Expansive 6-Bedroom Retreat Near Mont Saint Michel - Ideal for Large Families or Investment

Sunday morning in Beauville starts with the smell of bread. The boulangerie on the main square fires up early, and if your bedroom window is open—which it will be, because the air here in July is warm but never stifling—the scent reaches you before your alarm does. That's not a selling point you'll find in any brochure. It's just what life is like in this particular corner of Lot-et-Garonne, and it's the kind of thing that turns a holiday home purchase into one of the best decisions you ever made. This four-bedroom village house sits right in the heart of Beauville, one of the most intact bastide villages in Aquitaine. Built to a medieval grid plan in the 13th century, Beauville has the kind of architectural coherence that planners in other towns spend millions trying to recreate. The covered arcades around the central square, the honey-coloured stone, the church tower that chimes the quarter-hours—it's all still here, and this house is part of it. From the front door, the market square is a two-minute walk. From the top-floor living space, you can watch the whole village go about its business. The house covers around 190 square metres across three floors, and what strikes you first is how much space there actually is. Village properties in the Lot-et-Garonne often look compact from the street and reveal themselves slowly. This one does exactly that. The ground floor has a bedroom that works perfectly for guests who don't want stairs, or for owners who eventually want single-level living as a practical option. The first floor holds three more well-proportioned bedrooms and two bathrooms. And then there's the top floor—converted, bright, sitting under the original roof timbers—currently used as a family room and home of ... click here to read more

On a Sunday morning in Guern, the first thing you notice is the silence — not emptiness, but the full, textured quiet of deep Breton countryside. Then a woodpigeon somewhere in the old oak at the garden's edge, and the smell of damp stone warming slowly in the early sun. This is a house that has been standing since 1638, and it feels it — in the best possible way. Set on a landscaped plot of just under 2,900 square metres, this five-bedroom stone property sits about ten minutes outside Pontivy, a proper Breton market town with a canal, a Napoleonic street grid, and a covered market where you can buy andouille sausage, buckwheat flour, and raw-milk butter before nine in the morning. The house itself is the kind of place that makes you rethink what you thought you wanted from a French property. Forget the neat and the newly renovated. This is something older and more serious. The oldest section of the main house dates to 1638, and the stonework shows it — thick walls that keep rooms cool through July, a majestic open fireplace beneath a soaring unceilinged section of the living room that turns even a grey November afternoon into something you want to linger in. The living space is generous and genuinely characterful, with an oak-floored mezzanine overhead that looks down over the room and gives the whole space a scale you rarely find in this price bracket. Below, the kitchen connects through to a back kitchen and laundry room — the kind of practical layout that makes a big house actually liveable, not just impressive to photograph. There are two independent entrances to the main house, which opens up real flexibility. One side handles the social, day-to-day flow — kitchen, back kitchen, living room with the fireplace — ... click here to read more

Step out of the garage in the early morning and the first thing you notice is the silence — not the hollow kind, but the full, layered quiet of deep rural France, where the only sounds are wood pigeons in the oaks and the faint trickle of water from the pool filter kicking on. This is Troche, a hamlet in the folds of Corrèze, and life here runs at a pace most people only experience on holiday. Which is exactly the point. Built in 2022 and sitting on nearly 3,000 square metres of open countryside, this three-bedroom house punches well above its modest footprint. At 94 square metres, every centimetre has been thought through. The living room opens directly into a fitted kitchen — no awkward corridor, no closed-off cooking — so whoever's at the stove is still part of the conversation. French doors from this space lead straight to the heated swimming pool. That detail matters more than it sounds. On a July afternoon in the Limousin, when temperatures climb into the low thirties and the air smells faintly of warm cut grass, being three steps from the water is everything. The three bedrooms are calm, well-proportioned spaces. Two come with built-in wardrobes, practical for families who actually want to live here rather than just visit twice a year. The bathroom has both a bathtub and a walk-in shower — again, small choices that reflect considered design. There's also a dedicated storeroom, which international buyers often overlook until they're trying to figure out where to keep pool equipment, bikes, and the extra firewood they didn't expect to use. Then there's the technical spec, and this is where the property genuinely stands out in its price bracket. An air-to-water heat pump handles heating and cooling. A thermodynami ... click here to read more

Stand on the upstairs terrace of this place on a clear morning and you'll understand immediately why people drive three hours south from Paris just to breathe this air. The Corrèze countryside rolls away from you in every direction — deep green, almost shockingly quiet, broken only by the occasional church bell drifting up from Troche below and the sound of wind moving through the oak trees at the edge of the property. This is not a backdrop. It's the whole point. The property itself is genuinely unusual — two separate stone houses, each with its own character and floor plan, joined together by a custom-built glass veranda that has become the heart of the home. That veranda is where you'll end up spending most of your time. It pulls in light from both sides, looks out onto the wooded plot, and has this wonderful in-between quality: sheltered enough for a rainy afternoon with a book, open enough in summer that you barely feel indoors at all. It's the kind of space that takes a moment to understand and then becomes impossible to give up. The first house is anchored by a generously sized fitted kitchen with a wood-burning stove — the sort of stove that makes the whole room feel like somewhere you actually want to be from October through March. A ground-floor bedroom and shower room sit adjacent to it, keeping things practical for guests or for those who'd rather avoid stairs. Head up and the mezzanine living room opens directly onto that terrace with its long countryside views — this is the view you'll be photographing every season, watching it shift from the pale green of April to the amber and rust of late October. A second bedroom and a full bathroom with toilet complete this upper level. The second house runs on its ... click here to read more

Step out of the veranda on a June morning and all you can hear is the low hum of bees working through the meadow grass. The Corrèze countryside rolls away in every direction — soft hills, oak stands, not a rooftop in sight. This is what 2.82 hectares of your own land feels like. The house itself is a proper Limousin stone farmhouse, the kind built to last centuries and the kind that actually has. Slate roof, thick walls that keep the interior cool through August without any air conditioning running. It was renovated in 2003, which means the bones were kept honest while the living spaces were updated enough to move straight into without a renovation project hanging over you. At 131 square metres across two floors, it's genuinely liveable for a family — not so sprawling it becomes a burden to maintain, not so compact you're bumping into each other. The ground floor has a flow that makes sense. You come in through an entrance hall, move into a fitted kitchen that opens directly to the dining and living room — a fireplace at one end, a wood-burning stove doing the heavy lifting in the winter months when the Corrèze hills get properly cold and the idea of curling up with a book and a local Brive-la-Gaillarde walnut cake sounds genuinely appealing. A bedroom and shower room sit on this level too, which means the whole house can function single-storey if needed. But the real surprise is the veranda — large, full of afternoon light, opening straight onto the grounds and the swimming pool. That pool was built in 2025, a traditional 7m x 3.5m format, so it's fresh, clean, and ready for the first summer. Upstairs, three more bedrooms with sloped ceilings give the house that classic French farmhouse character, accompanied by a sho ... click here to read more

You wake up to no particular sound except a wood pigeon in the pear tree and the faint clang of a bell from the village down the lane. The kitchen smells of last night's fig jam still cooling on the counter. Through the window, the farmland rolls out golden in every direction, and by the time your coffee's done, you've already decided you're not going anywhere today. That is exactly the pace of life this three-bedroom stone house in Dolmayrac delivers — and once you've had a taste of it, ordinary weekends will never quite measure up again. Dolmayrac sits in the Lot-et-Garonne département, one of those quietly extraordinary corners of southwest France that doesn't appear on postcards but absolutely should. The Lot Valley cuts through the landscape a short drive away, and the market town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot — with its Saturday farmers' market spilling across Place Lafayette — is close enough to be genuinely useful without intruding on the rural quiet. This is Aquitaine without the tourist crowds, without the inflated prices of the Dordogne, and without any sense that you're following a well-worn expat trail. It feels discovered rather than packaged. The house itself is built in the stone that defines this region — thick walls that keep the interior cool through July and August without air conditioning, and which hold the warmth of a log fire well into November. Inside, exposed beams run the length of the generous living and dining room, where two wood-burning stoves sit at either end like old friends. The stonework throughout is honest and unhurried, the kind you simply couldn't replicate today without serious money and serious patience. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms across the main house give you room to host prope ... click here to read more

On a quiet Sunday morning in the Périgord Noir, you open the kitchen door onto the terrace and the air smells of woodsmoke and damp stone. A church bell somewhere down the lane counts out nine strikes. That's life in this hamlet just outside Salignac-Eyvigues — unhurried, rooted, and quietly extraordinary. This three-bedroom stone house sits in a small hamlet in the Dordogne département of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, one of the most coveted second-home destinations in all of France. It's a proper working property, not a renovation project or a holiday shell. At 137 square metres spread across three floors, it has the kind of bones that took generations to build and the kind of condition that means you can arrive with a suitcase rather than a skip. The ground floor sets the tone immediately. The main living room stretches to nearly 34 square metres, with exposed stone walls that stay cool in July heat, original beams overhead, and terracotta tiles underfoot that have absorbed a century of footsteps. The fitted kitchen-dining room at just over 20 square metres opens through French doors onto the terrace — which is where summer evenings actually happen, with a glass of Bergerac rouge and the sound of swallows cutting overhead. There's also a ground-floor shower room with WC, practical for anyone coming in from the garden. Upstairs, the first floor reveals the house's most generous room: a 34-square-metre sitting room with a working wood burner tucked into a stone fireplace. On winter evenings — and Dordogne winters are mild but damp — this room is the whole world. Exposed beams run the length of the ceiling, and the stone walls are the same here as on every floor, giving the house a remarkable thermal consistency. The main bedro ... click here to read more

Step into the kitchen of the converted barn on a Saturday morning in October, French doors flung open, the smell of woodsmoke drifting in from the garden, and you'll understand immediately why someone spent years restoring this 1778 farmstead with such patience. The Limousin countryside rolls out in every direction. Nothing but birdsong, the faint trickle of a natural spring feeding an old stone washing basin, and the knowledge that Paris is three hours north and you'd rather stay exactly here. This is a property with real bones and a real story. Built in 1778 and sitting on just over 10,000 square metres of mature gardens, terraces, and lawns in a quiet rural hamlet near Coussac-Bonneval in Haute-Vienne, the estate comprises three separate living spaces — a 173 m² converted barn serving as the main residence, a 124 m² original farmhouse restored as a two-bedroom gîte, and a 29 m² studio apartment currently generating income on short-term rental platforms. That's 325 square metres of habitable space across the full property, plus a workshop, the old pigsty (ripe for conversion), an above-ground pool, and a working well. For a second home that pays for itself, or for two families who want to share a slice of rural France without actually sharing a kitchen, this configuration is genuinely rare. The barn conversion is where the architectural confidence shows most clearly. Downstairs, a 30 m² kitchen anchors the space — big enough to actually cook in, with French doors that open onto two separate terraces so you can chase the shade or the sun depending on the season. A 54 m² living room with fireplace. A laundry room, a WC, and a ground-floor bedroom with en-suite shower, useful when knees or houseguests become a considera ... click here to read more

On a still Tuesday morning in Vignols, the loudest thing you'll hear is a wood pigeon calling from the oak tree at the back of the garden. No traffic. No sirens. Just 3,800 square metres of fully fenced green, a stone-quiet lane, and the kind of rural France that most people assume no longer exists. This is where you find it. Set roughly halfway between Pompadour and Objat in the rolling hills of Corrèze, this solid detached house was built in 2009 — meaning it has the bones of traditional French countryside architecture with the practical advantages of modern construction: proper insulation, up-to-date electrics, and no decade-long renovation list waiting for you on arrival. At 117 square metres, it's not trying to be more than it is. It's a house that works. A proper home, calm and well-proportioned, that a family can walk into and immediately start using. Step inside and the living room anchors everything. The fireplace becomes the heart of the house from October through April — and in Corrèze, those evenings come early and cool quickly, which makes it genuinely useful rather than decorative. The fitted kitchen is generous by French rural standards, with enough room to cook a real Sunday meal: a confit de canard slow-braised from market-bought legs, a tarte aux noix made from the walnuts that grow everywhere in this part of France. Three bedrooms give the layout real flexibility — a master, a room for kids or guests, and the third that quietly becomes whatever you need it to be: a study, a studio, a reading room with the window cracked open to the garden air. The pantry is one of those features that sounds minor until you own it. In a rural vacation home, it's transformative — somewhere to store the cases of Cahors ... click here to read more

Stand at the upstairs mezzanine window on a still Tuesday morning and you'll understand immediately why people come to Corrèze and never quite manage to leave. The rooftops of Saint-Sornin-Lavolps spread out below, and beyond them, the sweeping grass of the local racecourse catches the early light. No traffic noise. Just birdsong, possibly a distant tractor, and the kind of quiet that city dwellers pay a fortune to find. This four-bedroom house sits on an elevated cul-de-sac — genuinely the kind of position where neighbours are close enough to wave to but far enough that you'd never hear them. The elevated plot gives you those racecourse views without any effort, framed from the living room, the garden, and that mezzanine perch upstairs that could be a reading room, a studio, or the best-connected home office you've ever had the pleasure of working from. The ground floor is practical in the best French sense: nothing wasted, everything considered. A proper entrance hall greets you — not a corridor you squeeze past, but a hall that sets the tone. The fitted kitchen leads naturally into daily life here: morning coffee before the market run, long lunches that drift into afternoon, the kind of cooking that happens when you're not in a hurry. The living room anchors the social heart of the house with a fireplace insert — and if you've never spent a Corrèze winter evening with a fire going while rain taps the windows and something slow-cooked on the stove, that's an experience you've been missing. Four bedrooms sit across the ground floor, one of which has its own shower room en suite — a small detail that makes a significant difference when you have guests. A separate shower room and two toilets handle the morning rush for ... click here to read more

The morning light in the Landes hits differently. It comes in low and golden through the pine trees, and by the time you're drinking your first coffee on a 2,500 square metre flat plot with no neighbours in sight, you start to understand why people who discover this corner of southwest France rarely leave. This four-bedroom house in Saint-Geours-de-Maremne is one of those rare finds that gives you something increasingly hard to come by in the region: genuine space, serious potential, and a price that actually makes sense. Saint-Geours-de-Maremne sits in the heart of the Landes, that vast, pine-forested département that stretches between Bordeaux and the Basque Country. The village itself is quiet, unpretentious, and exactly the kind of place where locals still nod at strangers on the street. But don't mistake quiet for remote. Dax, with its thermal baths, covered market, and weekly Saturday feria buzz, is less than fifteen minutes away. Bayonne — home to the famous Fêtes de Bayonne in August, arguably the wildest five-day festival in all of France — is under forty minutes by car. And the Atlantic coast? The surf breaks at Hossegor and Capbreton are a twenty-minute drive, where in September the Quiksilver Pro brings world-class competition to waves that churn year-round. The property itself is 200 square metres of living space, made up of an original older house of around 100 square metres combined with a substantial 100 square metre extension already built across two levels. The extension is structurally complete — the shell is there, the bones are good — but the interior fit-out is yours to define. That's not a flaw; that's the opportunity. Anyone who's tried to buy a finished, move-in-ready house in the Landes at thi ... click here to read more

On a quiet Sunday morning in Tocane-Saint-Apre, you wake to birdsong and the faint smell of woodsmoke drifting from a neighbouring farmhouse. You pad downstairs, throw open the kitchen window, and the garden just sits there — unhurried, green, completely yours. That's the rhythm this house has kept for three decades, and it's one you can step straight into. This four-bedroom house in the heart of the Dordogne has been the summer anchor for the same family since the early 1990s. That kind of loyalty tells you something. The property sits in Tocane-Saint-Apre, a genuinely lived-in village rather than a tourist set piece, about 20 minutes northeast of Périgueux along the D939. Local life here revolves around the weekly market in Brantôme — the so-called Venice of the Périgord — just 14 kilometres up the road, where you'll find duck rillettes, walnut oil pressed from trees grown a field away, and strawberries from the farms around Vergt that are, frankly, absurd in their sweetness. The house itself is symmetrical in plan, which gives it an unusually calm, balanced feel the moment you step inside. The entrance hall acts as a natural spine: to one side, a dual-aspect living and dining room with a wood-burning stove that throws out serious heat on autumn evenings; to the other, the kitchen and a shower room with WC, plus a separate guest WC — practical for a family who's actually using the place, not just looking at it. Upstairs, four proper double bedrooms, all generously proportioned in that unhurried way older French houses tend to be. Above that, a full attic accessible by stairs. Storage now, potentially a fifth bedroom or studio space later, subject to the usual planning considerations. Outside is where summer really h ... click here to read more

Step out onto the terrace on a Saturday morning and the first thing you notice is the silence — not the dead kind, but the alive kind. Birds in the walnut trees, a faint breeze off the Dordogne valley, and the faint scent of woodsmoke from a neighbouring farm. That's Saint-Avit. And once you've stood here with a coffee in hand, watching the mist lift off the rolling Lot-et-Garonne hills, it's very hard to imagine being anywhere else. This three-bedroom stone house sits in one of the quieter, greener corners of Aquitaine — a region most people think they know from Bordeaux wine routes and the Périgord truffle markets, but which holds far more than that in its folds. Lot-et-Garonne is sometimes called the "garden of France," and it earns the name. Orchards line the roadsides in spring. The weekly markets in Villeneuve-sur-Lot and Monflanquin spill over with strawberries from the Garronne plain, foie gras from local farms, and cheeses you won't find behind supermarket glass. Life here runs at a pace that feels deliberate rather than slow. The house itself has the bones of something built to last centuries — because it was. Terracotta floor tiles throughout the ground floor, thick exposed stone walls, and chestnut ceiling beams that have absorbed decades of firelight from the wood burner in the main living and kitchen space. That open-plan room clocks in at nearly 28 square metres, big enough for a long Sunday lunch with family but intimate enough to feel genuinely cosy on a January evening when the burner is doing its job. The dining room opens directly onto the terrace through double doors — the kind of detail that becomes central to daily life from May through October, when you'll eat outside more often than not. The g ... click here to read more

On a clear morning in Vienne-en-Arthies, you open the French doors off the living room and the Vexin countryside rolls out in front of you — soft hills, open sky, not a rooftop in sight. Coffee in hand, the only sound is birdsong and the distant rhythm of a tractor somewhere beyond the tree line. This is rural Île-de-France at its most honest, and it's just 70 kilometres from Paris. Vienne-en-Arthies sits in the Parc Naturel Régional du Vexin Français, a protected landscape of limestone plateaus, wheat fields, and stone villages that feels like it belongs to another century. Five minutes down the road is Vétheuil, the riverside village that captivated Claude Monet before he ever reached Giverny — and you can see exactly why when you walk the Seine bank at dusk. The light here does something extraordinary in the late afternoon, the kind of golden slant that makes even a grain silo look like a painting. The house itself sits on around 1,500 square metres of land, and at 104 square metres of living space it strikes that rare balance — enough room for family and friends without becoming a maintenance burden. The ground floor revolves around a 29-square-metre living and dining area with an open-plan kitchen at one end and a fireplace with an insert at the other. In January, when the Vexin frosts bite, that insert earns its keep. Come July, the glazed doors fold back and the terrace becomes the de facto dining room, the garden stretching away toward open countryside. Upstairs, two generous bedrooms sit under partially mansard rooflines — the sloped ceilings give them a tucked-in quality that guests tend to love. The garden level adds real versatility: a third room currently configured as an additional bedroom, with an adjo ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Bouquetot moves slowly. The smell of fresh bread drifts up from the boulangerie in Bourg-Achard five minutes down the road, church bells carry across flat green fields, and beyond the tall hedgerows that frame this property's 4,580 square metre plot, there's almost nothing to hear but birdsong and the occasional tractor on a distant lane. This is rural Normandy at its most genuine — not the postcard version, the real one. Built in 1960 and kept in consistently good condition by owners who clearly cared about the details, this 103 square metre house sits on a fully enclosed, tree-lined lot that feels more like a private park than a garden. Step outside on a June evening and the light stays golden until nearly ten. The flat lawn is wide enough for a game of pétanque, a badminton net, or simply a table long enough to seat the extended family for a Norman spread — think camembert straight from the market at Pont-Audemer, a terrine from the charcuterie in Bourg-Achard's Wednesday market, and a bottle of local Calvados to close things out. The entrance through the veranda-style extension sets the tone: this is a house that has been lived in and loved. The 26 square metre living room faces southwest, which matters enormously in Normandy — afternoon sun floods the room, and you earn every one of those winter hours around the fireplace insert. The tiled floors are easy to maintain, practical in the way that a proper country house should be. The fitted kitchen is ready to go from day one, no renovation project standing between you and your first summer here. Three bedrooms give the property genuine flexibility. Use it as a family holiday home and everyone gets their own space. Rent it out during peak summer we ... click here to read more

The church bells from the village of Ménéac carry just far enough on a still morning to reach the kitchen window — but you'd have to open it first, and by then the smell of coffee and woodsmoke from the stone fireplace has already pulled you firmly into the day. This is the kind of place that resets your clock. Six hectares of Breton countryside, two independent dwellings carved out of a grand old granite longhouse, and a second stone longère waiting in the wings. At €292,000 for the whole estate, it's not a fantasy — it's a real opportunity that doesn't come around often. Let's start with what's here right now. The main property is a large traditional Breton stone house, divided into two fully functional dwellings. Both are in good condition and ready to live in, which matters more than people realize when you're buying remotely from abroad. No months of waiting on contractors before your first stay. The first dwelling runs across two floors. Ground level gives you a living room anchored by a fireplace with a wood-burning stove — the kind you'll actually use from October through April — plus a proper kitchen, a laundry room, and a toilet. Upstairs, one bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, there's a second bedroom, a family bathroom, and a room currently used as an office but flexible enough to become a third sleeping space when the cousins arrive in August. The second dwelling mirrors this layout almost exactly: a living room with its own fireplace and wood-burning stove, a kitchen-dining room (slightly more sociable in its configuration), a laundry room, a toilet downstairs, then an en-suite bedroom, another bedroom, a family bathroom, and an office upstairs. Two complete homes. Same stone walls, same slate roof, s ... click here to read more

Stand on the covered terrace on a clear October morning and you can see all the way across the Roussillon plain — the vineyards turning rust and gold, the Mediterranean a thin silver line on the horizon, and the Albères mountains pressing up close behind you. This is Laroque-des-Albères. Not the tourist brochure version of southern France, but the real, lived-in one, where the weekly market on the square smells of thyme and grilled blood sausage, where the locals drink their grenache at tables that have never moved, and where the light in late afternoon turns the stone walls the color of warm honey. The property itself is a two-part setup that gives you rare flexibility. A detached villa of around 95 square meters sits at the heart of the plot, solid in construction and in good condition throughout. Ground floor living is set up sensibly: two bedrooms, a shower room, a separate toilet, an independent kitchen, and a living room that opens directly onto a 30-square-meter covered terrace. That terrace is where life actually happens — morning coffee in the shade of the overhang, long lunches that drift into the afternoon, the smell of wild rosemary carried down from the hills above. Upstairs, a third bedroom, a mezzanine space, and an office give you room to spread out, whether you're working remotely for a week or hosting three generations of family across the summer. Beyond the villa, a completely independent T3 apartment changes the entire financial conversation around this property. Two bedrooms, a shower room, an open kitchen flowing into the living area, its own private terrace with that sweeping view over the plain, and a storage shed. The apartment is fully self-contained — guests, family members, or tenants have t ... click here to read more

Picture a Saturday morning in late September. You pull open the roller shutters and the light that floods the living room is that particular gold you only get this far south — thick, warm, almost edible. Outside, the vines on the Agly plain are turning amber. There's a market in Rivesaltes, twenty minutes on foot, where someone is grilling merguez next to a stall piled with Muscat grapes and local honey. This is not a fantasy. This is a regular weekend when you own this 233 m² villa on a quiet residential street in one of the most quietly compelling corners of the French Midi. Rivesaltes sits in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, tucked between Perpignan and the coast, flanked by vineyards that have been producing wine since the Romans passed through. The town's name is practically synonymous with the famous Muscat de Rivesaltes and the rich Rivesaltes Ambré, and the Cave de Rivesaltes cooperative — one of the largest in the region — welcomes visitors year-round for tastings that won't cost you a fortune. This is everyday life here, not a tourist attraction you visit once. The villa itself is a proper single-storey family home with a footprint that feels rare at this price point in southern France. At 233 m² of living space spread across one generous floor — plus a 16 m² upstairs office — the layout is genuinely practical rather than just spacious on paper. The main living room stretches to 38 m², and with the open-plan kitchen flowing into it, the whole social heart of the house breathes. Five bedrooms, two full bathrooms plus en-suites, a separate laundry room — this is a home that can absorb a large family or a revolving cast of guests without anyone feeling crowded. The 22 m² garage keeps a car out of the Roussill ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque town of Civray, this delightful two-bedroom house offers the perfect blend of comfort and charm, making it an ideal second home for those seeking a tranquil escape in the French countryside. With its inviting ambiance and prime location, this property is a gateway to a lifestyle filled with relaxation, exploration, and unforgettable memories. Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of nature, the sun streaming through your windows, and the promise of a day filled with leisurely pursuits. This house, in good condition, is a testament to the timeless allure of French living, where every corner tells a story and every moment is an opportunity to savor the simple pleasures of life. ### A Gateway to French Countryside Living Civray, a charming commune in the Vienne department, is renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. As a second home owner here, you'll find yourself immersed in a community that values tradition and hospitality, where every day is an invitation to explore the beauty of the region. - Location: Situated in the heart of Civray, offering easy access to local amenities and attractions. - Size: Spacious 145 square meters, providing ample room for relaxation and entertainment. - Bedrooms: Two comfortable bedrooms, perfect for family getaways or hosting friends. - Bathroom: A modern bathroom designed for convenience and style. - Price: Priced at €450,000, offering excellent value for a property in this sought-after location. ### Embrace the French Lifestyle Owning a second home in Civray means embracing a lifestyle that celebrates the art of living well. From leisurely strolls through the town's historic streets to indulging in the local c ... 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

The kitchen window faces east, and on a clear morning in the Périgord Vert you get the light before the rest of the house does. Stand at the sink with a coffee, and through the glass you're looking out over nearly two hectares of your own land — meadow rolling gently toward an oak grove on the far side of the lane. Church bells from a neighbouring village drift over occasionally. That's the opening scene of daily life at this four-bedroom farmhouse on the edge of a tiny cul-de-sac hamlet between Mareuil and Nontron, and it sets the tone for everything else. At 154,500 euros, this is the kind of French country property that doesn't stay on the market long — and for good reason. The house itself has been thoroughly renovated and sits in excellent condition, with 120 square metres of living space and a total floor area of 180 square metres. Nothing here needs tearing apart or starting over. Move in, unpack, and start living. The 38-square-metre living room is the heart of it: original hardwood floors that creak in exactly the right way, walls that have absorbed a century of winters and summers, enough space for a generous sofa arrangement and a dining table that seats eight without anyone knocking elbows. There's a real generosity to the proportions here that photographs don't fully capture — you have to stand in the room to feel it. The kitchen runs to 23 square metres, which is significant. In a French rural property this size, a kitchen that large is not accidental — it's a statement of priorities. It's a room designed for slow Sunday lunches that drift into the late afternoon, for friends crowding around while someone makes a walnut tart, for the kind of cooking that takes time and company. The Périgord Vert is truff ... 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

Picture a Sunday morning in the Périgord Vert. The kitchen window is open, a coffee is brewing, and the only sound reaching you from outside is birdsong and the faint rustle of the walnut trees at the edge of your enclosed garden. No traffic. No crowds. Just 1,560 square metres of private land, a covered pool glinting under its dome, and a pace of life that feels like it belongs to another century — the good kind. This fully renovated three-bedroom house sits in a quiet hamlet just ten minutes from Nontron, a town that punches well above its weight for a place of its size. Nontron is the capital of the Périgord Vert, the green and deeply underrated northern pocket of the Dordogne département, and it wears that title with quiet confidence. The old knife-making tradition still lives here — the Nontron knife, with its boxwood handle and distinct silhouette, has been crafted in the same spot since the 15th century, and you can visit the workshop on Rue Carnot and watch blades being finished by hand. It's the kind of place that reminds you France hasn't been entirely swallowed by modernity. The house itself spans 185 square metres across two levels and has been renovated to a standard that means you genuinely can walk in, unpack, and spend the first evening by the pool rather than drawing up a list of contractors. That matters enormously for buyers coming from the UK, Ireland, or northern Europe who want a second home without a five-year renovation saga attached to it. Good condition here means good condition — solid roof, clean interiors, functional systems. Downstairs, the scale of the living spaces is the first thing that catches you. A single-story living room of 58 square metres flows openly into a 28-square-metre din ... click here to read more

On a Sunday morning in the Périgord Vert, the church bell from Saint-Pierre de Brantôme carries across the valley before the rest of the world has stirred. You're standing at the veranda doors, coffee in hand, watching the light move across the pool. The figs on the old tree in the garden are almost ripe. This is what you bought it for. Just five minutes from the historic heart of Brantôme — the town they call the Venice of Périgord, carved around a loop in the River Dronne — this 120 m² stone house sits on a generous 1,863 m² garden plot and has been well maintained throughout. It's move-in ready, properly liveable from day one, and the kind of property that rewards you the longer you sit with it. The house itself tells you where it comes from. Original exposed stonework lines the living room walls, rough-cut beams cross the ceiling, and a working fireplace anchors the room when the evenings cool in October. That 30 m² living space is genuinely large enough for a family to spread out without getting on each other's nerves after a long drive from Bordeaux-Mérignac. The fitted kitchen runs practically — well-positioned, light, and leading directly into the veranda, which is where you'll end up spending most of your time anyway. The veranda looks out over the 10x4 swimming pool and the wider garden, and once you've had lunch out there under the afternoon sun with a cold glass of Bergerac Sec, going back to a city apartment feels like a genuine hardship. Three bedrooms across the house, one of them conveniently on the ground floor — a real advantage if you're hosting older family members or anyone who'd rather not deal with stairs. Two shower rooms keep the morning routine running smoothly when the house is full. The who ... click here to read more

Picture a Sunday morning in high summer: you open the kitchen door and the smell of warm stone hits you first, then cut grass, then something faintly floral drifting in from the garden. The pool is already glinting in the early light. Nobody else is awake yet. This is what 215 square metres of well-built French country life actually feels like, and it's waiting for you in the Charente. Civray sits in the Vienne department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, a part of rural France that still rewards people who choose to slow down. This isn't the Dordogne with its tourist caravans and inflated prices. Civray is real, working, lived-in France — a market town with a proper Saturday market on the Place du Marché, a Wednesday morning brocante that turns up the occasional serious find, and a Romanesque church facade on the Saint-Nicolas that art historians make detours to see. You walk to the boulangerie before 8am and you're back with a still-warm baguette before the household stirs. That's the rhythm here. The house itself is substantial. At 215 square metres of habitable space, it's built to the kind of standard that was common in this part of France in the late twentieth century — solid concrete and stone construction, thick walls that keep things cool through July and August without air conditioning fighting the heat. The layout is practical rather than fussy. On the ground floor, a 46-square-metre open-plan dining and living room is anchored by a fireplace that earns its keep from November through March. French doors push open onto the terrace and, from there, directly to the pool. The kitchen — 18 square metres, fully equipped — sits adjacent, so meals move naturally from prep to table to outdoors. The ground-floor bedr ... click here to read more

Stand at the edge of the courtyard on a still October morning, coffee in hand, and listen. Nothing. A distant tractor, maybe a wood pigeon. The air smells of damp earth and cut grass, and the old tobacco dryer casts a long shadow across the yard. This is Civray, deep in the Vienne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and this sprawling 330-square-metre ensemble of rural buildings is the kind of thing you simply don't find anymore at a price that leaves room to dream. At 34,000 euros for the lot — the main house structure, a 110-square-metre barn, a 125-square-metre attached hangar, and a 95-square-metre former tobacco dryer — this is raw, honest potential on 2,000 square metres of land in a small hamlet tucked into the soft agricultural folds of the Charente border country. The bones are solid. The vision is yours. Let's talk about what you're actually getting here, because the numbers tell only part of the story. The tobacco dryer alone is a piece of living regional history. The Vienne and surrounding departments were once significant tobacco-growing country, and these tall, louvred timber structures — built to allow maximum airflow for curing leaves — have become the architectural emblem of this corner of France. Convert one into a guest suite with double-height ceilings and you'll have something no boutique hotel can replicate. Leave the louvres in place. Let the afternoon light stripe the floor. That's a room people will drive across Europe to stay in. The barn at 110 square metres gives you the kind of volume that architects get genuinely excited about. Open-plan living space, an artist's studio, a workshop, a games room for visiting grandchildren — the agricultural zone classification means agricultural use and sto ... 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

Sunday morning in rural Vienne, and the only sound you can hear from the kitchen window is birdsong and the distant clank of someone's tractor heading up a dirt track. That's not a fantasy—that's a Tuesday. This three-bedroom character house in a quiet hamlet outside Civray sits on 2,500 square metres of wooded land, and the second you step through the gate, the outside world drops away entirely. The house itself stretches across more than 200 square metres of living space, with three en-suite bedrooms—a layout that already hints at something versatile. Live in one half, let out the other. Run it as a chambres d'hôtes. Install family in their own wing and keep yours private. The floorplan makes all of this genuinely workable, not just theoretically possible. One portion of the home sits entirely on a single level, which opens up options for guests with mobility considerations or older relatives who want their independence without the stairs. Character houses with this kind of built-in flexibility don't come up in this part of France very often, and when they do, they rarely stay on the market long. Then there's the 40-square-metre workshop—a proper one, not a glorified shed. For anyone with a woodworking habit, a restoration project, a ceramics practice, or simply a stash of tools that deserves a real home, this space is genuinely exciting. Add in the woodshed and the Alpine-style chalet on the grounds and you've got an ensemble that feels more like a small rural estate than a single-family home. Civray itself sits in the Vienne department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, roughly equidistant between Poitiers and Angoulême—two cities worth knowing. Poitiers is about an hour north and carries real historical weight: th ... click here to read more

Located at the heart of Aquitaine, Dordogne, Mareuil en Périgord, France, this splendid three-bedroom house sits at the edge of one of the region's most beautiful villages. This house, reminiscent of a regal mansion, is characterized by its unique style and exudes a rural charm that perfectly blends with the hilly panorama around. Plotting at an impressive 4,500 m2, the house sits facing south, ensuring that every corner of the property basks in the radiant French sunshine all through the year. The living space of 188 m2 is smartly partitioned over two floors, with each room embodying a unique character and charm. Upon entering the house, a delightful entrance hall welcomes you. The ground floor is home to a cozy living room, complete with a classic stone fireplace that provides both warmth and ambience on chilly evenings. A spacious kitchen follows, replete with insightful design solutions and modern amenities. A second living room tells its own story and makes for a great space for entertaining or some solitude. The ground floor journey concludes with a handy laundry room and a convenient toilet. The first floor hosts a trio of bedrooms, measuring 18, 20 and 9 m2 respectively. These are accompanied by a full bathroom, a separate shower room, and a substantial dressing room. While authentic charm radiates through each room, there are opportunities for you to lend your personal touch with some modernization. A huge 196 m2 barn that's in good condition adjoins the main house and could serve multiple purposes like a workshop or additional storage. The property is further enriched by a few smaller outbuildings that can accommodate various needs. All this is beautifully encapsulated within a walled courtyard featuring ... click here to read more

A Timeless Escape in the Heart of France Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, as the morning sun filters through the grand windows of your 18th-century chateau. Nestled in the picturesque village of Civray, this historic property offers a unique blend of elegance and tranquility, making it the perfect vacation home or second residence for those seeking a genuine French experience. A Journey Through Time As you step through the wrought-iron gates, the chateau stands majestically, a testament to centuries of history and architectural grandeur. The original features, lovingly preserved, whisper stories of a bygone era, while modern renovations ensure comfort and convenience. The chateau's expansive grounds, spanning over 8,418 square meters, invite you to explore lush gardens, a charming orangery, and a fully renovated pavilion. Daily Rhythms and Seasonal Splendor Life at the chateau is a harmonious blend of leisure and adventure. Begin your day with a leisurely breakfast on the terrace, enveloped by the scent of blooming flowers and the sight of the distant Pyrenees. As the seasons change, so does the landscape, offering a kaleidoscope of colors and activities. In spring, the gardens burst into life, while summer invites you to bask in the sun by a potential poolside. Autumn paints the surroundings in warm hues, and winter transforms the nearby mountains into a snowy playground. A Gateway to French Culture and Adventure Civray is a treasure trove of cultural and recreational opportunities. The local markets brim with fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, and fine wines, perfect for crafting a gourmet meal in your spacious kitchen. The region's culinary delights extend to ch ... click here to read more

Welcome to our listed property nestled in the picturesque region of Languedoc Roussillon, Beziers, France. This magnificent house that dates back to the 18th century is a delightful blend of historical authenticity and modern comfort. It is situated in a tranquil village, equidistant from the bustling towns of Narbonne and Béziers, bringing you the best of serene countryside living and vibrant urban life. The property beams with opulence, posing an ideal investment opportunity for those seeking to experience luxury French living or for those considering the development of a commercial venture. Expect to be charmed by the property's original features and majestic halls, a great attraction to those who appreciate grand residences. The house boasts an expansive space of 311m². On the ground floor, you will find: - A grand entrance hall of 41 m² - A living room graced with a beautiful marble fireplace - 33 m² - An open-plan kitchen/living room adorned with a classic wooden fireplace - 65 m² - A spacious laundry room with bathroom amenities and a boiler room area - 20 m² - A versatile workshop - 20 m² The upstairs opens up to a magnificent landing that leads to: - Four bedrooms, each with an exclusive balcony - An elegant dressing room - An adaptable office that can be easily converted into an extra bedroom Down a flight of 4 steps, you'll find an additional cozy bedroom, a generously sized bathroom complete with double basin, corner jacuzzi bath, shower, and sauna, and another dressing area. The house's basement promises a large cellar of 25m², ideal for storage or wine aging. The property also accommodates an annex room with independent access, which can be converted into a guesthouse complete with a small courtyard. ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque town of Civray, this charming 3-bedroom house offers a little slice of the French countryside life. It’s conveniently situated on the outskirts of Neuvic, just a stone’s throw away (literally 300 meters) from the local golf course and a stunning lake that you can practically hear whispering your name. Civray offers an oportunity to immerse yourself in French culture, surrounded by lush landscapes that are a joy to explore and alongside all the amenities you could wish for. Now, let me take you on a tour of this enchanting property and what awaits its lucky new owners. As you approach this home, you'll notice a welcoming facade that promises warmth and charm. This property has its surprises—like being able to use it as a 2-bedroom home with an additional 1-bedroom apartment below or opting for a cozy 3-bedroom family home. Sounds versatile, doesn’t it? The adventure begins as you climb the concrete steps leading to the entrance hall. It's here where your imagination starts to run wild with the potential of this space. Starting in the living room, you’ll find it to be a comfy 23.7m² where future family gatherings will unfold. Simply walking into the adjacent 8m² kitchen will have your culinary ideas simmering. Imagine, if you will, knocking down the wall to unveil an open-plan living, cooking, and dining area. Can't you just picture the sunlight pouring through the large windows, tantalizing your senses, and luring you to the wonderful balcony? Ah yes, the balcony—it’s perfect for a cup of coffee in the morning or perhaps a good book in the late afternoon sun. Down the hallway, two lovely bedrooms await you, each with sliding glazed doors opening onto the balcony, hinting at lazy summer days a ... click here to read more

Tucked away on the edge of a quaint village in the beautiful Civray area of France, this enchanting 3-bedroom cottage offers a unique lifestyle opportunity for those seeking tranquility and a touch of adventure. The home sits quietly in the heart of rural France, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life while still being conveniently located close to all essential amenities. Located in the charming village of Civray, this property places you in the midst of the picturesque Poitou-Charentes region. Here, the rolling landscapes are dotted with sunflower fields, historic châteaus, and, of course, the meandering Charente River. It’s a locale that promises both beauty and a slower pace of life, where you can savor the simple pleasures. The climate is welcoming, with warm summers where temperatures hover comfortably around the mid-20s Celsius, and mild winters that rarely drop below freezing. Living in this part of France means you can enjoy outdoor activities almost year-round. The cottage itself stands proud with its three levels of comfort and functionality, offering a total living space of approximately 110 square meters. As you enter through the solid wooden door, you are greeted by an open-plan ground floor that combines spaces for relaxation, dining, and cooking. A stylish, fully equipped kitchen beckons the inner chef within you to whip up delightful culinary creations. Large windows flood the area with natural light, blurring the lines between the indoors and the outdoors. On the first floor you’ll find two spacious bedrooms that are ideal for hosting family or guests. The nearby bathroom on this floor boasts a spa-like experience, featuring a stone shower and a vintage sink that adds chara ... click here to read more

If you're on the hunt for a charming country home getaway in the serene heart of France, then look no further. Nestled in the quaint hamlet of Frontenac, just a leisurely 15-minute drive from the bustling town of Figeac, stands a magnificent former manor house waiting for its next chapter to unfold. This property is a blend of history, tranquility, and potential, making it ideal for those looking to immerse themselves in the idyllic French countryside. ### A Glimpse into Manor Living Built on a generous 250 square meters, this stately manor spans three levels, each brimming with character and space. With five grand bedrooms, it's well-suited for large families or those who love to entertain guests. Imagine waking up in the mornings to the sound of birdsong and sipping coffee in the expansive family kitchen while gazing out over your lush garden. - 5 large bedrooms perfect for accommodating family and guests - Family kitchen adjoining the garden - Spacious living room for gatherings and relaxation - Two bathrooms accessible for convenience - Attic with potential for conversion into additional living space - Oil-fired and wood-fired central heating options - Small barn offers storage or conversion possibilities - Old bread oven is a charming feature reminiscent of yesteryear - Lean-to garage for vehicle or extra storage - Generous garden of approximately 1,200m² ### Life in Frontenac and Surrounding Areas Living in the village of Frontenac means embracing a slower pace, surrounded by the rolling landscapes that define the Lot region. Frontenac itself is a peaceful enclave that entices with its simplicity and closeness to nature. It's a place where neighbors know each other, and there's a sense of genuine community. F ... click here to read more

Located in the picturesque department of Orne in Lower Normany, this charming 3-bedroom stone farmhouse presents a serene rural retreat in the quaint township of Boischampre. Set amidst lush green countryside landscapes, the farmhouse, covering an area of 121 square meters, offers a tranquil ambiance with its delightfully landscaped garden and small pond, providing an ideal setting for a peaceful family life or a cozy getaway. The ground floor of the farmhouse includes a spacious living and dining room area where family meals and gatherings can take shape against the backdrop of scenic outdoor views. Adjacent to this is a practical kitchen space that leads to a pantry and a conveniently placed toilet. The charm of the home is accentuated by rustic architectural elements that reflect the region's traditional style. As you ascend to the first floor, there are two bedrooms, each offering comfortable living quarters and a shared bathroom that caters to the needs of a family. The second floor houses an additional bedroom, perfect for guests or could be converted into a home office or study, adapting to various lifestyle requirements. This property stands on a generous plot of about 1600m2, allowing ample space for outdoor activities and gardening enthusiasts. The region, known for its rolling countryside and expansive meadows, ensures that residents enjoy privacy, space, and a connection with nature, rare in urban settings. Living in Orne offers an experience rich with historical context and modern conveniences. The area is characterized by its calm and peaceful environment, making it a perfect place for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The local markets, one of the highlights of the region, pro ... click here to read more