LECTOURE, Midi-Pyrénées 32700

Constructed in the 15th century and redesigned in the 17th this sumptuous château was designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance. In the North of the Gers it is located a short drive away from the popular market towns of Lectoure, Fleurance and St Clar. Situated in a quiet location, down a tranquil country lane, and far from the main road, the property offers over 7 hectares of glorious parkland and an abundance of trees. The property is entirely private being both hedged and gated, with a small stream bordering the land at the bottom. The main body of the château comprises eight bedrooms, and a vast main reception/dining-room, and first floor library/reception-room. With a separate guest house. The flamboyant Italian-style first floor "loggia" - with its covered terrace and arcades overlooking the tranquil gardens is an absolute delight. With a paved pool area, 2 dovecotes, and a vast 170m2 hangar the garden is full of interest with a vast array of mature trees, roses and bushes and an orchard. This property provides a peaceful sanctuary from the world, in a location that is unique, being utterly private, and yet in the located heart of one of the most sought-after areas of SW France. Let's look in more detail ... The local area, the parkland, gardens, and outbuildings The drive by car to the property is as pleasant one. With easy access to the local market towns of Lectoure and Fleurance the property is tranquil yet easily accessible. The TGV line to Paris in Agen is under an hour away, and Toulouse international airport, just over an hour. As we leave the market towns behind, the countryside is rich and peaceful, with small country lanes cutting through emerald, green fields, where in the summer crops of sunflowers or wheat grow in an area fondly known as French Tuscany. If Gascony is the Tuscany of France, then this property offers all the joys of Renaissance Italy. Designed in pure Italian style, the property was built by a rich noble family in the 15th century. From the outside very little can be seen, as a thick natural hedge encircles the perimeter of the land. The entrance to the property is enclosed by two fine wrought-iron gates, both of which are in perfect keeping with the château and marking the entrance in style. The château is located at the end of a quiet lane that opens out onto fields, so one is not troubled by any passing traffic. The occasional hare or deer, perhaps. We enter from the side gate to the main entrance, with a view of a splendid pigeonnier or dovecote to our right. The pool nestles beside the first of the two dovecotes and is sheltered by rose-covered walls. There is a water-well with a decorative wrought iron frame on the top. Always ideal to have a source of water on the land, to keep the lovely gardens fresh and green; not forgetting the small river that runs along the bottom field. There are over seven hectares of land in total, ensuring utmost tranquility for anyone residing here. Of those seven hectares the land around the gardens, and the guest house, comprises an orchard (to the front of the guest house) neatly mown lawns, and mature trees. There is an ornamental row of topiary, and a small river at the bottom of the land. The gardens feel rich and bucolic. In an area known for its scorching hot summers, there is a freshness to the parkland, shaded by ancient boughs of the trees. The ambience here is one of lush greenery. As we turn around the chateau to the rear gardens, we catch our first glimpse of the fantastic loggia, a covered terrace with arches running the full length of the property which is purely Italian Renaissance in style; joyous and romantic with its impressive corner pavillions. The main master bedroom opens onto the loggia, offering a morning view over the gardens; a sure promise that one's day will begin on a note of beauty and tranquility. The Chateau has a joie de vivre which one might not expect from a Medieval building. It is warm and welcoming from the