The property is located in the heart of Cathare country, an area steeped in history with beautiful countryside and vineyards all around. The Domaine is set in beautiful countryside overlooking the foothills of the famous La Clappe countryside and 1km from the centre of a large village of about 1000 people with a primary school, butcher, baker, pharmacy, greengrocery, fruit shop, doctors’ surgery, dentist, tennis courts, church, hairdresser, restaurant, and village hall for local fetes and day/evening classes. Narbonne is 5 kms away – the train station there is the terminal for the motor rail link from Paris, and also has the TGV stopping there. The Mediterranean coast is 11kms away, and Spain a 1 hour drive.

This is a high quality conversion (completed 2001) of the former stables of a wine Domaine accessed through an avenue of spectacular large ancient pine trees. The property is built entirely of yellow stone dating from 1870, offering a property of immense character and interest. The building (38m x 9m) consists of a large family home or 6 ensuite chambres d’hotes and 5 gites (4 x 1 bedroom and 1 x studio apartment).

THE MAIN HOUSE   Ideally suited for use as a large family home or to run as a business offering chambres d’hotes/B&B.         click on thumbnail photo below to see a larger image

Ground Floor, tiled throughout in quality terracotta tiles:

- Hallway 11m², leading open plan into

- Large dining/music/public room (63m²). Large feature Alsace stove, exposed beams, stained glass windows and large door to north-facing terrace. French doors to living room. 2 French doors to large south-facing terrace and overlooking the garden. Numerous possibilities for use.

- Living room (61m²). Lovely large room with French door leading to south facing terrace. 2 windows, large feature fireplace with stove, exposed beams.

- Kitchen/dining room (32m²). Very attractive newly fitted kitchen (Valencia). Light wood and steel finish with adjoining large dining/family room. Small utility room incorporating gas boiler, washing machine etc. Exposed beams in dining area. French door leading to south-facing terrace with a separate door to hallway, and door leading into the large public room, heated by rear of Alsace stove. Window overlooking garden.

- Shower room, with tiling and WC.

- Office (13.65m²). Tiled floor, exposed beams, north-facing window, electric radiator. Could be used as a further bedroom if required.

- South facing Terrace (92m²). Tiled south-facing terrace with summer kitchen incorporating a large barbeque and pizza oven. Catches sun all day.

- North facing Terrace (54m²), with wrought iron fence, at rear of house, offering shade in height of summer.

First Floor:

- Bedroom 1: A large suite (61m²) incorporating main bedroom (31m²), with ensuite bathroom (17m²) with Jacuzzi bath, separate shower, 2 vanity basins and separate WC. Ensuite dressing room (13m²) which could be converted to another bedroom if required. Two south-facing windows overlooking garden, plus character window, exposed beams, 3 electric radiators, phone point, tiled floors.

- Bedroom 2: Double bedroom (18m²) with ensuite shower room and WC. South facing window overlooking garden. Electric radiator, exposed beams, tiled floors.

- Bedroom 3: Double bedroom (18m²) with ensuite shower room and WC. South facing window overlooking garden, electric radiator, exposed beams, tiled floors.

- Bedroom 4: Double bedroom (20m²) with ensuite bathroom with bath, shower, WC, exposed beams, electric radiator, south facing window overlooking garden, tiled floors.

- Bedroom 5: Small double bedroom (12m²) with ensuite bathroom, shower, double vanity basin units and WC, electric radiator, exposed beams. North facing character window, tiled floors.

- Bedroom 6 (accessed through bedroom 5): Double bedroom (18m²) with shared ensuite with bedroom 5, exposed stone south facing window overlooking garden, electric radiator, tiled floors.

THE GITES   There are 5 gites in total - 4 x 1 bedroom & 1 x studio - all to be sold furnished.   - 2 garden-level 1 bedroom gites (each 40m2) with private south-facing terrace leading to garden. - 3 first floor gites (2 x 1 bedroom, 1 x studio) 40m2, 38m2 and 32m2 respectively, accessed by attractive spiral staircase overlooking the garden.   All the gites have been freshly decorated and are in excellent condition with new clean furnishings and white goods. All have electric heating, which allows them to be let all year round. Each has parking facility. Each gite is provided with cooker/oven, microwave, fridge, washing machine, coffee-maker, iron, plus full furnishings.

Master bedroom

THE GROUNDS

Approximately 1 ha of land, of which 0.5 ha is laid to gardens and 0.5 ha is grazing land.  There are fruit and olive trees etc, a private well for watering, swings slides and a petanque court. There is attractive night-time lighting in gardens.

THE SWIMMING POOL

Attractive large new pool 12m x 6m with roman steps, built in 2003 with a 10 year guaranteee.  Diving board, pool house, separate WC, external shower.

RENTAL INCOME

Currently achieved from letting gites only, as the main house is currently used as a family home by the vendors, who do not let the chambres d’hote.

typical annual rental income (gites only) 39,000 Euros (£26,000 sterling approx.)

typical annual rental income (gites & chambres d'hote) 79,000 Euros (£48,000 sterling approx.) achieved by previous owners.

The business is currently run in a low-key way, on a short summer season of July and August only, the gites then being let on long leases from September to June inclusive to people working/living in the area. This level of activity suits the current owners as they have little time to devote to the business, but does not exploit the full income potential of the gites through an extended season etc. The swimming pool was completed mid-season last year, so there is potential to increase the rates to reflect this benefit.

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

The main bulk of the holiday makers in the gites to date have been French/Belgian and so it has not proved necessary to buy expensive advertising to attract UK clients. Bookings are achieved through websites, an advertisement in the French paper, and by contact with the Narbonne tourist board, together with several quality advertisement hoardings of the gites and chambres d’hotes in the surrounding area (including constant enquiries for chambres d’hotes, which are currently turned away). Further enquiries come through word of mouth/repeat business.

OTHER INFORMATION

Heating: wood burning Alsace stoves and electric radiators.

Water: town water, private well for watering garden.

Drainage: septic tanks (new) but project planned to connect to town drainage.

Roof: new with 7 years guarantee to run.

PRICE WAS: 825,000 Euros (including agency fees)

PRICE NOW ONLY : 650,000 Euros (including agency fees)

Ref: LPS/609

For further information or to arrange a viewing ....

.... call Margarete Isherwood at Jacwood Estates French Properties

UK tel: +44 (0)1926 883714      Website: www.gitecomplexes.co.uk