Imagine waking to the soft whinny of horses grazing in morning mist, mountain silhouettes rising beyond your bedroom window, and the knowledge that 14 hectares of French countryside belong entirely to you. This restored 284-square-meter country house near Marciac represents more than property ownership—it's an invitation to embrace the equestrian lifestyle in one of southwestern France's most culturally rich regions, where jazz festivals meet pastoral tradition and the Pyrenees create a dramatic backdrop to daily life. Picture yourself riding across your own land as golden light filters through ancient oak trees lining your 270-meter private drive, a secluded approach that transforms every homecoming into a retreat from the modern world. This is the vacation home in Midi-Pyrenees that horse enthusiasts and nature lovers have been searching for, a rare opportunity to own a fully operational equestrian facility within walking distance of village amenities yet surrounded by absolute privacy. The property sits at the heart of its own land, completely fenced and ready to accommodate horses, sheep, goats, or simply serve as your private nature reserve where deer, wild boar, and countless bird species create a living tapestry of wildlife. Unlike properties pieced together from scattered parcels, this estate offers the security and convenience of centralized ownership, with every corner accessible from your doorstep. The three well-maintained stables, open shelter, and sand school provide everything needed for serious equestrian pursuits, while the annual hay production of approximately 850 small bales significantly reduces feed costs and creates potential income streams. The house itself tells a story of thoughtful renovation that respects rural character while delivering modern comfort—a balance international buyers rarely find in French country properties. Seventy-five millimeter insulation throughout walls, ceilings, and partitions ensures energy efficiency that contradicts the home's rustic exterior, while fiber internet capability brings contemporary connectivity to this pastoral setting. The roof, completely renewed within the past nine years, eliminates the renovation anxiety that haunts many period property purchases. Three woodburners distributed strategically across ground floor living spaces create atmospheric warmth during winter months when the Pyrenees wear snow caps and village life centers around cozy bistros. Double-glazed wooden joinery frames views while maintaining thermal performance, and the thoughtful floor plan separates private quarters from entertaining spaces in ways that accommodate extended family gatherings or guest hosting. The ground floor master suite occupies its own wing, a 17-square-meter bedroom connected to a lavish 15.5-square-meter bathroom featuring a cast-iron clawfoot bath, Italian shower, and double basin. Two dedicated dressing rooms totaling over 15 square meters eliminate storage concerns, while a private entrance through a glazed atrium allows independent access—ideal when hosting guests upstairs or considering future rental configurations. The 42-square-meter double-aspect living room flows naturally into a 27-square-meter fitted kitchen and dining area, both spaces warmed by woodburners and opening to mountain panoramas that shift with seasons and light. A covered terrace accessible from the ground floor vestibule extends living space outdoors during warm months when Marciac's famous jazz festival draws international musicians and the countryside buzzes with summer energy. Upstairs, a 25.7-square-meter sitting room creates flexible space for home offices, libraries, or children's play areas, while four generous bedrooms include a 36.8-square-meter guest suite with private shower room. Two 20-square-meter bedrooms and a family shower room complete the upper level, providing accommodation for visiting friends, extended family, or rental guests seeking authentic French countryside experiences. The Marciac location delivers unexpected advantages for a holiday home in France. This historic bastide town gained international recognition for its annual Jazz in Marciac festival, which transforms the village each August into a world-class music destination attracting performers and audiences from across Europe. Beyond festival season, Marciac maintains authentic Gascon character with weekly markets showcasing regional specialties: duck confit, Armagnac, Madiran wines, and farmstead cheeses that define southwestern French gastronomy. The village offers essential services within walking distance—bakeries producing morning croissants, butchers preparing regional charcuterie, and cafes where locals gather for afternoon pastis. Toulouse-Blagnac Airport lies 90 minutes northeast, connecting to major European cities and making weekend escapes practical for international owners. Lourdes Tarbes Pyrenees Airport provides additional access 60 kilometers south, while the Spanish border sits just 90 minutes away, opening possibilities for cross-border day trips to San Sebastian's beaches or Pamplona's historic center. The Pyrenees themselves become your playground—winter skiing at stations like Saint-Lary-Soulan or Piau-Engaly, summer hiking through valleys dotted with shepherds' huts, autumn mushroom foraging in ancient forests. Thermal spa towns including Bagneres-de-Bigorre and Cauterets offer wellness retreats, while the pilgrimage city of Lourdes presents fascinating cultural exploration regardless of religious inclination. Gascony's culinary traditions run deep, from Armagnac distilleries offering tastings in family cellars to duck farms demonstrating foie gras production methods unchanged for generations. The Madiran and Saint-Mont wine appellations produce robust reds perfect for accompanying cassoulet and confit, while Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh whites complement the region's exceptional cheeses. Local markets rotate through surrounding villages—Plaisance, Riscle, Aignan—each offering distinct specialties and social rhythms that reveal authentic French rural life often hidden from tourists. Cycling enthusiasts discover quiet roads winding through sunflower fields and past fortified villages, while the GR653 long-distance footpath connecting to Santiago de Compostela passes nearby, bringing a steady flow of pilgrims and the infrastructure supporting them. Lakes at Marciac and surrounding areas provide summer swimming, sailing, and fishing, while autumn hunting season animates local culture and fills restaurant menus with game dishes. As a second home in Europe, this property offers genuine investment potential beyond personal enjoyment. The equestrian facilities attract a specialized rental market willing to pay premium rates for authentic countryside experiences with proper horse accommodation—a niche severely underserved in southwestern France. The home's scale and layout suit large family gatherings, wedding parties, or corporate retreats, while proximity to Jazz in Marciac festival creates predictable high-season demand. Property taxes at 1,510 euros annually remain remarkably reasonable given the land holding, and the compliant individual sanitation system eliminates concerns about municipal connection requirements. The energy class C rating (111 on the primary energy scale, 24 on climate impact) delivers running costs between 3,900 and 5,330 euros annually—manageable for a property of this size and far superior to many comparable rural estates. For buyers considering equestrian property in France, this estate eliminates the typical compromises. You're not sacrificing location for land, or accepting dilapidated outbuildings alongside a renovated house, or facing years of fencing projects before safely turning out horses. Everything stands ready: stables with recent metal roofing that prevents the drips that plague older agricultural buildings, fenced paddocks allowing immediate occupancy, established hay production reducing ongoing costs, and a sand school requiring only minor attention to become competition-ready. The 14 hectares provide genuine space for horses to move naturally—not the cramped paddocks often marketed as equestrian properties in more expensive regions. The wildlife haven your private drive creates speaks to ecological richness increasingly rare in intensively farmed areas. Native species thrive here, from wild boar rooting in woodland edges to raptors hunting over open meadows, creating an environment where children discover nature firsthand and adults reconnect with seasonal rhythms disconnected from urban life. The fenced perimeter means your own livestock or horses remain secure while wildlife moves freely, a peaceful coexistence that defines quality rural living. Key features that make this vacation home exceptional: Five bedrooms including ground floor master suite with dual dressing rooms and luxury bathroom; 284 square meters of thoughtfully laid out living space with three woodburners; Three equipped stables plus open shelter with recent non-drip metal roofing; 14 hectares of completely fenced land producing 850 hay bales annually; 270-meter private tree-lined drive creating secluded wildlife corridor; Mountain views from southeast-facing reception rooms and bedrooms; Roof fully renewed within past nine years eliminating major maintenance concerns; Comprehensive 75mm insulation throughout walls, ceilings, and internal partitions; Fiber internet capability bringing modern connectivity to rural setting; Walking distance to Marciac village amenities and weekly markets; Sand school for riding practice requiring only minor refurbishment; Energy class C rating with manageable annual running costs; Ground floor guest accommodation and upstairs four-bedroom layout; Covered terrace and multiple outdoor entertaining spaces; Property tax just 1,510 euros annually for entire 14-hectare estate. International buyers from the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany have discovered Gascony's combination of affordability, accessibility, and authentic culture, yet this region remains far less saturated than Dordogne or Provence. Property values here offer room for appreciation as Toulouse continues expanding and remote work normalizes vacation home ownership. The legal process for purchasing French property as a non-resident follows well-established procedures, though engaging a bilingual notaire and property consultant familiar with international transactions smooths the process considerably. French property law provides robust buyer protections, and ownership structures including SCIs (Societes Civiles Immobilieres) offer tax efficiency and simplified succession planning for families. The Marciac microclimate benefits from both Atlantic influence and Pyrenean weather patterns, creating warm summers without Mediterranean intensity and mild winters where snow remains occasional rather than disruptive. Spring explodes with wildflowers across the meadows, while autumn extends warm days well into October as harvest festivals celebrate grape, apple, and walnut crops. This is the holiday property in France where your family creates traditions: summer weeks filled with horseback rides to neighboring farms, festival evenings under stars with world-class music floating across the village, autumn truffle hunts with local guides and their specially trained dogs, winter weekends exploring Pyrenean ski stations followed by hearty mountain meals. Your children learn to ride on your own land, develop independence exploring safe countryside, and acquire French language naturally through village friendships. This property rewards hands-on owners who embrace rural rhythms while providing enough space and privacy for those seeking pure retreat. The equestrian facilities invite active engagement—whether maintaining a small breeding operation, offering riding holidays, or simply keeping pleasure horses—while the land's productivity creates purpose and modest income. Alternatively, the estate functions beautifully as a low-maintenance vacation base, with local contractors available for property management, garden upkeep, and seasonal opening and closing. Contact Homestra today to arrange a private viewing of this exceptional equestrian estate near Marciac. Walk the tree-lined drive, explore the stables, and envision your horses grazing with Pyrenean peaks rising beyond. This is more than a property transaction—it's an investment in lifestyle transformation, a commitment to experiences that matter, and an opportunity to own your piece of authentic France before this remarkable region fully awakens to its potential.
