Investing in FranceA restored three-bedroom three-storey house in a small French village could be yours for €583,000. Kate McMorrow reports
In a country where gorgeous properties are plentiful, an eye-catching village house in Gard would give most a run for their money. The price is not exorbitant either - what you would pay for a modest apartment in a good Dublin suburb.
Emile Garcin's Irish representative is quoting €583,000 for the 170sq m (1,830sq ft) stone house on the main square of St Etienne de L'Olm, a small village between Uzés and Vézénobres on the borders of Gard and western Provençe.
Nîmes airport, train station and the autoroute are within about 25 minutes' drive. Irish owners would probably travel via Marseilles, about 150kms away, where Aer Lingus and Ryanair have a regular service from Dublin.
The 18th century three-storey house has been sympathetically restored by its Luxembourg owners and is in walk-in condition, with three bedrooms and a mezzanine floor over the kitchen which is a useful spare bedroom.
A small pool at entrance level is set within the walls of an atmospheric covered courtyard. The house comes with several terraces and three hectares of agricultural land outside the village. Central heating is installed for when the mistral blows and there is a cave for storing wine. It is possible to buy the property fully furnished, say the selling agents.
You arrive at the house under an arch smothered with vines and flowering climbers. A stone staircase without rails is safeguarded by containers of greenery on each step.
At first floor level are two double bedrooms with an en suite shower and family bathroom. Exposed stone walls, ancient ceiling beams and four-poster beds complement the house's period character.
Taking advantage of the views on the top floor, an airy semi- open-plan living area includes a sittingroom with fireplace which opens to a terrace looking over olive groves. Old stone flags on this floor extend through to an L-shaped kitchen, with beamed ceiling and the mezzanine room overhead. Beyond the kitchen is bedroom three with en suite shower.
Under the steps at ground floor level is another arch leading to a long covered terrace, where the owners have installed a pool and seating area. A second stone staircase accesses the pool terrace from the upper floors.
www.emilegarcin.fr
Tel: 01-663 6363
