Midi-Pyrénées, Aveyron, Réquista, France

A30217SOM12 - From the road, enter the front garden through the iron gate. Ancient wisteria arbour shading living room windows. Pass through the front door into the very generous entrance hall, vaulted plaster ceilings, flagstone floor.

To the right: airy reception room with wood-burning stove, built-in cupboard and access to the circular tower. Windows to front.

To the left: spacious living room with open fireplace, Windows to front. Door communicating with kitchen:

Fully fitted kitchen with solid wood doors. Large dining area. Windows to rear. Access to entrance hall.

From the kitchen, access to rear courtyard garden with stone paving and gravel, two shade trees.
Access from courtyard garden to outbuilding housing utility room and former aviary/store.

Also from courtyard garden, access to small corridor, WC and back through to entrance hall. Alcove housing central heating boiler, storage. Door through to large vaulted stone storage space, a cellar but at ground level.

Broad, ancient wooden staircase to upper floors. These handsome stairs seem to hold the history of the house.
On an intermediary floor, a large bedroom overlooking the courtyard garden. Access to stone tower.

Further up to an open gallery giving access to:
Bedroom 1, double, overlooking front garden, access to tower
Bedroom 2, double, overlooking front garden
Bathroom with bath, shower over, bidet and wash hand basin, overlooking front garden. Accessible directly from bedrooms 1 and 2, and from gallery.

From gallery through to corridor giving access to:
Bedroom 3, double, overlooking rear courtyard garden
Bedroom 4, double, with fireplace, overlooking the front garden.
Small shower room with wash hand basin
Separate WC

Further up to:
Bedroom 5, large double, overlooking rear courtyard garden, cupboards set into the thick stone walls, en-suite shower room with wash-hand basin.

Further up to:
Attics: 2 separate attic spaces, insulated and part boarded.

Circular stone tower with spiral stone staircase provides access to upper floors.

The house has a long history, dating back to the 14th century. Grace and beauty saved it from the fires of the Hundred Years' War. The story goes that three sisters lived there and that, inspired by their beauty, the English soldiers protected it from destruction despite burning the rest of the town to the ground.

After the First World War, the house was purchased by a war widow and she worked there as a milliner, creating hats and selling them from the house. It has remained in the family ever since and is now available to purchase for the first time in a hundred years.

Réquista is a classic bastide town founded in 1292 by Henry II, Count of Rodez, Over its long history it has suffered destruction at least twice but has always come back to thrive again due to its rich lands and the livestock fairs that have always been central to the farming community in the region. They remain a famous feature of the local calendar to this day.

The town offers most amenities including restaurants, supermarkets, smaller boutiques and shops, trades and services, and health services. Situated not far from the larger towns of Albi and Rodez, Réquista offers an ideal location for those who enjoy the advantages of a bustling small market town where everything is within walking distance, whilst being within an easy drive of more major amenities and the open countryside.

Speaking of the countryside, the département of Aveyron is a superbb mixture of rolling pastureland, stunning scenery around the river valleys and gorges, wild moorland, pretty villages and historic sites. Popular activities include river kayaking and rafting, or just swimming from the river beaches. Long walks abound, and the wild areas cry out to be explored. History fans are spoiled for choice, with so much to discover from so many eras, including the house itself.

This venerable historic building needs a little love to bring it up to date from the point of view of energy efficiency but the super-low price reflects this.

Call for more information or to book a viewing!