Love It or Leave It

Our first exciting foray into French property hunting had left us with only one contender, “House Two”. Aside: Ever wondered what the easiest job in the world is? A strong contender is the person responsible for naming programmes on the BBC. To continue that fine tradition we also use this technique to reference houses visited.. We had arranged to squeeze in a second viewing at the very end of our holiday.

During our first viewing the weather had been dull and damp, but our spirits were high. On our second viewing the skies were blue and the temperatures were high. We took this visit seriously and came mobb deep with our son,daughter and my Mum. We set off from our holiday rental and arrived at the house. It was even more beautiful in the glorious sunshine. It felt wonderful to be back there. Having spent the last few days discussing what we would like to do to make this our family home, we couldn’t wait to get back inside and see if our ramblings could become a reality.

First on the agenda, the barns. Entering the cool, dark stone building from the blazing sun was a blessed relief. The space was vast. Currently used as a workshop and general storage, this building had much potential. It was almost the same size as the house. My Son braved the ancient wooden staircase to explore the mezzanine. Another great space even if most of us were afraid to go up there. At the back of the barn, an old wooden door led out to a covered arched driveway that separated the first barn from the second. The second barn was smaller but in better condition and was home to crates of onions and garlic that were happily drying there. Could you get any more French?

Back out in the sunshine we wandered and observed a respectable vineyard. It was only around eight rows of vines but well tended and the views across the open countryside were glorious. We didn’t know the first thing about looking after a vineyard but at that moment in time anything seemed possible. Next came the plethora of fruit trees. Apple, fig, plum and kiwi all bursting with fruit.

The more favourable weather meant we could fully explore the land this time. We headed behind the farmhouse to discover a pretty patio with built-in BBQ and wood fired oven that led out from the farmhouse kitchen. Complete with a lovely herb garden. You could smell the rosemary in the air whilst sitting in the shade of the awning admiring the rolling hills in the distance.

Just as I began to get comfortable we are on the move again, there was more! A gentle slope at the rear of the garden was home to the current owner’s sheep and beyond that a sizable vegetable garden. Right at the boundary of the land ran a small brook. It was perfect but I must admit I was a little daunted by the sheer size of the land. It was a far cry from my tiny herb garden in the UK but as we talked excitedly about keeping chickens, growing our own vegetables and making our very own wine, those fears faded. We drank in the postcard views and imagined waking up to them everyday.

The final thing to see outside was the pool. It had been hiding under a cover on our last visit but this time it was displayed in all its glory. Nestled between the farmhouse and the barn and surrounded by the privacy of beautiful stone walls, the pool was stunning! The vibrant blue water glistened under the afternoon sun. I could have jumped in right there then. This was the icing on the cake.

Returning to the house we took more pictures, videos and notes and discussed our plans for each room in detail. Our immediate sense was to swap the current living room and kitchen. Having the kitchen space central with the house made a lot of logistical sense. Moving the kitchen and living room around, repurposing the workshop and changing the bedroom layouts were just a few of our grand plans. We wandered the entire property slowly and thoughtfully. Our musings of the last few days started to become firm plans. As we stood on the balcony overlooking the pool, I hoped this would not be the last time I would be at this beautiful house. Was this really the one?

The agent was great and answered our hundreds of questions, from the sanitation system to the local amenities. She helped us understand the process of buying a property in France and how it differed from that of the UK. We left the property with our heads spinning, but clear about what the next steps would be should we decide to proceed.

Before returning to enjoy the last few days of our holiday, we decided to explore the area. The family were extremely pleased as we spotted the golden arches glowing in the distance. We made great use of the local Mcdonalds( the only thing actually open over the fabulous two hour French lunch period and complete with free WiFi at a reasonable speed) to re fuel.

The closest town to the house was Nerac, a fortified, mediaeval town on the banks of the river Baïse. We parked on the outskirts of town, near the beautiful Garenne Royal Park and walked into the centre of town.

The architecture here was amazing. Modern boutiques nestled on the ground floor of imposing half timbered buildings, inviting pavement cafes and tree lined squares. We admired the remains of the Chateau Henry IV. Only part of this beautiful building still remains. The arched balcony and tower give a glimpse of its former glory.

The fountain outside the town hall danced in the sunlight. It was hard to imagine that this gorgeous building had once been the town prison.

We watched the world go by from a delightful bar terrace. This would be our local town. It had all the necessary amenities and was beautiful too. Finally it was time to head back to our holiday rental and enjoy one final day of relaxation before returning to the UK. We had decisions to make!

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