Midi-Pyrénées, Aveyron, France

Located in the fairytale village of Conques-en-Rouergue in the Aveyron, this superb colombage village house dates back to the 14th century and was built into the hillside using local materials. The building was extended during the 16th century and much of the interior décor, such as the wood panelling on the walls, originates from the Empire (Regency) period.

Most of the houses in the village have ground floors which are just storage room, but one of the two rooms on the ground floor in this house was probably used by an artisan as a shop and workshop because it has a separate door opening out onto the street. Both rooms could be ideal for storing bicycles or for general storage so that the loft space on the top floor can be transformed into accommodation. Alternatively, one or both of the cellars would be perfect for using as a games room, a gym, a television room, a home cinema or even a snug, where you can enjoy after-dinner drinks in your very own private bar!

The property's main front door opens into an entrance hall with access to the two cellars/storage rooms and a carved wooden staircase up to the first floor.

The first floor comprises a lovely bedroom with a fireplace, a room which could be used as a sitting room/study/office/library/guest bedroom/children's bedroom... and a light and airy kitchen/dining room with a vast stone fireplace and new chestnut floor. Please note that you may want to modernise the kitchen, which retains all of its original features and layout. Adjoining the kitchen is a walk-in pantry/storage room. There is also a bathroom with WC on this floor.

The second floor comprises a master bedroom with a fireplace, a bedroom with an "alcove bed" and a fireplace and a super sitting room/library with a fireplace, which could be used as a bedroom, if preferred. Also on this floor is a shower room with WC and a utility room. Below the utility room is a small storage room, which is only accessible from the garden.

The top floor of the house is currently an unrenovated loft space with a new chestnut floor and exposed beams, which (subject to permission) could be used for creating more bedrooms or living space.

The delightful hillside garden is accessible from the second floor, as are several small outbuildings which have been built into the ancient stone walls and arches which stabilise the sloping gardens behind the houses. The walls enclose part of the garden next to the building, creating an ideal space for an outdoor dining terrace. From here, stone steps lead up to a hilltop orchard planted with fruit trees... and from where the panoramic views of the village, the abbey and the surrounding countryside are simply magnificent!

Despite being a small village, Conques-en-Rouergue has many amenities, including sports clubs, numerous shops and several restaurants and bars. There is a primary school in the village and a choice of college-lycées for secondary school pupils in the surrounding towns. There is a Saturday-morning market in the village once a month throughout the high season and a weekly market every Sunday morning in the nearby village of Marcillac. For a greater choice of shops and amenities, the towns of Rodez (40 minutes) and Figeac (45 minutes) are easily accessible.

THE HOUSE

Ground floor:
- an entrance hall with a wooden staircase up to the first floor
- two workshop rooms (one with a door out to the street) of about 60m², ideal for using as a store for bicycles, a gym, a television room/home cinema, a cosy snug for after-dinner drinks...!

First floor:
- a kitchen/dining room with a vast fireplace, bread oven and new chestnut floor (28m²)
- an adjoining pantry/storage room
- a further room, ideal to use as a small sitting room or a study/office/library/guest bedroom/children's bedroom... (20m²)
- a spacious bedroom with a fireplace (22m²)
- a bathroom with WC (7m²)

Second floor:
- access out to various small outbuildings, a small storage room beneath the utility room and a hilltop garden planted with fruit trees
- a bedroom with a fireplace, which is currently used as a library and sitting room (22m²)
- a master bedroom with a fireplace (36m²)
- a bedroom with an "alcove bed" and a fireplace (31m²)
- a shower room with WC (4m²)
- a utility room (7m²)

Third floor:
- a loft space, ideal for creating additional accommodation (subject to permission, 100m² usable space, 70m² Loi Carrez)


THE GARDEN

- a glorious hillside garden of 1,321m²
- an area next to the house enclosed by ancient stone walls and arches, ideal for an outdoor dining terrace
- various small outbuildings built into ancient stone walls and arches
- stone steps up to a hilltop orchard planted with fruit trees and fantastic views of the village and surrounding countryside


THE POTENTIAL!

This Medieval village house is absolutely ideal to use as a unique family home or holiday home and is ready to move into today!

You could also rent it out as a gîte to holidaymakers during the summer months, the skiing season and for Christmas and New Year. Alternatively, you could also use one or more of the bedrooms for accommodating Bed and Breakfast guests, especially with so many tourists visiting Conques-en-Rouergue all year round.

Pilgrims following the Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrim route into Spain also need to find overnight accommodation, which you might like to provide on a small scale to single travellers and couples, or perhaps even as a "gîte d'étape", which would allow you to welcome up to 15 pilgrims in shared rooms.

If you are tempted to provide more than just breakfast to your overnight guests, you could offer hearty suppers, pub lunches, afternoon teas... You could even provide delicious packed lunches or luxurious picnic hampers for departing pilgrims and B&B guests going out on day trips, especially if they are packed full of mouthwatering local delicacies!


SERVICES & TECHNICAL

Telephone
Cable internet connection available soon
Heating: electric (3 bedrooms) + open fireplaces
Mains water
Mains drainage
Well
Parking: free, in the village


THE LOCAL AREA

The riverside village of Conques-en-Rouergue with its impressive abbey is one of the most famous villages to visit when following the Chemin de St-Jacques de Compostelle through France. L'Abbatiale (abbey) Sainte-Foy dominates the hillside village and is a prime example of Romanesque architecture. A fresco (tympan), which depicts "The Last Judgment", has been carved above the entrance doors to the abbey - and the fresco is illuminated every evening from May to September in a mini son-et-lumière.

Construction of the abbey began in the 11th century, although the site was already an important destination for pilgrims. Since the 9th century, people had been organising pilgrimages to Conques-en-Rouergue to honour the relics of the martyr Sainte-Foy, which had been brought to the village after the year 866. From the 11th century onwards, many of the pilgrims visiting Conques-en-Rouergue then continued their pilgrimage on into Spain all the way to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. L’Abbatiale Sainte-Foy and the stone bridge which crosses the River Dourdou below the village - Le Pont des Pèlerins - are both classed as UNESCO heritage sites.

The beautiful countryside surrounding Conques-en-Rouergue has much to offer... from wine-tasting in the Marcillac vineyards to trekking and skiing in the mountains of the Massif Central or exciting river-based activities on the River Dourdou... and don't forget to sample the tasty local delicacies, such as Estofinade, Farçous and the Soleil de Marcillac!

Airports: Rodez-Aveyron, Aurillac, Toulouse
Train: Cransac, Capdenac, Rodez
Coach: Montauban, Toulouse

Beaches: Montpellier, Sète, Marseillan...
Ski: Laguiole, Brameloup/St-Chèly-d'Aubrac, Saint-Urcize, Cézens, Aubrac Sud...

Attractions: Abbatiale Sainte-Foy de Conques, Trésor d'Orfèvrerie Médiévale, Joseph Fau museum, Gorges du Dourdou de Conques, waterfalls at Salles-la-Source and Muret le Château, Marcillac vineyards, Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle/GR65...