. The west wing, once restored, would lend itself perfectly to parties (a large reception room), weddings or summer rentals. The South Wing The Entrance A small stone staircase on the north side separates a courtyard from the majestic entrance, with its winding staircase and door leading to a beautiful courtyard. This south-facing courtyard is embellished with an explosion of pink flowers from its trees in spring. A long hallway on the north side leads to the kitchen, a living room and a laundry room. On the other side there is a second living room and the guest toilet. The ceilings are high and the floors are covered with stone tiles. The elegant sculpted cast iron radiators diffuse the heat in addition to the underfloor heating in the entrance hall. The castle's lighting system is particularly well designed, it is delightful to visit the property in the evening, when the lights twinkle on arrival, as they might at the house of The Great Gatsby. The perfect setting for a summer evening. Reception Room 1: Like every room in the castle, this living room offers high ceilings and large windows allowing panoramic views of the valley and the Gascon countryside. A stone fireplace and double doors separate this first room from the kitchen, both clad in the same stone tiles
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Property ID: 120092673469