Village house with roof terrace

Overview

A rather special 13th-century stone house in the heart of the thriving bastide village of Puymirol — full of character, beautifully renovated and, quite possibly, the coolest house in the village.

Over the past thirty years, the current owners have transformed this historic property with enormous care, great taste and a wonderfully relaxed sense of style. The result is a unique home that feels both thoroughly contemporary and completely at home in its centuries-old setting.

Interior

Arranged over three floors, the house retains a wealth of original features alongside beautifully considered modern interiors. Think fabulous stonework, exposed beams, an ancient well, an elm staircase and a rather fabulous kitchen — with none of the usual compromises.

The ground floor has a welcoming entrance/sitting room and a generous guest suite, with the original elm staircase leading to the first floor. Here you’ll find a superb contemporary kitchen with Rosières range cooker and, uniquely for the Rue Royale, a balcony directly off the kitchen overlooking the church. Quite frankly, morning coffee doesn’t get much better than this.

The first-floor sitting room is a wonderfully atmospheric space, with exposed beams and an insert log burner, while the elegant master bedroom has built-in cupboards and an en suite bathroom.

An industrial-style rear staircase leads down to the cinema room, where an ancient well adds an unexpected touch of medieval intrigue.

At the top of the house, a roof terrace opens onto fabulous views across the surrounding countryside — the perfect spot for an evening drink or a lazy breakfast in the sunshine.

The bathrooms are beautifully finished, the interiors have the effortless feel of a rather stylish interiors magazine, and everything is presented in excellent condition. Electric heating. Some furnishings are available by separate negotiation.

This is a house that manages to be both wonderfully old and effortlessly modern, with spaces that are as comfortable for everyday life as they are for entertaining. The kitchen, in particular, is hard to beat — we can’t imagine a better spot for gathering friends, cooking, eating and watching village life unfold from the balcony.

Perfect as a low-maintenance permanent home or an exceptionally stylish lock-up-and-leave, this is a property that asks very little of its owners while giving an awful lot back.

And, as for the Rue Royale balcony? We’re fairly sure you’ll be making your morning coffee considerably more slowly once you own it.

The Area

Puymirol is a beautiful and lively bastide village, just 15 minutes from Agen, with restaurants, local amenities and a particularly good programme of summer events. Agen offers a TGV connection to Paris in around three hours.

Toulouse and Bordeaux are both approximately 1½ hours away, making this an exceptionally well-placed base for enjoying southwest France without feeling remotely suburban.

A rare combination of history, style, practicality and a very enviable position, this is one of those houses that is difficult to compare with anything else.

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