Renovated 5 Bed, Stone-Built, Winemaker's House with Sunny Courtyard and Large Garage/Workshop. Carcassonne 20 Minutes.

Property Description

Summary
This is a versatile property and could be used as a permanent residence, a holiday home or as a gîte or AirB+B. Tucked away in a quiet backwater of Capendu, the house is a stone-built, completely renovated winemaker’s property – built over 100 years ago by local vigneron, Pierre Calas. The whole property comprises a comfortable 5 bedroom house and a separate “dépendance” providing garage space for 3 or 4 vehicles and a substantial workshop. There are also two off-road parking spaces in addition to the garage.

The house, of around 200 sq.m, is set at the rear of the property, making it a private and peaceful location. There are five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, storage rooms and a modern fitted kitchen with a large dining area.

The house has been completely renovated over the past 10 years, including a new roof, modern insulation and double glazing.

The detached building, 138 sq.m on each of two floors, was originally used for wine-making. This building is undeveloped and, with the appropriate permissions, could offer potential for further expansion.

Outside, sheltered between the two buildings, is a private, enclosed courtyard and terrace area – ideal for outdoor dining and making the most of the plentiful Languedoc sunshine during the day or the superb view of Capendu’s illuminated clock tower in the evening.

The property is equally suited to be used as a spacious and comfortable holiday home or as a permanent residence.

(A second house of 100 sq.m, adjacent to this one, is also available and is being sold separately. For the sake of clarity - it is not included in this sale. If bought together, this could be run as a gîte or rented out on a permanent basis, providing a useful income which would more than cover all the basic running costs of the main house. There are 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and a dining kitchen. Details are available on request).

Location
Capendu is an attractive little village in the Languedoc, sitting on the border of the Corbières and Minervois wine regions. The town is situated 20 minutes to the east of the medieval "Cité de Carcassonne", 5 minutes from the Canal du Midi and just 45 minutes from the Mediterranean beaches. Perpignan, Toulouse and Montpellier are all within easy reach.

The village is typically French and is full of character. There is a brand new supermarket, a tabac / newsagent and a recently refurbished café/bar in the town. There are a couple of local restaurants offering great value lunchtime and evening menus. The village is well run by the local mayor and his team and there are many family-orientated events during the year helping to build a great sense of community.

Winemaking is still the main activity and the village is surrounded by lovely vineyards set against the backdrop of the “Montagne d’Alaric”. The local Wine Co-operative – Le Terroir – sells a wide range of wines, including the local (highly drinkable) daily tipple at around 2 Euros per litre.

The origins of Capendu date back over 1,000 years and the ancient centre of the town retains the charm of narrow streets winding their way up the hill to the church and bell tower at the top – known as a “circulade” in this region. The bell tower, ruins of the Chateau and its chapel on the hilltop date back to the 14th century.

The town serves as the hub for the other small villages in the “Piémont d’Alaric” canton and has the advantages of a nice public swimming pool with a sunny outdoor terrace, a cultural centre, medical centre, school and college serving the surrounding district.

There are plenty of local markets in the surrounding towns and villages, the nearest being Lezignan, Trèbes, Carcassonne and Olonzac.

The area offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities, being on the edge of the Corbières region with its mountains, vineyards and Cathar castles leading down to the magnificent Pyrenees. To the north is the Haut Languedoc Regional Nature Park.

Access
Carcassonne airport is just 25 minutes away and is served regularly by Ryanair from several locations in the UK and other European cities. The airports at Béziers, Montpellier, Perpignan and Toulouse are also within easy reach.

Carcassonne's main railway station gives access to France's extensive railway network.

Capendu sits on the main bus route between Carcassonne and Narbonne.

Access to the A61 motorway, the “Autoroute des deux mers”, which links the Mediterranean with France’s Atlantic coast is just 15 minutes away. Capendu is perfectly placed for travel to key destinations in the South of France and Northern Spain. Perpignan, Toulouse and Montpellier are all within easy reach.

Interior
(See tab above for virtual tour)

The ground floor comprises a lounge of 31 sq.m with a wood burning stove, a modern fitted kitchen and dining area of 46 sq.m with an arriere cuisine (larder). There is a second wood-burner in the dining room. In addition, there is a large cloakroom/storage area of around 7 sq.m and two downstairs WCs. The house is connected to super-fast fibre broadband (FTTH) and satellite TV, with access to both SKY and Freesat.

Upstairs is divided into two distinct areas, each with its own staircase, usefully providing privacy should one area be used for guests. The first area contains the master bedroom, a substantial second bedroom and a spacious, modern bathroom with a large walk-in shower. Both bedrooms have built-in wardrobes.

The second (guest) area comprises a main bedroom, with buiilt-in wardrobe, two further bedrooms and a bathroom equipped with both a bath and a walk-in shower.

All areas have been completely renovated to modern standards and no work is required.

Exterior
The sheltered and private courtyard has been designed to be easily maintained and provides an ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying the Languedoc sunshine and al-fresco dining. As there is no garden to maintain the property can be left without worrying about maintenance. There is an automated watering system for potted plants.

Additional Details
Taxe foncière for 2023/24 is 824 €.