9 bedroom House For Sale: Saulgond

La Vieille Ferme at Beneteix is a truly exceptional property combining, as it does, a wonderful rural location, although within easy reach of a host of fascinating places to visit, with quite superb accommodation, most of which is presently used for seasonal and long lets, whilst also creating a charming home for the owners.

Indeed, it will immediately be apparent from a visit to the property that the vast experience of the owners as restaurateurs and caterers, innkeepers and hoteliers and experts in the hospitality business has been fully utilised in the creation of the accommodation as it is, whilst retaining the essential charm and character of the buildings, so providing the next owners with a wonderful opportunity to operate a highly successful business from the property.

THE FARMHOUSE

The ground floor of the farmhouse comprises an entrance hall, spacious living room of 30m² (323 square feet) with an open fireplace and doors to the courtyard area, utility room with WC, washing machine and drier.

The newly fitted kitchen is a particular feature of the property. A genuine 'bespoke' kitchen, it has been designed, fitted and equipped to the highest standards, with integrated double oven, dishwasher and fridge freezer. This splendidly proportioned room of 42m² (452 square feet) includes dining and sitting areas and has a large chimney with log burner.

The original staircase leads to the first floor landing, which incorporates a reading area. Each of the five excellent double bedrooms in the main part of the farmhouse has an en suite shower or bathroom, two having massage showers.

The sixth bedroom is located in the tower and currently forms part of the owners’ accommodation, although it would generate valuable additional income if not required by the new owners for their own use. It is a spacious 21m² (226 square feet) and enjoys a triple aspect over the surrounding countryside. In addition to its en suite bathroom, with overhead shower and twin wash basins, the suite includes a sitting room with kitchenette fitted with sink, cooker, dishwasher and refrigerator, plus a log burner and French doors to the terrace and fountain. This room, also of 21m², enjoys a similar triple aspect.

All the rooms are furnished to a very high standard, with both antique and modern fittings and furnishings. They are complemented by the curtains and drapes, all of which are of the highest standard. The six exceptional double bedrooms have been individually designed to provide comfort and style; they can all be let as part of the chambre d’hote or some can be retained for use by the owners, as required. All have their own bathrooms or shower rooms, which have been individually designed and newly installed.

The services have also been replaced as required, with new plumbing and electrical installations. The large boiler house contains the new oil fired central heating boiler.

THE GITES

The larger of the two gites, 'The Old Dairy’, has a delightful open plan living and dining room of an excellent 30m² (323 square feet). The large dining table has six chairs and the 2.5 seater sofa converts to a good quality double bed, complete with a proper mattress. The kitchen has been newly fitted with a range of appliances.

Stairs lead to the first floor, where the master bedroom has a splendid "Super King Size" four poster bed, an en suite shower room with massage shower and a walk in wardrobe. The overall size is a spacious 30m². The second bedroom has two single beds and an en suite shower room with massage shower cubicle.

The gite has been furnished to a very high standard and the bedrooms are big enough to add a child’s bed or cot. There are plenty of seating areas in the gardens or around the pool and the gite has its own BBQ area.

The two storey ‘Smokehouse’ gite comprises a lovely open plan living / dining room plus a fully fitted kitchen area. On the first floor is the double bedroom with en suite shower room.

OUTSIDE

The large barn has an area of 120m² (1291 square feet) and includes a workshop and mezzanine storage space. There are plans for this to be converted into two further letting gites, subject to planning consent.

The heated swimming pool measures10m x 5m (32’10” x 16’5”) and has a depth ranging from 0.5m to 2m (1’8” to 6’6”). There is also a Jacuzzi, which takes from two to four people. Nearby are the pool house and gazebo.

The gardens are a further delight and the property has a total area of very nearly one acre, being 4000 m² or 4784 square yards.

THE BUSINESS

During the last three years, the guest suites and gites have been the subject of seasonal and long letting arrangements, whilst still leaving the owners with charming comfortable accommodation of their own.

The owners' other business interests have prevented them from operating the farmhouse as a chambre d'hote and they recognise that income from the property could be increased substantially, were they in a position to do so.

In spite of this, the detailed revenue figures for the current and previous years, which are available on request, will demonstrate a significant annual income of around or over 14,000 euros.

With the potential to convert the barn into two more gites, subject to planning consent, plus the use of the tower bedroom suite for letting if not required by the owners, it is clear that a meaningful addition to this excellent income stream can be achieved.

PLACES TO VISIT …

Situated in the North of the Charente, the property is only about 25 minutes drive from Limoges Airport, but there is much to see and do in the wonderful city of Limoges. Among its numerous attractions are the famous porcelain museums, the elegant shopping streets, a superb aquarium and the medieval bridges over the River Vienne.

The property is about one hour’s drive from Angoulême and its walled city. The pretty towns of Confolens, with its charming cobbled streets and variety of shops and restaurants and Chabanais, both on the River Vienne, are just 12 km away. Chabanais has a weekly market, as does St Junien, which is about the same distance from the property. The weekly French markets are a wonderful institution and an experience not to be missed!

The city of Cognac is a great place to visit, with its fascinating architecture, museums and places to learn about the history and production of the drink for which it is famous the world over. It is a comfortable hour and a half’s drive from the property. Visits to the nearby vineyards will complete a marvellous day out.

For those with an interest in history, the Richard Coeur de Lion route is “a must”, meandering, as it does, around the old chateaux and churches of the Charente and Limousin, which figured in King Richard’s wars in France.

The route takes in the 13th century Château de Rochechouart, perched at the top of a rocky outcrop and overlooking the junction of two rivers. It now houses a Museum and Centre of Contemporary Art. Nearby is the Rochechouart Meteorite Museum, site of one of the 15 largest meteorites ever to have hit Earth and landing over 200 million years ago! Rochechouart is about 15 minutes drive from the property.

…AND THINGS TO DO

For golfers, there is an excellent course at St. Junien, 12 km away. Water sports are catered for, with fishing on the River Vienne and swimming and all kinds of water sports from the beaches in the haute lakes of the Charente, about 15 minutes drive. Horse riding is available from the stables at the fortified village of Brigueuil, 6 km away.

The younger members of the family will love the ‘Futuroscope’ theme park, which is about an hour’s drive. There is a huge range of attractions at the park, with something for adults and children alike. Closer to home and next to Limoges Airport is the smaller ‘Parc Bellevue’ theme park, whilst to the South of the city, a safari style country zoo is situated within the grounds of Chateau Reynou.

There are numerous other activities in the area, with ballooning, tennis, boules, go karting, painting and ceramics, flying and wine tasting to name but a few.

Finally, there is the stunning and beautiful countryside surrounding the property, where you will never tire of exploring the forest walkways, hills and valleys, which make walking and rambling such an enjoyable pastime, whilst the more energetic may revel in the mountain biking opportunities.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

1. These details are provided and intended as a general guide only and do not form a contract or any part of a contract. Intending buyers must make their own investigations and are advised to take appropriate independent legal advice. The final sale price may vary due to currency exchange fluctuations.
2. Please be aware that, if you print off these details entirely, they will include the full Disclaimer which covers numerous points, some of which may not be relevant to this property and which can be viewed by clicking on ‘Disclaimer’ at the foot of this page. To avoid this, print the pages of the actual property details individually, but it will then be assumed that you have read and are aware of the complete Disclaimer.

Key Features:

A beautiful country farmhouse
Five guest suites and two gites
Self contained owners' accommodation
Existing letting arrangements in place
Potential for two more gites
Fully modernised and renovated
Superbly designed and fitted bespoke kitchen
Heated swimming pool
25 minutes from Limoges Airport
For sale including furniture & furnishings Ref: 36696-PS-JM-LVF