Enchanting 4-Bedroom Stone House in Civray: Your Ideal French Holiday Home

Stand at the edge of the private lake on a July morning and the only sounds are a wood pigeon somewhere in the oak canopy and the soft lap of water against the bank. No road noise. No neighbors. Just 14 hectares of meadow, woodland, and sky — and a stone estate that has been quietly watching over all of it for generations. This is Genouillé, a commune in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charentes, and this property is the kind of find that makes serious buyers stop scrolling and pick up the phone. The estate is anchored by a substantial main house — proper stone walls, exposed timber beams that have darkened beautifully over the decades, and reception rooms large enough that a gathering of twenty people still feels unhurried. Four bedrooms, each with its own private shower room, mean that a multigenerational family or a group of close friends can arrive for two weeks in August and never queue for a bathroom. The private in-ground pool sits within the grounds of the main house, giving the primary residence its own self-contained world. Completely separate and fully independent, the gîte adds another four to five bedrooms and a second pool. This is where the property starts to reveal its financial logic. Poitou-Charentes draws steady summer traffic — cyclists riding the Vélodyssée, families heading to the Marais Poitevin, history enthusiasts making their way between Romanesque churches — and good-quality rural gîtes in the Vienne book up fast from June through September. The infrastructure here is already in place. You're not building from scratch; you're stepping into a ready-made hospitality setup with genuine income potential. The third structure on the property is a cottage: sitting room, dining space, one bedroom, b ... click here to read more

Some mornings you wake up to the distant sound of boots on gravel. Pilgrims passing through Bach on the Way of St. James, heading southwest toward Cahors before the long push to Spain. You pour a coffee, step out onto the south-facing terrace, and the Lot countryside does what it always does — sits there quietly, certain of itself, needing nothing from you. That's the rhythm of this place. Unhurried. Real. This is not one house. It's a small private hamlet: three independent dwellings sitting on nearly 9,000 square meters of flat, wooded land just 500 meters from the village center of Bach. At 210 square meters of combined living space, seven bedrooms, and six bathrooms spread across the buildings, the property works equally well as a multi-generational family retreat, a gîte operation, a bed-and-breakfast, or a combination of all three. Very few properties along the Lot offer this kind of structural flexibility at this price point. The heart of everything is the main house. Walk into the living room and you feel the scale immediately — generous ceiling height, thick stone walls that keep things cool through July and August, a fully equipped kitchen designed for actual cooking rather than show. Three bedrooms upstairs each have their own private shower room and toilet, which matters enormously if you're hosting guests who don't know each other well, or family members who do know each other too well. The covered south-facing terrace on the ground floor catches the afternoon light and becomes, without any effort, where everyone ends up after dinner. Then there's the dovecote. Not a decorative one — a real, working piece of Quercy architectural history, built from the pale limestone that defines this corner of France. Th ... click here to read more

Saturday morning in Carcassonne starts with the smell of woodsmoke and fresh bread. You push open the south-facing kitchen window, coffee in hand, and the Aude River valley stretches out beyond the garden fence—quiet, golden, unhurried. This is not a weekend fantasy. It's just a regular Saturday when you own this four-bedroom house on the edge of one of France's most storied medieval cities. The house sits in a calm residential pocket close to the banks of the Aude, the kind of neighborhood where neighbors know each other's names and the streets empty out by nine in the evening. Surrounded by 1,353 square meters of enclosed garden, it manages something genuinely rare in this part of Languedoc: countryside air and city convenience at once. The weekly markets on the Place Carnot are a ten-minute drive. The UNESCO-listed Cité de Carcassonne, with its 52 towers and double ring of ramparts, is close enough that you can watch its illuminated silhouette appear from your terrace on a clear summer night. At 157 square meters of living space, the house has been thoughtfully renovated without stripping away its personality. The ground floor flows from an entrance hall—with proper built-in storage, which anyone who's holidayed in undersized French houses will immediately appreciate—through a laundry room and into a south-facing open-plan kitchen and living area. Natural light pours through from mid-morning well into the afternoon. The dining room sits adjacent, separate enough for proper sit-down dinners, connected enough that nobody misses the conversation. Upstairs, four bedrooms offer genuine flexibility: a master suite with its own en-suite shower room, three further bedrooms served by a shared bathroom, and a separate WC. Two ... click here to read more

The first thing you notice on a summer morning here is the silence. Not the absence of sound, but a different kind of sound altogether — wind moving through oak and chestnut, the distant call of a buzzard riding thermals above the Goul valley, the faint creak of old timber in the barn warming up in the sun. From the terrace beside the heated pool, the Aubrac plateau stretches out across the horizon like something from a geological fever dream. Volcanic, ancient, unhurried. This is Cantal — one of the least-populated departments in France — and this particular farm, just ten minutes outside the village of Montsalvy, might be one of the most quietly compelling properties to come onto the market in the region. Six bedrooms across three buildings. A 7m x 3.5m pool warmed by rooftop solar panels. Over eight hectares of woodland, old pasture, a spring, and a hiking path that cuts through your own land. Two fully fitted gîtes already generating — or ready to generate — rental income. This is a functioning small estate, not a project. The renovation work has been done. You're stepping into something operational. The main house centres on a ground-floor open-plan kitchen and dining-living space with a wood burner that earns its keep from October through to April. The layout is practical and honest — no unnecessary flourishes, just solid stone and sensible proportions. Upstairs, two bedrooms. On the lower level, a third bedroom and a bathroom with separate WC. It's the kind of house where you lose track of time reading beside the fire with a glass of Marcillac, the local red wine made from the Fer Servadou grape that almost nobody outside the Aveyron and Cantal border has ever tasted. Worth seeking out. The main gîte is the sho ... click here to read more

Walk out the front gate on a July morning and within ten minutes your feet are on the sand at Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, the Atlantic stretching west toward the Channel Islands, Mont Saint-Michel rising from the tidal flats less than twenty kilometres to the south. That's not a marketing line—that's the literal Tuesday morning reality of living in this five-bedroom house on the Normandy coast of the Manche. Built in the early 1900s and sitting on a generous plot of just under a quarter of an acre, the property carries the solidity you'd expect from that era—thick walls, high ceilings, a real sense of permanence—while the interior has been kept in good condition and is ready to use from day one. At 220 square metres of habitable space across three floors plus a full garden-level basement, there is room here for a large family, a rotating cast of guests, or a combination of both. Five double bedrooms. Two bathrooms. A heated swimming pool. A large garage. A mezzanine with its own shower off the sitting room, which opens up all kinds of possibilities for sleeping arrangements without anyone feeling like they've drawn the short straw. The ground floor sets the tone. The sitting room runs to just over thirty square metres, big enough to hold a crowd on a rainy October afternoon without anyone feeling hemmed in. The mezzanine above adds a quieter perch—somewhere to read while the noise of dinner prep drifts up from the kitchen. That kitchen opens onto an elevated terrace with a built-in BBQ, and from there, external steps descend to the garden below. On a warm evening, that terrace becomes the centre of everything: the smell of something grilling, a glass of Normandy cider on the railing, the light going golden over the garden as ... click here to read more

On a Sunday morning in Fayence, the church bell at the top of the old village counts nine slow strokes, and they drift down through the lavender-scented air all the way to your terrace. Coffee in hand, you're looking out over a ripple of forested Provençal hills, the surface of the pool catching the early light. This is not a fantasy. This is a Tuesday in October, or a Thursday in June — this is just what life looks like when you own a converted stone sheepfold in one of the most quietly compelling corners of southern France. Fayence sits in the Var, roughly halfway between the bustle of Cannes and the rocky grandeur of the Gorges du Verdon. It's a perched village — the kind the Var does so well — with cobbled lanes climbing to a 15th-century church, a rotating cast of artisan markets, and restaurants that take their bouillabaisse and daube provençale seriously. The Tuesday and Saturday markets on the Place de la République pull producers from across the region: olives pressed in Draguignan, goat cheese from the farms above Callian, honey from hives in the Maures hills. You're not driving to a supermarket here. You're walking five minutes to fill a basket. That proximity to the village center is one of this property's quiet advantages. It reads as countryside — the greenery around it is dense and genuinely peaceful — but the boulangerie and the pharmacy and the small épicerie are on your doorstep. International buyers often underestimate how much this matters day-to-day when a property is used across long stretches of the year rather than just a single summer fortnight. The sheepfold itself is the real draw. Stone construction of this age and character is increasingly hard to find in good condition in the Var at this ... click here to read more

Stand at the kitchen window on a Tuesday morning and watch the mist lift off 1.4 hectares of your own land while the smell of fresh coffee fills a room that's been warmed by thick Norman stone walls for decades. That's not a fantasy — that's a Tuesday here in Gouffern-en-Auge, a quiet commune in the Orne department of Lower Normandy where time moves at a pace most of us have completely forgotten. This five-bedroom stone country house sits on a generous 14,440 square metres of open land with views across the rolling Normandy countryside that shift dramatically with every season. At 258 square metres of living space spread across two floors and a basement, this is a property with real breathing room — the kind of home that absorbs a large extended family during August school holidays and still offers every adult a corner to call their own. The ground floor does something rare: it functions. A fitted and equipped kitchen anchors daily life without fuss. Two separate living rooms mean you're not forcing everyone into the same space every evening. The dining room is the size that makes Sunday lunches stretch well into the afternoon, which in Normandy, they absolutely should. There's also an office — genuinely useful if you're working remotely or managing a rental calendar — plus a ground-floor bedroom and a full bathroom, which makes the house accessible for guests or family members who prefer to avoid stairs. Upstairs, four more bedrooms fan out around a living room, a dressing room, and both a shower room and a bathroom. The basement delivers a proper cellar and an outbuilding, the kind of space that becomes a wine store, a workshop, or a mud room depending on what your life actually needs. Stone construction in this par ... click here to read more

On a still Tuesday morning in late June, the only sound you'll hear from the wisteria-draped terrace is the distant clang of a church bell from Lauzerte's hilltop and, if you're lucky, the unhurried creak of a tractor moving through a sunflower field far below. This is the pace of life in the Quercy Blanc — slow, deliberate, and quietly addictive. The stone farmhouse sitting just a short walk from one of France's officially designated Most Beautiful Villages doesn't shout for attention. It doesn't need to. Built around 1880 as a working duck farm — the kind of history you can actually feel in the thick limestone walls and worn original staircase — the property has been brought into the present with real care. The renovation is thorough without being sterile. Exposed stone walls meet a properly fitted kitchen with integrated appliances. Original ceiling beams frame the living room where a wood-burning stove inside a substantial fireplace becomes the social anchor on October evenings when the Tarn-et-Garonne hillsides shift from green to rust and amber. Tiled floors run underfoot with the kind of patina that only comes with a century of use. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms — including a master suite with its own dressing room and en-suite — give the house room to breathe without sprawling unnecessarily. A large attic sits above it all, unconverted and full of potential, the kind of space that could become a fourth bedroom, a studio, or a reading room depending on who moves in. At 230 square metres, the interior is generous. But in high summer, you'll spend most of your time outside. The pool terrace is serious. A high-quality swimming pool with an electric cover and a proper wooden deck isn't an afterthought here — it's ... click here to read more

Pull up on a Tuesday morning and the only sound is a wood pigeon somewhere in the old oak at the far end of the garden. The Charente valley rolls away below the infinity pool in shades of green and gold, and the stone walls of the house are still cool from the night. This is what you came for. Not the TGV timetable, not the Bordeaux wine list — just this specific silence, in this specific corner of southwest France, that you simply cannot manufacture anywhere else. Dignac sits in the gentle hills of the Charente, a département that most international buyers overlook on their way to the Dordogne or the Basque Coast. That's their loss and your opportunity. The village itself is small and unassuming — a boulangerie that opens at seven, a butcher who knows his suppliers by name, a bar-tabac where the dominoes come out after lunch. Real life, in other words. And yet Angoulême is barely twenty minutes down the road, with a TGV station that puts you on the platform at Paris Montparnasse in under two hours, or in Bordeaux Saint-Jean in forty minutes. The combination of deep rural quiet and genuine transport connectivity is rarer than it sounds. The house is a proper Charentais stone property — the kind built to last centuries, which it has. Thick limestone walls keep the interior cool in July without air conditioning. The renovation has been done with the sort of restraint that takes real confidence: natural stone floors left exactly as they are, oak beams cleaned up but not sandblasted into submission, original oak doors rehung on new hardware. The current owners didn't strip the soul out of it chasing a minimalist aesthetic. Instead, every room feels like it earned its character. The living room fireplace is the honest centr ... click here to read more

Stand in the kitchen of this 270-square-metre stone water mill on a Tuesday morning in late September and you'll hear the channel running beneath the house before you see it. The sound is constant — not loud, just present — like the building itself is quietly breathing. Light comes through the south-facing windows in long pale strips. The stone walls hold the cool of the night well into afternoon. This is Nonards, deep in the Corrèze, and once you've spent a week here, most other places feel faintly over-stimulated. The Corrèze doesn't get the same traffic as Dordogne or the Lot. That's precisely the point. The département sits in the northern reaches of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, spilling into the high plateau country of the Massif Central, and the landscape here has a particular quality — wide river valleys, dense oak and chestnut forests, medieval villages perched above the Dordogne gorges that barely appear on the tourist maps. Nonards itself is a commune of a few hundred people, surrounded by working farmland and nature reserves. The nearest town of any size is Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, about twelve minutes by car — a genuine market town with a Saturday morning market that runs along the riverfront and draws producers from across the region. You can be back at the mill with fresh walnuts, a wheel of Cantal, and a bunch of dried lavender before 10am. The mill sits on approximately one hectare of land, enclosed and private, with no neighbouring properties overlooking the plot. A stone-lined water channel — the original mill race — runs directly beneath the building and emerges through the garden in a wide, slow-moving stream shaded by mature trees. In summer, children wade in it. In autumn, it runs amber with tannins from ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Issigeac: the weekly market on Place du Château is already buzzing by nine, the smell of roasting chicken drifting from the rôtisserie stall, the sound of French chatter rising above the medieval ramparts. You're a ten-minute drive away, standing at your kitchen window with a coffee, looking out across a valley that hasn't changed much in three centuries. That's the kind of morning this property delivers, week after week, season after season. This is a barn conversion done right — and that distinction matters. Too many conversions in the Périgord sacrifice either the soul or the practicality, stripping out the stone to insert plasterboard, or preserving the beams while ignoring the cold. Here, the balance actually works. Exposed stone walls and heavy oak beams anchor every room in something authentic, while underfloor heating on the ground floor, solar panels for hot water, double glazing throughout, and a rare energy rating of B mean your running costs won't eat you alive. For a property of this age and character, that B rating is genuinely exceptional — most stone farmhouses in the Dordogne struggle to break a D. The layout is generous at 250 square metres, and it doesn't waste space on corridors or awkward half-rooms. The kitchen and dining room is the kind you actually want to cook in — properly fitted, with room for a long table and still space to move around it. A wood-burning stove anchors one end. The adjoining living room has its own stove too, and on a January evening when mist sits in the valley and the fire is going, this room becomes the whole reason you bought in France. Beyond that, a utility room with pantry storage and a guest cloakroom handle the unglamorous logistics cleanly. Upsta ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne sounds like this: the church bell at Saint-Jacques tolling the hour, a boulangerie bag rustling on the kitchen counter, and the faint splash of someone already in the pool before nine. This is the rhythm of a village that made it onto France's coveted Les Plus Beaux Villages de France list — and this gîte complex sits right inside it, close enough to walk to the bar-restaurant without moving the car once. Three separate houses. One large garden. A heated pool. One address that almost never comes up for sale in a village this well-known. The complex breaks down neatly. The main house carries four bedrooms and anchors the property with the kind of proportions you simply don't find anymore at this price point in the Charente. A second house adds three more bedrooms, giving families — or groups of friends who like their own front door — room to breathe without feeling miles apart. Then there's the one-bedroom cottage, the quiet outlier, ideal for a couple who want the pool and the garden but not the crowd. Each unit has its own private garden patch, so privacy isn't theoretical here; it's designed in. Total living space across all three sits at 372 square metres, which is substantial by any measure. The garden itself stretches to 2,600 square metres — enough to lose children in for an afternoon, enough to set up a long outdoor table for twelve and still have grass left over. The 10m x 5m pool is heated, which matters in the shoulder seasons when the Charente autumn is golden and warm but the air drops at dusk. There's also a barn on the plot, the kind of structure that immediately starts conversations about wine storage, workshop space, or the fourth rental unit someone always ends u ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Queyssac. The kitchen window is open, and somewhere down the lane a church bell marks the hour. The smell of coffee drifts through the room while morning light moves slowly across the old stone walls. This is what you came for. Not a hotel lobby, not a resort pool — this. A house that has been standing for generations, renovated with real care, sitting quietly in one of the most quietly spectacular corners of southwest France. Queyssac is a small village in the Dordogne, tucked between Bergerac and the Périgord Pourpre wine country. It isn't on every tourist map, which is precisely the point. The locals shop Saturday mornings at the Bergerac market on Place de la République, eat confit de canard and walnut tart from the producers who've been showing up there for decades, and drive back through sunflower fields in time for lunch. Bergerac itself is just ten minutes away — close enough to grab a bottle of Monbazillac from a cave coopérative on a Tuesday afternoon, far enough that the hamlet stays genuinely quiet. This stone house sits in a hamlet setting with complete privacy. A dry stone wall wraps part of the garden, and a landscaped swimming pool sits outside with a terrace in front of the house that catches afternoon sun until well into the evening. There's also a covered courtyard — exactly the kind of shaded outdoor space you spend a lot of time in during July and August, when Dordogne summers run warm and long. A dovecote on the property adds to that particular sense of permanence you find in old Périgord houses, the feeling that the place has its own quiet history before you arrived. Inside, 160 square metres have been renovated to a genuinely liveable standard. The ground floor opens into a ge ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf starts with a smell you can't manufacture: woodsmoke drifting from the fireplace insert downstairs, coffee brewing in the fitted kitchen, and the faint sound of the Seine moving somewhere beyond the garden wall. It's the kind of slow-morning feeling that people spend years chasing and rarely find this close to a motorway junction. This is a five-bedroom Norman manor house in good condition, spread across 235 square metres, sitting in fully enclosed landscaped grounds with a south-facing terrace, a jacuzzi, two garages, an outbuilding, a workshop, and a paved parking area complete with an electric vehicle charging point. On paper, it sounds like a checklist. In person, it reads like a life upgrade. Let's talk about the house itself first. The ground floor opens with a generous entrance hall — proper proportions, not the awkward squeeze you find in newer builds — with a large closet and a separate WC. The kitchen runs to about 25 square metres, fully fitted and equipped, with enough room to cook for a family gathering without anyone getting in anyone else's way. A utility room with a sink connects directly to the garden, which makes returning from a muddy riverbank walk entirely civilised. The living room has a fireplace insert; the adjacent sitting room has its own fireplace. Two rooms with fires. That is not a small thing in a Norman winter. Up on the first floor, three well-sized bedrooms include a master suite with a dressing room and sink — a practical luxury that transforms the morning routine. There's a large bathroom, a laundry room, another dressing room, and a separate WC. The layout gives a family room to spread out without living on top of each other. The second floor ... click here to read more

On a quiet morning in the Gironde, before the tourist coaches arrive in the village and the church bells of Saint-Émilion's monolithic abbey start marking the hour, you can stand at the kitchen door of this 1860s chateau and look out across a landscape that has been producing some of the world's most celebrated wine for over a thousand years. The vineyards run almost to your garden wall. The air smells faintly of warm earth and cut grass. This is not a postcard. This is Tuesday. Built in 1860 and extended in the decades that followed, this nine-bedroom chateau and manor house sits in more than an acre of grounds just a short drive from the celebrated village of Saint-Émilion, in the heart of one of France's most revered wine-growing appellations. At 280 square metres of interior space across the main residence and a separate guest house, there is real breathing room here — room for a large family, room for friends who stay too long and don't apologise for it, room to think about what you actually want this place to become. The building's history shows itself in the right ways. Walk through the entrance hall and the proportions feel considered, unhurried — the way older houses do when they were built for people who planned to stay. A classic reception salon sits off the hall, the kind of room that works for a winter dinner party with candles on the table just as well as it does for lazy Sunday lunches spilling out into the garden. A separate dining room, a study, and a family kitchen that opens directly onto the grounds complete the ground floor picture. Wooden double-glazed windows throughout manage the neat trick of preserving the original character while keeping things genuinely comfortable across all four seasons. ... click here to read more

Step outside on a Tuesday morning and the only sound is the cuckoo somewhere deep in the oak woods behind the meadow. No traffic. No neighbours visible. Just the smell of damp grass, a light mist burning off the valley below, and the knowledge that you have six hectares of Périgord countryside entirely to yourself. That is the daily reality of this place — a 318-square-metre stone estate at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac on the edge of a tiny hamlet near Saint-Aubin-de-Lanquais, and it is the kind of property that makes people stop scrolling. The main house is authentically Périgord — golden limestone walls, exposed oak beams on the upper floor, and a sense of solidity that only three centuries of craftsmanship can produce. The ground floor flows generously: a 45-square-metre open living and dining room fills with southern light through most of the day, connecting directly to a 13-square-metre kitchen that opens onto the same space, making it genuinely social. There is also a private ground-floor bedroom with its own dressing room and ensuite shower — ideal for guests who prefer not to climb stairs, or for the owners themselves. A dedicated 30-square-metre office sits apart from the living areas, which matters if you work remotely or plan to manage the gîte business from the property. Upstairs, two further bedrooms — 23 and 15 square metres respectively — have the kind of exposed ceiling beams that interior designers try to recreate and never quite nail. Now, the part that sets this property apart from the typical Dordogne holiday home: it comes with two fully functional gîtes. The smaller one sleeps four across 62 square metres, with its own living room, two bedrooms, and a secluded garden that gives guests genuine pri ... click here to read more

On a still Tuesday morning in Thénac, the only sounds are birdsong, the occasional bell from the nearby Plum Village monastery drifting across the fields, and the soft creak of walnut branches in the breeze. You're standing on the terrace with a coffee, looking out over an unbroken panorama of Périgord countryside. No cars. No noise. Just space, light, and a 423-square-metre longère that's been quietly absorbing centuries of Dordogne life since the 1600s. This is not a typical French farmhouse renovation story. What you get here is rare: a genuinely large, genuinely versatile property that was substantially refurbished in 2021, sitting on around 5,400 square metres of landscaped grounds with a natural spring-fed pond, mature orchard trees — apple, walnut, cherry, plum, pear — and a private swimming pool tucked behind a thick hedgerow so that no one can see in. The pool terrace feels like your own private world, shielded from everything. Step inside through the main entrance hall, which is wide enough to function as a proper reception room, with doors opening to both the front and rear of the house. It sets the tone immediately. Stone walls. Thick, solid materials. A sense of permanence you don't find in new builds. The kitchen pulls you in further — organic and unhurried in its design, with wooden units, natural stone flooring, and walls that have absorbed three hundred years of cooking smells and family meals. This is the kind of kitchen where you actually want to spend time, not just pass through. The main lounge takes the drama up a level. A cathedral ceiling rising two full storeys gives the room a scale that feels theatrical without being cold, and a mezzanine level above adds an intimate counterpoint to all that ... click here to read more

On Sunday mornings, the bells from the village church carry clean and clear through the upstairs windows — and from the second floor of this 215-square-metre manor house, you can actually see the steeple they ring from. That's not a detail you find in every property. It's the kind of thing that makes you stop mid-coffee and remember why you came to Normandy in the first place. Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf sits on the south bank of the Seine, a few kilometres from Elbeuf and just 20 minutes by train from Rouen's cathedral city centre. It's a proper Norman town — bakeries that still close on Mondays, a weekly market where the cheese vendor knows regulars by name, and streets lined with the kind of stone-and-brick architecture that takes a century or two to earn its look. This manor house sits on one of those streets, on a one-way road that keeps through-traffic away, behind a large gate that shuts the outside world out entirely. The plot runs to 1,150 square metres, fully enclosed by walls — not a hedge, not a fence, actual walls — and the south-facing orientation means the terrace catches the sun from mid-morning until the light goes golden in the early evening. There's a carport, two outbuildings (one fitted with a rainwater tank for garden irrigation, which in Normandy is less of a luxury than you'd think), and mature trees that give the garden a settled, unhurried feeling. The terrace already has a sun lounger and outdoor table set up. On a warm July afternoon, with a glass of Calvados or a cold Leffe from the fridge, this corner of the garden could easily become your most-used room in the house. Inside, the ground floor is well-configured for daily life. The fitted kitchen connects to a dining room — a layout that actual ... click here to read more

Nestled amidst the picturesque hills of the Comminges region, this farmhouse in St-Laurent, France, offers a unique opportunity for those seeking a slice of country life in the heart of southern France. As a global real estate agent with a bustling schedule, I must tell you, this property is a rare find that strikes a balance between immediate comfort and future potential, making it ideal for expats or overseas buyers looking to invest in a burgeoning area like Civray. With the soothing rhythm of rural life, the farmhouse is a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living. The address, 31230 St-Laurent, is situated on a charmingly quiet road, providing a serene environment for both relaxing and raising a family. Imagine waking up to the gentle chirping of birds and stepping outside to soak in the panoramic views of rolling hills and lush greenery. The Comminges region is known for its mild climate, with warm summers and cool winters, perfect for those who enjoy a temperate climate. The property, lying on a vast 6900m² plot, is in good condition and offers substantial living space. Here, you can easily envision beginning your day on the spacious veranda with a cup of coffee, taking in the fresh countryside air. The interior of the farmhouse is warm and inviting, with four bedrooms that can comfortably accommodate a large family or serve as guest rooms for visiting friends. The two bathrooms, while simple, are functional and ready for use. A significant aspect of this farmhouse is its potential for customization. While the renovation is already well underway, the home still welcomes your personal touch on some minor finishing areas, allowing you to shape the space further to fit your lifestyle needs. It's a ... click here to read more

Welcome to your future haven located in the heart of the picturesque Dordogne region, specifically in the quaint village of Javerlhac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. This part of France offers an inviting soul in a serene setting that is immediately appealing to those seeking a peaceful rural retreat. Envied for its lush landscapes and culturally rich surroundings, it offers a unique opportunity for those looking to either establish a primary residence or a cherished holiday home. Let me weave you the story of this charming property, a spacious four-bedroom house dating from the year 1900, ripe with possibilities. This residence presents itself on a generous plot of 2.15 acres bordered delightfully by a gently flowing stream. Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of water flowing by, a truly therapeutic experience for anyone wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The expansive gardens promise a perfect setting for leisurely strolls or perhaps an afternoon of gardening, bound to be a rewarding endeavor. The house, while solidly built and full of character, would benefit from some light refreshing to bring out its full potential. This is an all-too-common scenario with properties of such vintage, promising a delightful project for those with a touch of creativity and vision. With a footprint of 140 square meters, the home is sufficiently spacious, catering aptly to the needs of a family. The ground floor welcomes you with an entrance hall that serves as a prelude to the lovely spaces that await: a cozy snug sitting room perfect for a quiet read or could just as easily be transformed into a study for those working from home. Additionally, there's a vast living room, which measures a generous 51 square mete ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of the Midi-Pyrenees region in the heart of France, this 3-bedroom house is a true find for those looking to embrace the tranquil French countryside lifestyle. Situated in the charming village of Crégols in the Lot department, this property offers an immersive experience into the beauty and simplicity of rural living in France. The house itself is a delightful blend of tradition and functionality. Ideally located near the banks of the Lot River and just a stone's throw away from the historical village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, this property beckons those who appreciate nature, history, and culture. The climate here is pleasant, with warm summers ideal for exploring the surroundings and mild winters which offer a cozy retreat indoors. This residence spans over 123 square meters and is presented in good condition, offering a comfortably sized canvas for you to shape your ideal home. It consists of two charming stone houses, interconnected by a bright, inviting veranda, providing a unique layout that's not commonly seen. This feature floods the home with natural light, offering a remarkable view of the Causse cliffs in the backdrop. The living room, spacious at over 36 square meters, retains its historic character with authentic elements such as an old stone floor and exposed wooden beams—a perfect setting for lounging on lazy weekends or hosting intimate gatherings. The kitchen is equipped with a dining area that opens up to a terrace. This setup is ideal for enjoying alfresco meals during the stunning Lot sunsets. Upstairs, the property includes two cozy bedrooms with an additional large mezzanine, which has potential as a third bedroom, office, or creative space. The property also ... click here to read more

Imagine yourself nestled in the charm of a cozy, 3-bedroom cottage in the picturesque region of Civray, France. This delightful property promises the inviting allure of a well-maintained home combined with the enchanting ambiance of the French countryside. For those considering an overseas purchase, either as a holiday retreat or a permanent residence, this home offers a balance of comfort and ease, catering especially to expats seeking a serene European life. This semi-detached, stone cottage brings a warm, family-friendly environment over two levels, comprising a total living space of 105 square meters. The ground level boasts a bright, open plan configuration which includes a living area, a kitchen, and a dining space. This area seamlessly opens onto a terrace through charming patio doors, establishing an ideal set up for hosting or simply enjoying peaceful family mornings. Additionally, there's a compact utility area and a conveniently located WC on this floor. Ascending up the custom-built staircase, the upper floor reveals a pleasant landing area that leads to the sleeping quarters. Here, you will find two generously sized double bedrooms alongside a single bedroom—perfect for a growing family or accommodating guests. A neatly kept family bathroom, equipped with a shower over bath, caters to the needs of a bustling household. Throughout the house, double glazed windows adorned with traditional wooden shutters not only enhance the aesthetic but provide excellent insulation. Comfort is further ensured with a combination of a wood burner and electric radiators for heating, offering a cozy ambiance during colder months. The outdoor area is as manageable as it is enchanting, mainly consisting of a lawn that wraps ar ... click here to read more

Step into the charm and character of this enchanting 4-bedroom home, nestled in the picturesque region of Civray, France. This charming stone-built residence, enveloped by tranquility and privacy, offers a unique opportunity to secure a slice of idyllic French lifestyle. The property encompasses 160 square meters of captivating living spaces, each radiating an intimate ambiance that perfectly complements the property’s stone architecture. Undergoing thoughtful renovations, this welcoming abode strikes a harmonious balance between traditional and contemporary. The ground floor features a large open-plan kitchen that boasts fitted units and a built-in oven/hob, seamlessly extending into a comfortable lounge area brimming with character. It comes with a newly installed wood burner, and there's potential to create an inviting reception room in the additional space, which currently sports raw stone walls. The first floor offers an ample hallway that ushers you into three cosy bedrooms and a study, as well as a room that provides the scope for transformation according to one's needs. A family bathroom and separate WC also occupy this level, offering an excellent flow of space. The property's unique charm is further highlighted by its dual staircases – a classic feature in the original part of the house and a newer one in the renovated section. This unique design provides potential for creating an independent gite, should the heart desire. In addition to offering a fantastic living scenario inside, the property outside extends a warm invitation to enjoy the local climate that is typically mild with warm summers and temperate winters. Your private oasis comprises lawns, a well, mature trees, and ample space for parking. T ... click here to read more

Nestled within the enchanting village of Civray, this captivating 4-bedroom chateau presents a harmonious blend of history and charm, poised for its next chapter with a new family or individual who cherishes heritage and French architecture. Originally constructed in 1868, with distinctive additions including two towers from the early 20th century, this impressive property offers both grandeur and intimate living spaces. As you enter the chateau, a welcoming 18.6 square meter entrance hall leads you to an exquisite 42.3 square meter glazed conservatory, complete with under-floor heating, providing a serene oasis overlooking the lush gardens. The grand salon, accessible from the entrance hall, features a stunning fireplace with vertical columns that trace back to the 12th century. Adjoining the salon, an 8 square meter office nestled in the tower, boasts a custom-made, semi-circular wooden desk and bookcase, creating an ideal workspace with historic ambiance. The dining room, measuring 26.3 square meters, includes doors opening directly to the garden, perfect for al-fresco dining amidst the serene environment. A spacious 21.8 square meter kitchen accessed from both the dining room and the hall features another original fireplace, enhancing the rustic charm of the space. The chateau offers four generously sized bedrooms on the first floor, each adorned with a fireplace, spanning from 16.9 to 21.3 square meters. Additional convenience is provided by two shower rooms housed in each tower. A dressing room and ample storage complete the living spaces on this floor. Ascending to the second-floor, a vast 102 square meter space awaits transformation, offering potential for additional bedrooms, a recreation room, or other per ... click here to read more

Nestled within the serene landscapes of the French countryside, this magnificent farmhouse is offered for sale, offering a quintessential blend of French country living with modern comforts. Secluded down a tranquil lane, the farmhouse paints a perfect canvas for those who seek the pleasures and peace of nature. Located just a stone's throw from the iconic Nantes to Brest canal, with the charming town of Guerledan only a 5-minute drive away, this home stands as a testament to tasteful renovation and quality craftsmanship. The farmhouse, a delightful 3-bedroom stone house, is surrounded by beautiful countryside, presenting a milieu where you can truly connect with nature. Well-regarded for its scenic beauty, the town of Civray, France, where the farmhouse is situated, brings the gifts of country living without sacrificing accessibility to all the necessary amenities. An enviable escape from urban congestion, Civray offers a warm and welcoming community, making it perfect for overseas buyers seeking their slice of idyllic French rural lifestyle. The property gracefully sits on 100 square meters, bathed in soothing shades, marrying tradition with a modern aesthetic. This detached house comes fully furnished, allowing you to turn the key and immediately experience your French countryside dream. Property Features: - 3 bedrooms, one with an ensuite bathroom - A spacious and inviting open-plan lounge/diner/kitchen - A distinctive Breton fireplace, creating a cozy atmosphere - An intelligently designed kitchen with a breakfast bar - A hand-crafted spiral staircase - A utility room for additional storage convenience - A cave, ideal for wine connoisseurs - A functional workshop space - A garage, which has an open front and ... click here to read more

Nestled at the heart of the market town, Villedieu Les Poeles, this enchanting five-bedroom home is an icon of eras past. Offering a tangible pulse of history, this property dates back to the 1800s, true to it is the property's old-world charm and character partnershiped with the convenience of modern living. With a generous floor area of 151 square meters and standing proud amid a half-acre parcel bursting with blossoming gardens, it's a unique blend of rustic charm and contemporary functionality. The charm begins right at the entrance hall, where one can appreciate the property's authenticity - an original tile flooring that echoes the home's historical pedigree. The kitchen is a heartwarming mix of tradition and function with a grand granite fireplace and ample space allowing for a modern dining table set-up. The home's living room, like the dining room, showcases dual aspect windows and another fireplace, reinforcing the home's cozy vibe. A welcoming sunlit conservatory serves as a commutable indoor garden, perfect for plant enthusiasts. On the first floor lies an inviting hallway with polished wood flooring. It leads to the first two generously sized bedrooms, one of which features dual aspect windows and a fireplace with original tiles, serving as a heartening reminder of the property's history. This floor also boasts a bathroom equipped with a half bath and wash basin, and a separate toilet for added convenience. The second floor presents another hallway lit naturally through a velux. It leads to three more substantial bedrooms, one coming with a built-in wardrobe. There is also a shower room available, fitted with a toilet. The pristine conditions of all rooms on both floors are indicative of the house's 'good ... click here to read more

Charming Family Home in the Heart of Civray, France If you are seeking a delightful dwelling that mixes the charm of rural French living with the convenience of modern amenities, look no further than this lovely detached house nestled in the lush landscapes of Civray, France. Offering five bedrooms and beautifully renovated with style, this house presents an excellent opportunity for families or expatriates desiring a spacious and comfortable home. The home covers a generous 180 square meters and sits on a well-appointed property that affords both privacy and accessibility. As you enter, the ground floor welcomes you with a spacious lounge and dining area that exudes warmth and comfort. Adjacent to this is a light-filled kitchen and diner featuring sleek sliding doors that open onto a pleasant sun terrace, perfect for enjoying the serene outdoors or dining al fresco. One of the five bedrooms is conveniently located on the ground floor and includes an ensuite bathroom equipped with both a luxurious bath and a walk-in shower, offering perfect accessibility and privacy. A solid wood staircase leads to the upper floor where four additional double bedrooms await, alongside a cozy second lounge that grants access to a quaint balcony overlooking the picturesque surroundings. For the movie enthusiasts, the highlight of this home may well be the stunning cinema room located in the basement—a perfect spot for family movie nights or entertaining guests. Additionally, the house benefits from practical amenities including mains drainage, efficient heat exchange central heating, and PVC double-glazed windows and doors ensuring year-round comfort. Amenities Include: - Spacious lounge and dining area - Modern kitchen/diner with sli ... click here to read more

Delightful 5 Bedroom Stone House in Bricquebec-en-Cotentin Nestled in the serene landscapes of Manche, this enchanting stone house in Bricquebec-en-Cotentin offers a unique blend of charm and authenticity. Perfectly suited for those seeking tranquility, the property provides a quiet retreat in a bucolic setting, ideal for both a primary residence or a picturesque holiday home. This house is impressively structured in two key sections: - Main House: Starting with a welcoming entrance, the ground floor unfolds into a cozy dining room featuring an open kitchen, well-equipped and enhanced by a traditional wood stove fireplace, adjoining a comfortable living room. A practical washroom completes this level. Ascend the lovely stone staircase to the first floor, where a landing leads to two bedrooms: one with a wood stove and one larger room with a private dressing area, served by a bathroom with a toilet. The second floor offers two additional bedrooms and a shower room with toilet facilities. - Second Part: Ideal for guest accommodation or potentially a gite, this section includes a ground floor living space and a bathroom. Upstairs hosts an additional bedroom, perfect for privacy. The property boasts an adjoining garage and multiple small outbuildings, offering ample storage solutions. Each bedroom displays retained exposed beams, enhancing the rustic charm, complemented by sophisticated wooden floors throughout. Outdoor & Grounds: Enclosed within a fully secured and magnificent wooded park stretching approximately 4657m2, this estate is a haven for nature enthusiasts. The sprawling outdoor space invites numerous activities; gardening, leisurely strolls, or simply enjoying the tranquil surroundings. Location: Situate ... click here to read more

This enchanting 6-bedroom stone house located near the delightful town of Josselin offers an inviting prospect for those looking to immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of the French countryside. Priced at €222,000, the 210 square meter property stands as a testament to spacious and versatile living, ideal for a sizable family or multi-generational households. It also presents a lucrative opportunity for those interested in transforming part of the space into a gîte, tapping into the area’s flourishing tourist market. Set in a serene hamlet, the property boasts stunning vistas over undulating landscapes, promising an idyllic rural lifestyle without sacrificing convenience. Each room within the home offers its own character, with traditional French features that harmonize with modern comforts. The house includes two cozy lounges, two well-equipped kitchens, and six well-appointed bedrooms, accompanied by three bathrooms and an additional shower room, ensuring ample space and privacy for all residents. Structurally, the house is in good condition, but new owners might appreciate the opportunity to add personal touches or modern updates. As such, it presents a perfect canvas for those keen to undertake light renovations to customize their new home while maintaining its authentic charm. For daily necessities, the property is just a short drive from the village of Brehan, where amenities such as supermarkets, pharmacies, medical offices, and schools are readily available. Furthermore, the proximity to Josselin enriches life here with its picturesque château, delightful eateries, and various cultural events. Recreational activities abound, particularly appealing for expatriates and overseas buyers looking to embrace t ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque Creuse-Limousin region of France, this seven-bedroom manor house merges historical elegance with modern amenities, providing an exquisite living experience. Once a farming hamlet, the property, situated at the end of a serene lane, exemplifies a tastefully renovated residence retaining its original charm amidst a 7020m² park-like setting, complete with a heated swimming pool and a naturally shaded driveway lined with trees. Living in Civray offers a tranquil, rural lifestyle without compromising on convenience and connectivity. This area, famed for its scenic beauty and historical sites, is an ideal location for those looking for peace and a slow-paced life. The landscape is dotted with rolling hills, vast open fields, and quaint villages, providing an idyllic backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Hiking, cycling, and horse-riding are popular activities that can be enjoyed throughout the lush, green countryside. The property itself brings a sense of grandeur with its unique architectural details. Entering the house, residents and guests are welcomed by an expansive dining room adorned with wood panels and a traditional fireplace, setting a tone of historic sophistication. The large lounge features an unusual granite fireplace and an abundance of windows creating a bright, inviting space. The kitchen, located within a distinctive tower of the house, overlooks the verdant gardens, offering inspiring views while cooking. Accommodation is spread over three floors, with the ground level housing functional spaces including a laundry and a boiler room alongside a kitchen and social areas. The first floor contains the massive master bedroom, complete with a granite fireplace and panora ... click here to read more

Discover the charming character of this 4-bedroom house nestled in the picturesque community of Boischampre, situated in the serene Orne department of Lower Normandy. Priced at €215,000, this dwelling is an ideal choice for those looking to immerse themselves in rural French life while enjoying a home with potential for personalization. Spanning approximately 290 square meters, the property presents a welcoming layout: - Ground floor features a cozy dining room with a wood stove, perfect for communal meals in a warm ambiance. It extends into an open kitchen and a living room where family and friends can gather comfortably. - A corridor leads to two well-sized bedrooms on the ground floor, complemented by a shower room and separate toilet, providing convenience and privacy. - The upper level offers versatility with two additional bedrooms, another shower room, and various spaces including a large unfinished room of 29 m2 waiting to be transformed into perhaps a master suite or a recreational area. - Additional amenities include a substantial attached garage with capacity for three vehicles and a collection of outbuildings, including a quaint old bread oven, injecting a touch of rustic charm and practicality to the estate. The generous plot of just over 3,000 m2 provides ample space for outdoor activities, gardening enthusiasts, or simply soaking in the tranquil surroundings. Living in Boischampre offers a peaceful retreat with the convenience of being just 10 minutes from essential services and amenities. The area is framed by historical richness and scenic beauty, characterized by rolling countryside and lush meadows. Residents appreciate the calm atmosphere, away from the bustling city life, making it a perfect spot ... click here to read more

Step outside on a crisp October morning, coffee in hand, and the only sound you hear is birdsong. No traffic. No neighbors peering over a fence. Just open agricultural land stretching toward the foothills of the Pyrenees, the kind of quiet that feels almost physically restorative after months of city noise. This is what 17,796 square meters of Gascon countryside does to you—and it happens every single day you're here. This four-bedroom single-storey house in the Gers department of southwest France sits back roughly 30 meters from the D14, which connects Maubourguet to Plaisance-du-Gers. That distance, combined with exceptionally solid insulation added just six years ago, means road noise is essentially a non-issue. The house is rated A on both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions—a January 2026 EPC confirmed it. For a rural property of 164 square meters, that's genuinely rare, and it translates directly into heating bills that won't ruin your winter. The layout is all on one floor, which matters more than people realize until they've lived in it. No stairs to negotiate with luggage, no carrying firewood up from a lower level, no thinking twice about ageing parents or young children running between rooms. Everything flows—living room to kitchen to terrace, bedrooms down the hall, garage off the side. Daily life here has a natural, unhurried rhythm built right into the architecture. The living room runs to 32 square meters and centers on a fireplace fitted with an insert, which throws serious heat on January evenings when the temperature in the Gers drops below zero. The separate kitchen—also 32 square meters, notably generous—opens directly onto the rear terrace, making the transition between cooking and eat ... click here to read more

Stand at the kitchen door on a July morning, coffee in hand, and look out across half an acre of enclosed garden as the Périgord hills roll away in every direction. The swimming pool catches the early light. Somewhere down the lane, the boulangerie on the village square is pulling its first trays. This is Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac — and this five-bedroom house on its quiet edge might be one of the most honest opportunities left in the Dordogne. Honest, because it doesn't pretend to be finished. The 1960s-built house, spread across 167 square metres of living space, needs updating throughout — new bathrooms, fresh interiors, modernised finishes. But the bones are solid, the layout is generous, and the plot is extraordinary. At just over 2,300 square metres, the fully enclosed garden wraps around the property with far-reaching views that no renovation budget can buy. The eight-by-four-metre pool and paved terrace are already in place. You're not starting from scratch; you're putting your own stamp on something with real foundations. The ground floor sets the tone. The sitting room stretches to 20 square metres, anchored by a stone fireplace fitted with a wood burner — the kind of thing you fire up in October when the chestnut trees along the D6 start turning amber and the evenings get that particular Dordogne chill. Original wooden floors run through the sitting room, dining room, and kitchen, giving the whole floor a warmth that modern builds rarely manage. The 16-square-metre dining room is big enough for the kind of meals that go on for three hours. The kitchen opens directly onto the garden. There's a ground-floor WC and a study that could just as easily become a snug or a work-from-home room. Upstairs, the ... click here to read more

Nestled amidst the charming landscape of Civray, this impressive four-bedroom stone farmhouse affords a unique blend of traditional charm and spacious living, perfect for those who appreciate a quieter, rural lifestyle. Spanning 103 square meters, the property's main house boasts well-proportioned rooms, creating a welcoming environment that combines rustic appeal with modern conveniences. The house enjoys bright, airy rooms that are accentuated by features like a traditional bread oven and a quirky mezzanine room, enhancing the rustic ambiance of the setting. While the interior radiates warmth and comfort, it's the exterior that places this property a cut above the rest. A beautiful courtyard leads into a lush private garden fringed by mature trees, offering serene views of the expansive countryside without the interruption of road noise. Ideal for gardening enthusiasts or those seeking self-sufficiency, this property is indeed a peaceful haven. The home also includes outbuildings which add to its charm and functionality. These include stone animal houses and a sizable stone structure with electricity and water connections that could be transformed into a guest house, studio, or workshop, presenting opportunities for personal or business projects. For families considering a move, Civray offers not only tranquility but also convenience. Local amenities such as supermarkets, schools, and healthcare facilities are within a 15-minute drive. Moreover, the house is located 40 minutes from the scenic north coast, ideal for periodic escapes to the seaside. The climate in Civray is generally mild, with warm summers and cool, sometimes damp winters. This climate supports a variety of outdoor activities year-round, from tendi ... click here to read more

Discover this captivating house nestled in the serene hamlet of Laissac-Sévérac l'Église in the scenic Midi-Pyrénées region of Aveyron, France. This unique property includes two residential structures, ideal for those looking for space and flexibility. Offering charming surroundings and a rich rural vibe, it combines rustic beauty with adaptable living spaces. Set on a flat, enclosed plot of 407 square meters, the ensemble includes two houses, two garages, a workshop, and an impressive vaulted cellar. The main residence greets you with a picturesque courtyard, leading into a spacious 34 square meter master bedroom suite outfitted with dressing rooms and a modern bathroom equipped with an Italian shower. The character-filled open-plan living area, approximately 36 square meters, includes a newly equipped kitchen complete with a wood stove. The blend of exposed beams and original elements like scullery sinks adds a distinct traditional touch that charms at first sight. Extending from the living area is a cozy 17 square meter room under the eaves, which could be converted into a third bedroom or a quiet study. The layout is completed by an additional 27.25 square meter room serving as a utility area with direct access to the courtyard. This could be potential living space with minimal alteration required. A secondary bedroom, 24 square meters, includes basic amenities with separate access, offering flexibility for guest accommodation or a rental option. The secondary structure offers similar charm and potential for income as a guesthouse or Airbnb rental, comprising a bathroom, living room with a fireplace, and an upper-level bedroom. Property Features: - Main house with 2-3 bedrooms, spacious living areas - Secondary ... click here to read more

Welcome to a slice of history nestled in the picturesque region of Conques-en-Rouergue, situated in the charming Aveyron part of Midi-Pyrenees, France. As a busy real estate agent, I'm thrilled to present this wonderful property to foreign buyers searching for an authentic French abode. While I juggle numerous client needs, the beauty and allure of this property always catches my eye—and I'm certain it will captivate yours as well. Picture waking up in a home that echoes the whispers of the 17th century, a home that was once a miller's pride. This house, spanning 157 square meters, gracefully stands on a lush piece of land measuring 3860 square meters, enriched with fruit-bearing trees. With a price tag of 260,000 euros, living here is like stepping back into a simpler time while still enjoying modern comforts. Set in a landscape known for its idyllic rolling hills and unique charm, Civray offers more than just great scenery. This location is a treasure chest of experiences and community warmth. A mere three-minute drive from the fabled village center of Conques, living here gives you access to medieval streets, towering historical architecture, and the sweet melody of local activities. The area is perfect for those seeking a life infused with culture and history. Let's embark on a tour of this exquisite house. As you enter, the ground floor welcomes you with a spacious living-dining area—48 square meters where you can imagine family gatherings by the inviting glow of the original fireplace. Nearby, the kitchen and utility room occupy around 23 square meters, creating a practical and cozy space for cooking family meals. Two beautifully sized bedrooms, measuring approximately 11 and 13 square meters respectively, a bat ... click here to read more