Romantic 14th-Century Hilltop Manor in Aveyron with Large Pool, Tower and Stunning Panoramic Views

Property Description

Summary
History lives and breathes in this remarkable 14th-century manor, perched high above the Aveyron valley in the former Midi-Pyrénées region. Reached by a winding, tree-lined lane, this stone-built mas offers a rare blend of seclusion, authenticity, and timeless charm.

The ancient façade is no illusion: inside, the original architecture reveals itself in every detail—from the rough-hewn kitchen and the worn stone staircase winding through the tower, to the tiny private chapel, discreetly tucked into a corner of the first floor. Climb further to the lookout turret, and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over the rolling hills and woodland—a landscape unchanged for centuries.

The formal dining room and original, vaulted "souillarde", with heavy timber doors, and rich textiles, evokes a sense of the medieval past, while thoughtful modern updates ensure ease and comfort. A well-appointed modern kitchen allows for effortless entertaining, and three en-suite bedrooms provide privacy and luxury for family and guests alike.

Outside, a shaded stone terrace invites long lunches beneath the trees, while the large swimming pool offers spectacular views over the surrounding countryside—an ideal setting for peaceful retreats or summer celebrations.

Walk through video here: https://youtu.be/9WQRx2wpXk0?si=fnk6InQPTg8fiTrT

Location
The nearest village, Auzits, is a five-minute drive away, though for more extensive shopping and services, you’ll want to venture a little further to St. Cyprien, Decazeville, or the charming wine town of Marcillac. The region’s natural beauty is abundant—within an hour’s drive, the spectacular caverns of Pech-Merle offer a stunning glimpse into prehistoric art and geology.

The nearest major town is Rodez, 32 km away, where you can start your day with a slice of warm fouace, the local sweet bread, before exploring the vibrant twice-weekly market, brimming with seasonal produce and regional specialities. Then, return to your historic retreat with a basketful of flavours from the Aveyron. There is great access to local restaurants, such as the Michelin-starred Le Vieux Pont at Belcastel, places of interest (Chateau de Bournazel, Chateau de Najac, Chateau de Belcastel, Ségala animal park, Cascade de Salles la Source, Cascade de Muret le Chateau Puy de Wolf, pretty nearby villages of Conques, Estaing, Bozouls & Laguiole), tourist activities, sports & leisure activities (nearby hiking & mountain biking routes, Forêt de la Vaysse,Gorges du Dourdou de Conques, Marcillac-Vallon swimming pool, Lac du Val de Lenne swimming lake, river swimming locations, Gua fishing lake, Rodez Blue Green golf course, Totche Villefranche golf course, Thermal baths at Thermes de Cransac, Canoeing at Grand Vabre, Carjarc & Marcillac sur Cele), markets and local events.

Access
By Air
The property is conveniently located, just a 25 minute drive from Rodez–Aveyron Airport (RDZ), which offers a combination of year-round and seasonal European flights. The year-round route from Paris-Orly is operated by Volotea and Amelia, with up to two daily flights making the journey in just over an hour. During the summer months (June to September), Ryanair adds direct flights from London Stansted, Brussels Charleroi, and Dublin, each operating several times a week. Volotea also serves a range of seasonal destinations including Ajaccio, Bastia, Figari, Lille, Porto, and Palma de Mallorca.

For international travellers, Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (approximately two hours away) provides a major hub with regular direct flights from capital cities across Europe and beyond, including London and Paris. Car hire is available at all airports.

By Train
Rodez is served by two daily trains from Paris departing from Gare d’Austerlitz:

A daytime service (approx. 6 hours, with a change at Brive-la-Gaillarde)
An overnight train, departing around 10:00 PM and arriving the next morning
Trains terminate at Rodez station, where car rental is available (including Avis on-site).
For full schedules and booking information, visit the official SNCF site in English.

By TGV or Motorail
TGV high-speed trains run to Toulouse Matabiau, accessible both for foot passengers and via French Motorail, which transports cars from the UK. You can board at Ashford (via Eurotunnel) or London Waterloo (via Eurostar) and travel seamlessly into southern France.
TGV site (English): www.tgv.co.uk
Motorail (cars): www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorail

By Car
From Calais, take the A16 to Paris via Amiens, then bypass the city to the east following signs to Orléans. Continue on the A10/E09 towards Châteauroux, then the A20/E09 through Limoges. After Brive-la-Gaillarde, take Exit 54 onto the D840 (N140) towards Figeac. From there, follow signs to Decazeville, Rodez, and finally Auzits.

Interior
The interior features a bespoke, solid oak modern kitchen (4.3 m × 3.3 m), which opens into a spacious dining hall and sitting room (12.2 m × 5.1 m) with 3-metre-high ceilings. Off this central space are several original and characterful rooms, including the historic souillarde (2.9 m × 3.1 m), a ground floor bedroom (6.1 m × 4.6 m), an en-suite toilet (1.3 m × 1.3 m), and a shower room (2.3 m × 2 m). There is also a cellar (4.3 m × 2 m), ideal for storage or wine.

A stone spiral staircase leads to the master suite (5.7 m × 4.8 m) with its en-suite bathroom (4.8 m × 2.1 m), followed by a hallway (6.7 m × 1.6 m) connecting to the third double bedroom (4.0 m × 3.9 m). Beyond this lies a generous study (5.7 m × 4.3 m), an en-suite bathroom (3.8 m × 2.1 m), a fourth bedroom (2.8 m × 3.9 m), and the property’s unique private chapel (3.9 m × 2.7 m), discreetly positioned on the first floor.

At the top of the turret, a cosy alcove (2.8 m × 2 m) provides a quiet spot with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. From here, a door opens into the large third-floor attic room (12 m × 5 m plus 4m x 5m). This 80 square meter space offers great potential for up to three additional bedrooms and a bathroom — perfect for guest accommodation or a private owner’s suite.

Exterior
You can enter the property either through a side door that opens onto a generous stone terrace running the length of the house, perfect for outdoor dining and shaded by a mature fig tree, or via the impressive arched coach doors, which lead to the bread oven and swimming pool area. Just beyond the main terrace stands a second, panoramic terrace, perfect for sunset cocktails. Beneath it, a discreet storage area provides space for a ping pong table, deck chairs, and other garden essentials.

One of the property’s most striking architectural features is the three-storey pigeonnier, which offers exciting potential to be developed into a self-contained gîte. Nearby, the original bread oven, still fully operational, is housed in a charming detached stone outbuilding, adding both character and functionality.

Just below the terrace, a small orchard flourishes with mature quince, peach, pear, fig trees, and vines—a productive and picturesque addition to this already enchanting setting.

Additional Details
Despite its historic importance, the house is not listed, meaning that alterations and improvements can be made without the restrictions that typically apply to protected buildings—offering rare flexibility for those wishing to tailor the home to their vision.

Revenue Generation
Actively listed on a specialist holiday rentals site, the property consistently attracts guests and rents successfully for up to 20 weeks annually— (£2,300/week in high season) offering both lifestyle enjoyment and income potential.