Charming Old Gascon House close to Agen/Nerac.

A 260 metre private drive leads to this charming old Gascon house. Set in 1.67 hectares of private garden, La Bernadie has a host of original features including: large veranda, a round pigeonier, open fire-places, original tiled floors, 3-4 reception rooms, 5-7 bedrooms. Outbuildings, walled garden, large swimming pool and meadow leading down to a 50 metre river frontage on the River Baise.

The location of La Bernadie is approximately mid-point between Bordeaux and Toulouse, 9km south of junction 6 of the A62 motorway. The house sits in a private rural setting on the outskirts of the ‘bastide’ village of Vianne on the D642. It is 26Km from Agen and 16Km from the market town of Nerac.

The house and attached pigeonier is approached alonga 260 metre, partly tree lined, drive between fields of maize and sunflowers. It sits across a rectangular plot of 1.67 hectares with a large rear garden leading down to a 50 metre river frontage on the Baises, a tributary of the river Garonne. It enjoys total privacy provided by mature hedges and trees. The nearest neighbour is to the side of the house 200 metres away across the field.

La Bernadie dates back to the early 1800s and was acquired by the present owner in 1991 as a ‘ruine’. Considerable money has been expended over the years to restore and renovate the house and convert the original stables into the current ‘sleeping’ quarters, whilst the original house remains as the living accommodation.

Accommodation

• Main entry hall.

• Off entry hall (right) old rustic doors into "Winter" snug with open cheminee and rustic wood panelled rear wall hiding a series of cupboards.

• Adjoining is a 6th bedroom/study leading onto the veranda.

• Within wood panelled wall a secret door and short passage into a summer double aspect large lounge with old wooden floor.

• Off entry hall (left) large kitchen with fitted cupboards, dishwasher, fridge sink and raised open fireplace, leading to a back entrance hall/pantry and laundry room.

• Spacious dining hall with double French doors overlooking the rear garden.

• Store room beyond opening onto large cupboard storage space.

• Three double bedrooms each with own en-suite bathroom/shower toilet. The largest with it’s own mezanie changing area, all with exterior doors.

• From the covered veranda through a door in the round pigeonnier is a further guest bedroom of 5 metre diameter.

• By means of external semi circular stone stair case one comes to the first floor 2nd guest bedroom with views towards the river and the village of Vianne.

• There is a "rumpus" room built into the wall between central heating and gardening abri with electricity with the possibility of a playroom for children/7th bedroom.

• Access to the substantial loft area is via its own staircase within the main house.

Garden and Swimming pool The rear grounds are primarily made up of a walled garden, swimming pool area and lower meadow which leads down to the river. The house has a large rectangular rear garden made up of a low stone wall, upper garden and lower ‘meadow’ leading down to a 50 metre river frontage. The upper garden is separated from the house by a narrow strip of garden with paving running the length of the house it’s self. Old wrought iron gates allow access to the upper garden and at either end of the narrow strip. The house has a small front garden with a narrow ‘strip’ of lawn to the side of the house connecting front and back. The garden has a perimeter mature of trees and hedging, with the majority of the garden it’s self laid to lawn. The river is The house has a 12 by 6 metre swimming pool with deep paved surrounds and sun area. Access to the pool is via double lockable gates at the house end whilst mature hedging on the other three of the pool act as further safety for children.

Garage and outbuildings The two hundred and sixty metre drive leads into a sizeable hard-standing gravel parking area at the front of the house.The house has a remote opening and lockable garage that can comfortably fit three large cars. The garage is connected to end of the house by a series of ‘utility’ rooms: attached immediately to the back of the garage is a large store room currently used to house gardening equipment and two small tractor/mowers. A second smaller room discreetly hides the oil fuel tank and serves as a general store whilst a third larger room, integral to the main building, houses the oil fired central heating, hot water system and storage for garden furniture. There is vehicular access to the rear garden and to the ‘out-building’ on this side of the house which can also serve as, discreet parking for a further five cars.

Vianne and Surrounding Area Dating back to the 13^th century, Vianne is a walled village fortified by the English during the one hundred year war. The village has a good range of shops and restaurants. In the warm summer months a weekly evening market is held in the village square. A number of stalls sell ready sliced charcuterie and the stand of the local wine cave will ask you how many glasses you need to accompany your bottle of wine. You can shop or just stand around chatting with glass of chilled wine. Nerac is a beautiful local town with a Saturday market not to be missed whilst for a more cosmopolitan shop you can towards Agen.