Poitou-Charentes, Vienne, L'Isle-Jourdain, France

Our local agent Andy Portsmouth offer you, on it's own idyllic island in the Vienne river - the fourth largest river in France, this fabulous chateau with a rich history dating back over 1000 years. With easy access from the public bridge, there is ample external space for private parking and gardens, whilst the four connected buildings offer 1000m2 of space - a blank canvas for the realisation of your ideas.

This is an opportunity to own the iconic centrepiece of a popular small town. In fact, the town itself is named after this château and it's one time owner Lord Jourdain ('Jordanus de Hisla'), who lived in his castle here around 1080-1115 and reigned over this part of the Vienne, and who collected tolls from the bridge and oversaw the river traffic. The property has also been a fort, a mill, and was once owned by an officer of Napoleon.

This could make an absolutely fabulous venue, or retreat, or apartments, or an extraordinary home for someone who wants an exceptional space, history, and a stunning location - all windows have a beautiful view - of the river, of the valley, of the viaduct, of the pretty stone houses and church of this small town. A few minutes walk is all it takes from here to reach the town centre: there are five café-restaurants, two very close-by; plus there's a supermarket, doctors, dentist, optician, pharmacy, garden centre, and a newly-renovated public swimming pool. There are tennis courts, zip-wires across the river, kayaking, great angling and walking, and a motorracing circuit with classic car events - this is an attractive and interesting environment that draws-in people; there is plenty of demand here for holiday accommodation.

From the bridge, you enter through huge 400 year-old wrought-iron gates bearing the initials of previous owners. On your right, a tower from the original chateau has been converted into a characterful one-bedroom holiday gite (43m2), then across the lawn with olive trees and a fountain, steps lead up to the main entrance and to a huge room of 95m2 with bar, open to another large room behind of 81m2 with WC. Plus, a commercial-style kitchen (21m2), an entertainment room (105m2) with stage and gallery - this room then opens onto a raised terrace of 60m with river and valley views on three sides. Also, two more rooms, 30m2 and 35m2, opening to another terrace with an outstanding unspoilt view directly up the river to the viaduct. Below all of this is a basement of a similar size, with windows overlooking the river, creating a very usable space, perhaps for a spa/gym.

On the first floor are spaces of 113m2 and 32m2, plus convertible attic spaces on this floor and the next (with staircase) totalling 370m2.

Those beautiful roofs were all new in 2016 and have been insulated. The external walls have all been insulated.

Attached to the main building (with openings in progress between the two) is the building currently lived-in by the sellers - once part of the original chateau, with coach house added: the upstairs (49m2) is not finished; downstairs you have a kitchen (26m2), bedroom with shower room (19m2), and living room (67m2 plus WC) opening to another beautiful river-facing terrace.

There are also garages (58m2 for two vehicles, and 23m2 for one), and a huge workshop of 94m2. Around the beautiful rocky limits of the island, there are four points of access to the river for boats.

Most of the interiors need renovaton: the windows, doors, heating and plumbing need replacing, floors, walls and ceilings to restore, and a new septic tank is needed. The new 3 phase electricity transformer is in place to supply the whole building, although currently only the building used by the owners has the electrics installed (on one phase).

This is truly an extraordinary property that needs someone with the vision and finance to realise its doubtless huge potential.

Credit to Max Miechowski for photos 6, 8, 9 and 20, and to Simon Murray for photo 7.