Country house with gite and pool

Stone Country House with Guest Cottage, Outbuilding, Pool and 1.2 Hectares

Built in 1839 and still looking rather good for its age.  Set behind a gated entrance in 1.2 hectares of established grounds, this stylish stone country house, separate guest cottage and charming garden outbuilding sit in the UNESCO-listed Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, which is black truffle country. If you’ve ever wanted to say “I’m just popping out to check on the truffles” and mean it, this is your chance.

The Main House

Inside, a generous open-plan living space is full of charm and character, with exposed stonework, terracotta floor tiles and a log burning stove for the colder months. Above it, a fabulous mezzanine rises under full-height ceilings and original exposed beams, the sort of space that makes you want to sit up there with a glass of something local and look down on everyone else’s day.

The rustic country kitchen is as handsome as it is practical. There is a sensible, hard-working bathroom, and then there is the travertine-lined bathroom, which has not one but three showers. Nobody is quite sure why. Nobody is complaining.

Outdoors

A large covered terrace is made for long alfresco lunches that drift gently into dinner. Beyond it lie established gardens and fruit trees, and the vital swimming pool, surrounded by a travertine sun terrace that stays pleasantly cool underfoot and looks very good with a towel casually draped over a lounger. There is also a well, for authenticity, and the whole setting is quiet and peaceful, with nothing to disturb you but the occasional bee.

The Guest Cottage

The separate one-bedroom cottage has its own log burning stove, exposed beams, rustic interiors and a fitted kitchen. It is ideal for guests you’d like to see often but not at breakfast, and it would also make a very appealing rental.

The Stone Outbuilding

Tucked into the garden is a third, small stone building, currently a bedroom but equally good as a home office, with the old bread oven still intact. It is the only workplace we know of where “working from home” comes with a built-in conversation piece, and where the commute is a pleasant stroll past the fruit trees.

In Summary

If you’re looking for a country retreat in a very special place, this takes some beating.