Jurançon

...

Built in honey-coloured stone and dating back to 1751, this charming Béarnaise farmhouse has several stone outbuildings, land of 5.6 hectares (14 acres) and gorgeous views of the Pyrénées on the horizon.

Although the farmhouse has been renovated and modernised in the past, some updating and redecoration will be required should you wish to make it more contemporary and luxurious. The property is, however, completely habitable straight away!

The farmhouse is in a secluded hillside location and the closest neighbours are over 200 metres away. The property has a private drive, which leads into a courtyard, which is enclosed by the farmhouse and the outbuildings. There is ample room for parking in the courtyard, or one of the two large barns could be used as a garage.

The front door of the farmhouse opens into an entrance hall with a traditional wooden staircase to the upper floors. To the left of the hall is a double-size sitting room with a decorative Béarnais stone sink. To the right of the hall is a dining room with a kitchen area and a huge open fireplace. This room also has a decorative Béarnais stone sink. Just behind the kitchen area is a utility room/pantry (12m²), which you might prefer to use as an office or even a guest bedroom.

The first floor of the farmhouse comprises a landing, three bedrooms and a bathroom. There would be room for an en suite shower room in the largest bedroom - or you might like to create additional living space in the loft (authorisation required), such as an office, more bedrooms, a shower room, a games room...

Outside, the south-facing courtyard is the perfect spot to enjoy sunny breakfasts, long, lazy lunches, moonlit suppers... There is even a covered terrace area where you can dine outside, whatever the weather!

The flat land and meadows near the farmhouse could be ideal for installing a swimming pool (permission required) and for a summer kitchen/barbecue area, a children’s play area, a boules piste… The rest of the land is mainly forest, which is ideal for exploring - and for those who love to climb trees!

This delightful farmhouse is located in the beautiful Béarn, between the mountains and the sea. Hugely convenient for people working in and around Pau, the property is perfect for anyone who loves skiing, surfing and water-sports. Pyrénées ski resorts are about 45 minutes away to the south - and Atlantic beaches are about 90 minutes away to the west. There are also several swimming lakes nearby, some with leisure beaches, water-sports and waterslides.

The centre of Pau is about 25 - 30 minutes away; Safran is 15 minutes; Total HQ is 30 minutes; Lourdes is 45 minutes. The closest shops, bars and restaurants are a 10-minute drive away, as is the nearest primary school. There is great choice of secondary schools in neighbouring towns and in Pau - and the International School of Béarn in Pau, which follows the English National Curriculum, is just 30 minutes away.

THE FARMHOUSE

Ground floor:
- an entrance hall (8.5m²) with a traditional wooden staircase
- a double-size sitting room (31m²) with a decorative Béarnaise sink
- a dining room/kitchen (33m²) with an open fireplace and a decorative Béarnaise sink
- a utility room/pantry/office/guest bedroom (12m²)...
- a WC

First floor:
- a landing (12m²)
- three bedrooms (25m², 15m² 14m²)
- a bathroom with a WC (7.4m²)
- access to unconverted loft space of 40m² (Loi Carrez), with the potential to transform into more accommodation, such as bedrooms, a shower room, an office...


THE LAND AND THE OUTBUILDINGS

This wonderful property is set in land of 56,517m² (14 acres) comprising meadowland and forest. There is also a spring-fed pond, making the land ideal for horses, ponies, donkeys...

Should you hope to instal a swimming pool (permission required), there is plenty of flat land near the farmhouse. There would also be room for a summer kitchen/barbecue area, a children's play area, a boules piste...

Set around a courtyard of about 2;000m², the farmhouse has four outbuildings: two large barns (approx. 90m² each), one of which could be used as a garage, if desired, a workshop/wine store (25m²), a small animal barn (15m²)...

... and if you go exploring, you will even discover an ancient "lavoire" on your land!


THE POTENTIAL!

Although in need of some updating and redecorating, this super farmhouse has immense potential!

If you intend to use the property as a family home or a holiday home, you will have more than enough room to invite friends and family to stay, especially if you were to create additional accommodation in the loft (40m²).

If you hope to work from home, you could use either the ground-floor utility room/pantry or one of the bedrooms as an office. Alternatively, the loft space could be converted or even one of the outbuildings (authorisation required).

If you have a horse or other animals, one of the barns could be used as a stable - and the land should be perfect for grazing. The land and barns would also be ideal for a small-scale agricultural or horticultural project, especially since the property has two springs, one of which feeds a pond.

The farmhouse could be used as a gîte for short-stay holiday rentals or for long-term rentals. You could also use one or more of the bedrooms for accommodating Bed and Breakfast guests, who will be delighted to stay in this tranquil, rural setting. In anticipation, you might want to create an en suite shower room in the largest bedroom or create a B&B suite in the loft...

Along with delicious breakfasts, you could offer hearty suppers and even picnic lunches filled with local Béarnaise delicacies. You could also arrange leisure activities for your clients, such as art, photography, cookery, wine-tasting, yoga and mindfulness workshops. Guided walks and bicycle rides might also be popular to explore the surrounding countryside direct from the farmhouse... and the installation of a swimming pool would be an added attraction (authorisation required).

If you prefer to create a "gite de groupe", you are allowed to accommodate up to 15 people per stay. It might even be possible to convert the outbuildings into additional accommodation (authorisation required).

NB: please note that planning permission would be required for any conversion of the barns for residential and/or professional use and for the installation of a swimming pool


SERVICES & TECHNICAL

Cable internet connection available
Double glazing
Heating: oil-fired central heating with cast iron radiators + open fireplace
Mains water
2 springs
Septic tank (works required)


THE LOCAL AREA

The property is located in the beautiful Béarn region in south-west France, not far from Pau (25 - 30 minutes) and Biarritz (90 minutes). Toulouse, Bordeaux and San-Sebastián are 2 - 2.5 hours away.

The region is popular with tourists all year round for hiking, mountain-biking, white-water rafting and fishing. There are also several ski resorts (45 - 55 minutes) with a choice of winter sports, which include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snow-shoeing. For those who prefer beach-based activities, the Atlantic coast is about 90 minutes away, where you can picnic, swim and surf at Biarritz, St-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, Hossegor...

If your interests are gastronomic, you'll love exploring the many farmers' markets throughout the Béarn and Basque Country, where you can sample locally produced Jurançon and Irouléguy wines, tasty Bayonne ham cured in salt from Salies-de-Béarn and fabulous Brebis, (a cheese made from ewes' milk), which is normally eaten with delicious black cherry jam from Itxassou!

Airports: Pau Tarbes-Lourdes, Biarritz
Train: Pau (TGV)
Coach: Pau, Lourdes
Ferry: Bilbao, Santander

Ski: Eaux-Bonnes, Gourette, Artouste, Val d'Azun, La-Pierre-St-Martin, Formigal (Spain)...
Beaches: Biarritz, St-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, Hossegor...

Attractions: leisure lakes with watersports, Aqua Béarn, Le Petit Train d’Artouste, Parc'Ours, Grotte de la Verna, Grottes de Bétharram, Gorges de Kakuetta, Passerelle d’Holzarte, Golf (Billère & Artiguelouve), Thermal Spas, Casinos...