Imagine waking in a renovated 19th-century mansion where morning light filters through century-old oak trees, your coffee steaming on a slate terrace as the Corrèze countryside awakens around you. This is life at your seven-bedroom estate in La Chapelle-aux-Saints, where 415 square meters of living space and a massive stone barn await your vision in one of France's most authentic rural retreats. Your 6,000-square-meter parkland becomes a private sanctuary, complete with a heated saltwater pool and productive orchard that yields apples, pears, and plums each autumn. This exceptional property in Limousin offers international buyers a rare combination: substantial renovation completed with quality materials, yet tremendous potential in the unconverted barn that could become guest quarters, an artist studio, or income-generating gîtes. The location positions you perfectly for exploring the Dordogne Valley's medieval treasures while maintaining the tranquility of hamlet life where your nearest neighbor is the village baker.
The mansion itself tells the story of French provincial elegance, its slate-clad exterior housing thoughtfully designed interiors across three floors. Your ground level opens to an entrance hall that sets the tone with exposed beams and terracotta tiles underfoot. The kitchen-diner becomes the heart of your holiday home, its generous proportions accommodating long lunches with family extending onto not one but two terraces where you can follow the sun throughout the day. The adjacent living room provides formal space for evening gatherings, while a practical office allows remote work when needed. Two ground-floor toilets and a dedicated laundry room address the practical needs of a large vacation property. The first floor delivers your principal accommodation: three well-proportioned bedrooms share a family bathroom, while the master suite claims its own territory with integrated shower room and walk-in dressing area. A separate toilet maintains convenience. Ascending to the second floor reveals three additional bedrooms plus a substantial living room that could serve as children's play space, home cinema, or overflow guest area during peak season. The top-floor shower room with toilet completes the accommodation.
The estate's true distinction lies in its extraordinary barn, a longère-style structure with traditional inverted boat-hull timber frame and flat tile roofing. With foundations and primary structure sound, this building presents approximately 200 square meters of potential across two levels. International buyers typically convert such barns into multiple holiday rental units, creating income streams that offset ownership costs. French planning permission generally favors sympathetic barn conversions in rural areas, and the Corrèze department actively supports tourism infrastructure development. Alternatively, envision this space as extended family quarters, a wellness retreat with spa facilities, or a grand entertaining venue for memorable gatherings. The barn's scale accommodates ambition while its authentic character ensures any conversion respects regional architectural heritage.
Your 10x5-meter saltwater pool occupies the sunniest corner of the grounds, its heating system extending the swimming season from May through September. The salt chlorination system reduces maintenance demands while providing gentler water quality than traditional chlorine pools, an important consideration for a vacation property visited periodically. Adjacent greenhouse structures house tender plants through winter and provide potting space for garden enthusiasts. The mature parkland features several century-old trees including oaks and chestnuts, their canopy creating natural cooling in summer. The productive orchard adds practical charm, offering fresh fruit for preserves or simply enjoying the seasonal cycles that mark French country life.
La Chapelle-aux-Saints occupies a privileged position in the Corrèze department, placing you within striking distance of the Dordogne Valley's celebrated attractions while maintaining authentic rural character. Just 15 kilometers away, Collonges-la-Rouge captivates with its distinctive red sandstone buildings, ranked among France's Plus Beaux Villages. This medieval gem becomes your go-to destination for artisan markets, wine tastings in ancient cellars, and simply wandering cobbled streets where time moves differently. The Tuesday morning market overflows with regional products: walnut oils, foie gras, local cheeses, and the famous moutarde violette. Martel, 16 kilometers distant, offers its own medieval quarter plus practical amenities including supermarkets, medical facilities, and the summer train touristique that delights visiting grandchildren. Brive-la-Gaillarde, the regional hub 30 kilometers away, provides comprehensive shopping, cultural attractions including the Labenche Museum, and direct train connections to Paris Austerlitz in under four hours.
The Corrèze department rewards exploration across all seasons. Spring brings hiking opportunities through the Causse de Martel, its limestone plateau honeycombed with caves including the Grottes de Lamouroux. Summer transforms the Dordogne River into your playground for canoeing, swimming from sandy beaches, and riverside dining at guinguette restaurants. The nearby Lac du Causse offers supervised swimming and water sports when you prefer calmer waters. Autumn delivers the vendange wine harvest, followed by chestnut and mushroom foraging that fills local markets with seasonal bounty. Winter, though quiet, brings its own pleasures: truffle markets in nearby Martel, Christmas festivities in regional towns, and crisp walks through dormant vineyards. The Limousin's continental climate delivers hot summers averaging 28°C and cool winters where snow occasionally dusts the landscape, creating four distinct seasons that each offer their character.
Culinary experiences define life in this corner of France. The Corrèze-Dordogne border region celebrates robust farmhouse cuisine: confit de canard, pommes sarladaises cooked in duck fat, and the distinctive cabécou goat cheese. Local markets become weekly rituals where producers sell directly, building relationships that enhance your integration into community life. Within 20 minutes' drive, you'll discover family-run restaurants serving authentic regional menus, Michelin-recognized establishments in Brive and Collonges, and casual bistros where €15 secures a three-course lunch with wine. The nearby Corrèze and Bergerac wine regions provide exceptional value, their lesser-known status delivering quality comparable to more famous appellations at accessible prices.
This property addresses the practical considerations that concern international vacation home buyers. The move-in-ready condition of the main house means you can begin enjoying your investment immediately while planning barn conversion at your pace. The hamlet location provides security through neighborly oversight, while the on-site bakery delivers morning croissants without needing to drive. Larger shopping needs are met in Saint-Denis-lès-Martel just 5 kilometers away. For international access, Brive-Souillac Airport handles seasonal flights to UK destinations, while Bergerac Airport (90km) and Limoges Airport (100km) offer broader European connections. Road access positions you three hours from Toulouse, four from Bordeaux, and five from Paris via the A20 autoroute. For families, the location offers both French immersion schools in nearby towns and international school options in Brive for those maintaining longer-term residence.
The Corrèze property market presents compelling value compared to neighboring Dordogne department, where similar properties command 20-30% premiums due to international buyer demand. This mansion's €770,000 price point reflects realistic market value while offering room for value appreciation as the region gains recognition. The barn conversion potential could add €200,000-300,000 to property value depending on execution quality. Current rental market data shows furnished holiday properties in this area achieving €1,500-2,500 weekly rates during July-August peak season, with shoulder season bookings at €800-1,200 weekly. A professionally managed gîte operation in the converted barn could generate €25,000-35,000 annual gross income, offsetting ownership costs substantially. French property acquisition involves straightforward processes for international buyers, with total transaction costs approximately 8-10% of purchase price covering notaire fees, registration, and legal costs. Non-resident owners pay annual property tax based on cadastral value, typically €2,000-3,000 for a property of this scale.
Key features of this exceptional Limousin estate include:
• Seven bedrooms across three floors accommodate extended family and guests
• Master suite with private shower room and dressing area provides owner sanctuary
• Two ground-floor terraces capture morning and evening sun
• Heated 10x5m saltwater pool with surrounding sun terrace
• Massive stone barn with sound structure ready for conversion
• 6,000m² parkland with century-old trees and productive orchard
• Original architectural details including exposed beams and terracotta tiles
• Quality renovation using traditional materials maintains authentic character
• Three full bathrooms plus separate toilets serve large household
• Ground-floor office enables remote work capability
• Hamlet location provides security with village bakery steps away
• 15km to Collonges-la-Rouge, 16km to Martel, 30km to Brive
• Four hours by train to Paris, multiple regional airports within 100km
• Strong rental potential in established tourism region
• Realistic pricing with significant value-add opportunity through barn conversion
This Corrèze manor house represents more than a vacation property; it offers an authentic French lifestyle that balances cultural richness with practical comfort. Whether you envision multi-generational summer gatherings around your pool, developing a boutique gîte business, or creating a permanent escape from urban pressures, this estate provides the space and setting to realize your vision. The combination of completed quality renovation, substantial additional potential, and location near medieval treasures while maintaining peaceful privacy makes this property exceptional in today's market. International buyers seeking genuine French country living without the inflated pricing of over-discovered regions will find this mansion delivers both romance and pragmatism. Contact Homestra today to arrange your private viewing and begin your journey to owning this remarkable piece of the Limousin countryside, where your European vacation home dream takes tangible form among century-old oaks and medieval villages.
