Two renovated houses and range of out-buildings

This is an old farm of 24 acres and a number of stone buildings set amid the peaceful, rolling hills just 1km south of  the Dordogne border and 25 minutes from Bergerac airport. A no-expense spared renovation has created a property which is suitable for two families or to provide rental income with scope to expande into any number of commercial enterprises.

Full details follow:

Naudine is an old farm consisting of a yard surrounded by several buildings some of which have been rebuilt and tastefully renovated with a view to flexibility of use; this includes the design and construction allowing the safe and comfortable passage of disabled persons with mobility difficulties or in a wheelchair. The English owners currently live in the small house, the ground floor of the barn conversion is occupied by family and the first floor is used by friends and family visitors but could easily be let as holiday accommodation . The remaining barns and buildings provide massive storage and scope for further creative re-modelling. Land area included with this property totals approx: 10.64 acres. Additional parcels up to about 10 acres may be available subject to separate negotiation. Naudine is located in the Lot-et-Garonne 1km south of the Dordogne border. The nearest towns are Eymet (6km) and Bergerac (25km) in the Dordogne, with Miramont-de-Guyenne (10km) and our village of Lauzun is just 2km. The countryside is lovely, rolling hills, not unlike Devon, composed of farms, orchards and vineyards the main crops being wheat, maize, sunflowers and large plum orchards; the area is famous for its prunes. The wide choice of local markets range from the huge and touristy Sunday market at Issigeac to the small-for-locals market in Lauzun on Saturdays. The history of the Hundred-Years-War is everywhere and the area has some of the best-preserved bastide towns in France. Our little ‘empire’ is a tranquil oasis in the middle of this peaceful countryside. Surrounded by farmland, pasture and woods it is a haven for wildlife enhanced by the diversity afforded by the lake (with very big fish). The variety of birds resident and visiting is too many to list; mammals include red squirrels, wild boar, deer, hares, coypu and some which we don’t even know about. A mowed perimeter track is maintained to enable an easier opportunity to meet some of these residents. A steady, quiet walk (or electric scooter for the disabled) of about 20-30 minutes and you should see something of interest. Anyone with an interest in nature will love it as much as we do. With over 10 acres of land (plus an option of another 10 acres) and useful outbuildings, Naudine is ideal for equestrian activities.

The buildings comprise: A house (12m x 10m external) built around 1965, totally gutted and rebuilt in 2003 with new and comprehensive electrics and plumbing throughout, new 3,000 litre fosse septique. All floors are ceramic tiles except bedrooms which are maple laminate. Heating is by electric convectors and log fire insert in the salon. The house is on one level and doors are extra wide making this suitable for wheelchair users. All windows and external doors are hardwood with sealed unit double-glazing. All windows and most doors are fitted with shutters and windows in the sleeping part are fitted with insect screens. This house is, for all intents and purposes, a NEW house. Utility room with fitted units and worktop, double sink and space for washer, separate tumble dryer and tall fridge/freezer. A water heater of 300 litres is located here. Kitchen/dining room with a full range of units and worktops, double sink, integrated fridge/freezer, electric oven, microwave and dishwasher. Cooking is by Scholtes Induction hob with extractor hood. Double french doors to rear of house and door to the yard. Salon with stone fireplace and insert fire, double french doors lead onto the covered terrace. Corridor with linen cupboard. Bathroom 1 fully tiled with Daryl shower cubicle, suspended WC, vanitory unit with integrated hand basin. Bedroom 2 small double bedroom (currently used as single bedroom and office) better as a good single. Master suite of a double bedroom with door leading onto terrace, dressing area with large, sliding mirror-door wardrobes and fully tiled en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower (no step) suspended WC, suspended bidet and a vanitory unit with integrated hand basin. Outside to the front a partially covered terrace with wheelchair access from the garden. This could be improved by constructing a ramp from the terrace to the yard. A small garden and small parc, security lights and external lighting all round the house. Access to the loft which is floor-boarded throughout. Galvanised gutters and down-pipes, roof in perfect condition. Small stone building with lean-to currently used as a single parking garage. House 2 is a large, two storey building (20m x 6m external), which was a tobacco drying barn (sechoir de tabac). This bas been modified by building a new house within the old building and then building new outside walls with various extensions. This work, which finished in 2003, has necessitated a completely new roof. Again the electrics and plumbing are comprehensive; it has its own 3,000 litre fosse septique, ground floor heating is under-floor electric supplemented in the bathrooms by electric convectors and by an insert log fire in the salon. The ground floor is on one level and doors are extra wide. All windows and doors are hardwood with sealed unit double-glazing. All windows and doors (except main entry door) are fitted with shutters and windows in the sleeping part are fitted with insect screens. A fireproof stairway leads to the first floor which is divided into two self-contained apartments which share an open balcony area. Details below. The ground floor is a generously proportioned, one bed roomed dwelling which was designed and built for safe & easy wheelchair access and movement (a second bedroom could be fitted by re-arranging the existing accomodation). Floors are ceramic tiled throughout except for the bedroom & dressing rooms which are maple laminate. Heating is by electric under-floor cable and air-conditioning is also provided in the salon and bedroom. This same unit can also provide heat. A covered car parking area protects the main entry door which leads inside to a pleasant and spacious entrance hall. Doors then lead to a large Utility room fitted with a range of storage units and worktops, a double sink and a large storage cupboard with integral coat hanging. A water heater of 150 litres is located here and space is available for washing machine, separate tumble dryer and tall fridge/freezer. Double French doors lead outside to the car parking area. Kitchen fitted with a large range of storage units and worktops, a double sink, a built-in water filter, integrated fridge/freezer, electric oven, microwave and dishwasher. Cooking is by induction hob with extractor hood. A square archway leads to Dining room with three windows overlooking the pool and covered by electric roller shutters. Double french doors lead outside to the covered terrace. A small office is located off the dining room and is sufficient for a large desk and chair and a couple of filing cabinets. Power points & telephone points are provided for a computer installation (ADSL connection available). Large Salon with a stone fireplace and insert, double french doors allow views out to the swimming pool and lead outside to the covered terrace. A door leads to a lobby with a large airing cupboard housing a further water heater of 150 litres and then to bathroom 2. The bedroom is entered from the salon and provides generous space for a double bed and drawer/storage units. Double french doors lead outside to the covered terrace while two archways lead to his/her dressing areas containing large wardrobes with sliding, mirrored doors. A door from a dressing area leads to Bathroom 1 is fully tiled and has a large (1.2m x 1m) drive-in shower cubicle (no steps) with a fitted, swivelling shower seat. A suspended WC is set higher than normal and a modified vanitory unit with hand basin set-in permits ablutions while seated. A floor to ceiling storage cupboard with shelves is provided. Bathroom 2 is off the bedroom and is equipped with walk-in shower (no step) suspended WC and a vanitory unit with integrated hand basin. This bathroom is fully tiled. At the SW side of the house, bordered with planters, is a large terrace, over half of which is covered. From here you can view the swimming pool area night or day (lights in and around the pool) or admire the beautiful, traditional joinery of the terrace roof supports. Pure art. A ramp and paved paths lead to the yard or to the pool area. A small garden store is accessed from the terrace.

First floor - A fireproof spiral stairway leads to the first floor which is divided into two self-contained apartments which share an open balcony area (palier). This area is used for lounging, dining or just enjoying the views over the parc and gardens, the rolling countryside and over the pool area. A door opens to an inside corridor off which the two similar apartments are located. At the end of the corridor is a cupboard housing two 150 litre water heaters and the electric meters and circuit breakers. A double UK 13A socket is provided in each room and convector heaters are fitted in all rooms and the corridor. Apartment 2 (end of building) has two extra windows. The apartments are fully furnished and equipped. All cooking and dining equipment and crockery is included in the sale and some bedding and linen is available. A complete inventory of all equipment included in the sale is available to serious enquirers. This equipment was purchased new and has had only light use over two seasons. Each apartment is are entered via a Large bedroom which has a window overlooking the pool area, they are furnished with a large double bed, a desk/dressing table with lamp, two bedside tables with lamps, two chairs, a drawer unit, a wardrobe unit with further drawers and shelves. A door leads to the fully tiled shower room comprising suspended WC, large 90cm x 90cm shower with ceramic tray and a vanitory unit with hand basin set-in. A convector heater/towel rail is provided. From the bedroom a door leads to the open plan salon/kitchen. The salon is furnished with two comfortable armchairs and footstools, a TV/VHS/DVD system on a storage unit, bookshelf unit and nested occasional tables. A dining table and two chairs if the weather is unsuitable for dining on the palier. The kitchen area is equipped with a range of storage units, double sink, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, microwave, integrated oven and ceramic hob, electric kettle & toaster The existing layout allows an option for rental of either the full apartment or, with the connecting door locked, Bed and Breakfast only. The swimming pool is a vinyl lined, salt purified pool of approx 6m x 11m. It is surrounded by a large, tiled plage and has a solar shower installed. An abri de piscine (completed Feb 07) is located at the SE side of the pool and provides shaded, decked areas for lounging or dining. The pool is easy to clean and maintain. The grounds around the sechoir (2 acres) are laid out as giant lawn areas planted with young trees and shrubs (parc). This allows an easy to maintain and attractive finish. A ride-on mower is the minimum required. External lighting provides a welcoming and attractive effect at night. A large stone-built barn is accessible from the yard. This barn is at least 200 years old and contains the old cattle byres, calf quarters and a vast area for storage, parking of cars, caravan, boat, whatever. With the necessary financial investment it would make a beautiful house. Attached to the barn at one end is the old chicken house and at the other a lean-to hangar and the old pig sties. Within the barn, a good sized room which was originally the farmer’s house is fitted out and equipped as a general purpose workshop. The contents are available, if required, subject to separate negotiation. A further stone building is currently used as the chai (wine making and storage) and could convert to a 6 bed gîte after spending about £70,000. Attached to this building is a lean-to hangar. Parcelle 171 (not included in the sale but may be bought separately together with all necessary winemaking equipment), an area of land of about ¾ of an acre constitutes a productive vineyard. This land is planted with mature vines of more than 300 Cabernet and the same of Merlot. We have all the equipment necessary to make wine and this is available, if required, subject to separate negotiation. Records show that in a good year in excess of 1600 bottles has been produced. We have never managed that much. Land totalling 4Ha 43a 49ca (approx. 10.64 acres) is included with the sale and is outlined in green. This land includes the road (chemin) from the main road, 2 acres of woodland, pasture, a lake, gardens and parc plus the land upon which the buildings are constructed. A further 10.8 acres (outlined in blue) may be available.  Hundreds of photographs were taken during the rebuilds together with drawings and specifications, names and addresses of contractors (a 10 year warranty exists on all work) and much more. These may be seen by anyone viewing the property and will be made available to the purchaser on CD-ROM. Electricity: A high power (32A), three-phase supply is provided by EDF to a single meter. Other meters are for internal accounting only. Telephones: France Telecom provides a line to each house, ADSL broadband is available. We use Orange for telephone calls and as ISP. Water: Metered town water is provided to both houses by S.A.U.R. Well water: is distributed by a network of underground pipes by electric pump. Outlets (5 or 6) are provided around the buildings and are used for vehicle washing, garden watering etc. It is possible to divert well water into the plumbing system of the houses but the water should be tested first. Property taxes: €858 Taxes Habitation. This includes the television licence. Contact us: Roger & Janet Bingham Tel/Fax: +33 (0)5 53 20 66 89 Mobile: +33 (0)6 32 52 52 91 Email: roger@gitesinfrance.biz - Website: www.gitesinfrance.biz  E&OE