Character Property with Amazing Potential for Gite / Tea Room Activity

Property Description

Summary
Historic Lescar, near Pau
This property offers a rare balance for expatriates seeking a character home with authentic period architecture and the opportunity to operate a scalable lifestyle business — without retreating into rural France or undertaking a vast château renovation project.
The main residence provides approximately 220 m² of living space, complemented by a fully renovated 120 m² annex that has already proven its commercial viability when operated as a successful Salon de Thé.

Location
Set in the historic hilltop quarter of La Cité in Lescar, the property sits just minutes on foot from the Cathedral and directly along the Via Tolosana (Voie d’Arles) — one of the principal pilgrimage routes of the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.
This historic setting continues to attract visitors and pilgrims throughout the year, reinforcing both the charm of the environment and the relevance of any client-facing or hospitality activity.

Access
The property sits within a vibrant, functioning town. Shops, schools and medical services are all within walking distance. Pau airport is approximately nine minutes away, and the train station under twenty minutes.

Interior
The main house blends comfortably into its historic surroundings and offers character throughout. The entrance opens into a generous open-plan living space centred around a traditional spiral staircase — a defining feature of Béarnaise architecture — naturally dividing the room into distinct dining and lounge areas.

In addition to a large, fully equipped kitchen, the ground floor extends into a section that can easily be configured as independent guest accommodation or a gîte / Airbnb unit. This space already benefits from a separate entrance, kitchen, shower room, WC and bedroom/living area, allowing for immediate or future income-generating use.

Ascending to the second of three floors, the landing connects to three further bedrooms, a bathroom and separate WC. A laundry room with shower facilities is also located on this level, along with access to the mezzanine of the converted barn.

On the third and top floor, a vast converted loft awaits — flooded with natural light and currently used as an office and study space. It would also make an impressive additional bedroom.

Exterior
The main courtyard leads directly into the converted 17th-century barn. Original structural beams remain proudly on display, framing a dramatic open space with significant ceiling height and mezzanine.

Having previously operated as a well-known tea room — benefiting from passing footfall and regular school pick-up and drop-off traffic from the primary school literally on the doorstep — the space is already configured for client-facing activity.

Two large terraces extend the usable footprint outdoors, supporting hospitality or professional use.
This is not a speculative business concept — it has already operated successfully in this location.