Refurbished Presbytery from 1742 with Huge Barns and Large Garden

Property description

Presbytery in Vialas - Presbytère à Vialas

In the heart of the Tarn in South-West France, in an area known in the Middle Ages as the pays de cocagne (land of milk and honey), one hour from Toulouse airport at Blagnac as from Carcassonne airport, and five minutes from the nearest railway station, a large, welcoming presbytery built  in 1742 is for sale. This house or manse, with the metre-thick walls and the large wooden beams typical of regional eighteenth century architecture, is in a cul de sac on a plateau north of the river Agout with only two farms and five other houses for neighbours. This is the authentic calm of the French countryside.

In the plain below, 4kms away, three villages provide shops, cafés, a post office and primary schooling, along with a station which means that Toulouse is at only three-quarters of an hour's distance, with no worries about parking. The medium-sized market towns of Lavaur, Graulhet and Castres are all within fifteen minutes drive.

Through the arched stone doorway, through the original front door, the entrance hall leads to a lovely wooden staircase up to the three large-sized first floor bedrooms (30 + sq.metres each), as well as an artist's studio with cathedral ceiling and large glass roof. The studio also contains a mezzanine. Down below, through a glass door from the hall, the well-sized kitchen, with double doors onto the back garden, gives through standing beams onto a large dining/sitting room. Here as elsewhere the original tiles, well-polished now, are on the floor, the original beams, some of them vast, overhead. Large windows built into the thick walls by the present owners in rooms on the ground floor and the first floor, serve to lighten the original rather dim interior spaces of the old house. In the next room is a surprise, a six metre long heated spa swimming pool fits snugly into one side of the room. Facing it, with a large lounge space in between is the original four metre wide brick chimney in full working order. The pool, 1m40 deep, with its own adjustable current allowing even the strongest swimmer to swim on the spot, is a glorious addition to this fine house and a real godsend to anyone with chronic back problems.

The adjoining barn, built barely 40 years after the house, forms an L with the original building around a green revery of a garden dominated by a huge mulberry, with acacia, wisteria, lime, pomegranate and many other bushes and trees. This building, with magnificent oak beams everywhere has been thoroughly repaired, with one floor restored for living. Altogether the barn counts 400m² of potential living space. On the other side another smaller barn of 80 sq.metres adjoins the house. Consolidated, but unrestored, this original building also adds to the charm and the potential of the ensemble.

The property has garden on three sides and an overgrown track belonging to the house on the other. The whole property is about a quarter of a hectare (2500 sq.metres). There are fruit trees at the side, a large lawn at the back, (needing some tending) and a coppice of medium sized elm trees, almost impossible to find elsewhere, surrounding a large old well with its own small roof and safety grid.

To be appreciated, this presbytery really deserves a visit. All the restoration has been done with great care and an artist's eye for simple beauty. This property will allow the fortunate owner to live very comfortably en toute simplicité.

On the other side of the road, facing the house, another quarter hectare of beautiful constructible land belongs to the house. The owner is currently thinking of selling this separately, but it could also be part of the transaction should the buyer so wish.