REDUCED in price - A most impressive 17th century country chateau set in 22 acres grounds in a beautiful rural area nr the popular town of Gaillac, Tarn. Fully renovated and well appointed, this handsome property offers a very full package: 7 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, spacious reception rooms, all weather tennis court, 14m heated swimming pool, 22 acres with field shelter for horses, well, Orangerie, Pigeonnier and 2 independent cottages ( which can be let for holidays or used for guardians).

Just about everything you could wish for in a rural French property. A long, cypress lined private drive leads up to the chateau's gated entrance, and generous parking and covered parking area.

As you walk up to the chateau, you are impressed by the beauty of this handsome 17th century home, with massive cut stone walls and mullioned windows. The whole has been renovated with underfloor central heating, double glazing, new electrics and to standards drainage system.

Carved stone front doorway to vaulted entrance hall. Stone floors throughout. Informal dining room with ceiling a la Francaise, monumental stone fireplace and access to rear terraces. A fully fitted country kitchen with granite tops, Aga cooker and door to rear dining terrace. Cloakroom. Snug living/TV room with fireplace with woodburning stove. Orangerie with cobbled floor . From the hallway, stone stairs lead to the first floor landing which is light and gives onto a balcony with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. Spacious salon ( 45m2) with ceiling a la Francaise, decorated fireplace and double aspect. Formal dining room (35m2) with open fireplace and ceiling a la Francaise. Study with fireplace. 2 guest bedrooms on this floor: one en-suite and a separate bathroom.

The stone stairs continue to the second floor with master double bedroom (30m2) with fitted carpets, fireplace and en-suite bath and shower room. 3 further double bedrooms and bathrooms on this floor. Upstairs is bedroom 7 with shower room and a dormitory for children.

The chateau is surrounded by park gardens with mature trees and lawns. Pretty Pigeonnier and well. The rear lawns lead to the pastures around the property ideal for keeping horses. Field shelter. To the side are 2 guest cottages, each with kitchen/living rooms, 1 bedroom and shower room. They are independent, can be let for holidays, or more practically offered as accommodation for a guardian. 14m long heated swimming pool with ample sunny terraces around in a private garden environment. To finish.. an all weather tennis court surrounded by lawned gardens.

This really is a “complete” property with everything you could wish for. Set in a quiet rural location yet the nearest village with shops , market and restaurants can be reached on foot. Gaillac is just a few minutes drive and Toulouse under the hour.

The department of Tarn is a lovely rural area with nice villages dotted amongst the hills and the three principal mountain ranges lying to the south-east: the Mountains of Lacaune, the Sidobre, and the Montagne Noire, belonging to the Cevennes. The stony and wind-blown slopes of the first named are used for pasture. The highest point of the range and of the department is the Pic de Montalet (about 4150 ft).

Steeped in history, from the Cathar era to the Industrial Revolution, the Tarn department has a rich heritage of fortified villages, castles, churches and museums. While the south-western houses are mostly stone-built, cities from the northwest of the department are often made of the local red brick, typical of the region.

The limestone and sandstone foot-hills are clothed with vines and fruit trees, and are broken by deep alluvial valleys of particular fertility. With the exception of a small portion of the Montagne Noire, which drains into the river Aude, the whole department belongs to the basin of the Garonne.

The eastern portion of the department has a climate similar to that in Auvergne, the severest in France, but not quiet as severe and only a few hardy farmers live there.

Tarn is bounded north and east by Aveyron, southeast by Herault, south by Aude, southwest and west by Haute-Garonne, northwest by Tarn-et-Garonne. The slope of the department is from east to west, and its general character is mountainous or hilly.

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