Idyllic 4-Bedroom Riverside Mill Estate with Multiple Gites in Poitou-Charentes

Early on a Tuesday morning in late September, the village of Soulignac is still quiet. Mist sits low across the Monbazillac vineyards just below the ridge line, and through the east-facing kitchen window, the light comes in long and golden. The coffee is on. The pool is still. And there's nowhere you need to be. That's the pace of life this six-bedroom house in the heart of Périgord offers. It's a substantial family property — roomy, grounded, and genuinely well kept — sitting on nearly 3,000 square metres of land in one of Southwest France's most sought-after pockets, minutes from Bergerac and the rolling appellations of Monbazillac wine country. The house was originally built in 1975 and extended in 1997, and it shows the kind of evolution that happens when a family actually lives in a place and adapts it thoughtfully. The bones are solid. The interior condition is excellent. At 133 square metres of listed living space, with a total footprint of 208 square metres, there's room here for extended family gatherings, long summers with friends rotating in and out, or a future chambres d'hôtes project — the six bedrooms make that last possibility genuinely viable without a major renovation effort. The 32-square-metre living room anchors the ground floor, centred on a fireplace insert that takes the edge off cool autumn evenings when you're not quite ready to leave after the August rush. The kitchen is fully fitted and independent — a proper working kitchen, not a galley squeezed into a corner — and there's a dedicated office, utility room, and laundry-boiler room that make this work as a real residence rather than just a holiday bolt-hole. Two shower rooms, two bathrooms, three WCs. An attic and a cellar. It's a house tha ... click here to read more

Stand in the grand stone doorway on a July morning and you'll hear absolutely nothing except the soft knock of a woodpecker somewhere in the tree line and, if the wind is right, the distant bells of a bastide village church rolling across two hectares of open land that are entirely yours. That particular kind of silence — the kind you can't manufacture — is what this former deanery of a nearby fortified castle has been quietly offering since the 17th century. It still delivers. The house sits in Cahuzac, a corner of Lot-et-Garonne in the heart of Aquitaine, just far enough from the nearest village to feel genuinely private, close enough to walk for a baguette and a coffee without getting in the car. This is southwest France at its most unhurried: plum orchards, sunflower fields, medieval bastide towns laid out in their precise grid patterns, and a pace of life that recalibrates you within about forty-eight hours of arrival. At 240 square metres across two floors, the house is substantial without being overwhelming. Ground floor living here means a large lounge and a proper sitting room with period fireplaces — not the decorative kind, the kind that were built when heating a stone manor through a Gascon winter was a matter of serious engineering. The original stonework is intact throughout, and the rooms are genuinely bright; high ceilings and well-proportioned windows mean afternoon light moves through the interior in long, slow sweeps. There's also a ground-floor bedroom with its own en-suite shower room, which makes the house immediately practical for guests or family members who'd rather skip the stairs. Four more bedrooms occupy the first floor, giving you five in total — room enough for a multi-generational famil ... click here to read more

Saturday morning in Issigeac. You push open the tall wooden shutters and the air hits you — warm, faintly earthy, carrying the smell of bread baking somewhere down the lane. The weekly market is already humming three minutes away in the medieval bastide, where local farmers spread out their walnuts, foie gras, and strawberries on trestle tables under stone arcades that have stood since the 13th century. This is your kitchen view. This is your Saturday. Set on the quiet edge of one of the Dordogne's most characterful bastide villages, this single-level house of 210 square metres sits on just over a hectare of private land — roughly 11,439 square metres of lawn, mature trees, and absolute silence. No neighbours visible. No road noise. Just you, a sun-warmed pool, and the rolling Périgord hills in every direction. The layout is genuinely clever. A 67-square-metre living room is the kind of space that earns its size — high enough to feel airy, wide enough to seat a crowd, and oriented to pull the garden right into the room through large glazed openings. It flows directly into a kitchen and dining area of 45 square metres, which is not a galley afterthought but a real room where you can cook a cassoulet and have four people around the island at the same time. The two bedrooms and two bathrooms — one full bathroom, one shower room — are arranged to give guests genuine privacy. There is also an independent studio on the property, which is the kind of bonus that makes all the difference: a teenager's retreat, a home office, or a self-contained space for the friends who always stay a week longer than planned. The 55-square-metre garage adjoins a barn, which sits at the edge of the plot near the village boundary. It is practica ... click here to read more

Stand on that south-facing terrace on a July morning — coffee in hand, the Périgord hills rolling out ahead of you in every direction, a light mist still clinging to the valley — and you'll understand immediately why people who move to Bergerac rarely leave. This four-bedroom Périgourdine stone house, sitting in an elevated hamlet just minutes from the town itself, gives you that view every single day. The house is the real thing. Thick limestone walls, original oak beams, terracotta floors that have absorbed two centuries of Dordogne summers. Not a pastiche of the style — the genuine article, with a 2016 extension that added modern volume without disturbing the bones of the building. At 213 square metres of living space, it never feels cramped, but it also never tips into the cold grandeur of a château. It's a home first, a showpiece second. Ground floor living centres around a generous open-plan kitchen and sitting room, which is exactly where you want life to happen when the evenings cool and dinner stretches past 10pm. The kitchen is large enough to actually cook in — not just stage photos in — and the terrace just beyond the glass doors makes the transition between inside and outside feel effortless. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms handle family or friends with ease. There's also a dedicated office, which matters increasingly for buyers who want to work remotely from somewhere with genuine soul. Upstairs, a large games room — currently configured as flexible space — could comfortably be converted into three additional bedrooms if you ever needed them. Outside, the 4,566 square metre plot gives you room to breathe. The terrace runs to 100 square metres facing due south, meaning it catches sun from mid-morning unti ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Ouroux-sur-Saône has a particular quality to it. The wood-burning stove is already ticking with warmth, the smell of coffee drifts through a 48-square-meter living room that once watched over harvests two centuries ago, and through the French doors at the back of the house, the garden is doing that golden early-autumn thing that Burgundy does better than almost anywhere in France. This is not a renovation project. This is a farmhouse that has already been loved back to life — and now it's waiting for the next chapter. Built in the 1800s and sitting on a plot of over eight hectares, this four-bedroom property near the Saône-et-Loire heartland gives you something increasingly rare: genuine scale, genuine character, and genuine countryside — all within fifteen kilometers of Chalon-sur-Saône, where the Saturday market on the Place Saint-Vincent has been running for centuries and the restaurants along the Saône do things with Bresse chicken and local Époisses that will recalibrate your standards permanently. Step inside and the ground floor sets the tone immediately. The entrance hall opens into that vast living room with its wood-burning stove and direct garden access — the kind of room that earns its square footage on a wet November afternoon when you're opening a Givry rouge and watching the last light fall across the fields. The kitchen, famously converted from a bread oven, still has that deep-walled, slightly theatrical atmosphere that makes cooking feel like an event rather than a chore. There's a separate sitting room too, its French doors opening onto both the rear garden and the front terrace, so the morning sun follows you from one side to the other depending on the season. A 25-square-meter gro ... click here to read more

Step out of the front door on a Tuesday morning and within twenty minutes you're wandering through Bergerac's old quarter, coffee in hand, past honey-stone façades and half-timbered houses that line the Place du Docteur Cayla. Then you drive back through rolling woodland, turn down a lane into a hamlet of old stone properties, and the world goes completely quiet. That contrast — town life and deep countryside, thirty seconds apart — is what makes this 16th-century farmhouse one of the more unusual finds in the Dordogne right now. The property sits on 29 acres of private woodland. Not a garden. Woodland. You're not buying a patch of grass with some trees at the edge — you're buying the trees themselves, a proper sweep of Périgord forest that wraps around the house on all sides and gives the kind of silence most people have to drive four hours to find. The hamlet it belongs to is made entirely of stone — no modern infill, no holiday parc next door — and the farmhouse reads as the centrepiece of it: renovated carefully, retaining the character of the original 16th-century construction while being entirely liveable today. Inside, 217 square metres unfolds across three reception rooms, each anchored by either an open fireplace or a wood-burning stove. In November, when the Dordogne mist sits low over the valley and the forest outside turns amber and rust, those fireplaces earn their place. The ground floor has a separate kitchen — properly separate, not open-plan — and a full bedroom suite with its own bathroom, which works brilliantly if you have elderly guests or want to avoid stairs entirely. Upstairs, two large bedrooms and a study spread across the upper floor, served by two shower rooms. It's a layout that suits famil ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in the Quercy Blanc. You push open the French doors off the kitchen and the smell of woodsmoke and wild thyme drifts in from the garden. Somewhere down the lane, a rooster is doing his best. Your coffee is hot, the terrace is still cool in the shade of those old stone pillars, and the only thing on your schedule is deciding whether to walk the ridge path before lunch or after. This is the specific quality of life this 1849 stone farmhouse delivers — and it does it with a quiet confidence that most properties can only gesture at. Originally a working barn, this single-storey house in a tucked-away hamlet near Montcuq was converted with the kind of care that you rarely see. The bones of the building — thick limestone walls, hand-hewn oak beams, original stone surfaces — were kept intact and then paired with a modern interior that doesn't compete with them. Travertine floors run throughout the main house, cool underfoot in summer, warm-looking in winter firelight. The kitchen is the real heart of it: granite countertops, bespoke oak cabinetry, integrated appliances, and those French doors that frame a covered terrace as if the whole room were designed around the view outside. It was. The covered terrace, held up by stone pillars that have been standing since before the Third Republic, is where summer lunches stretch into afternoon conversations and where dinner happens most nights from May through October. The living room earns its keep year-round. A wood-burning stove sits in the fireplace, gas central heating backs it up when the Lot winters bite, and exposed beams overhead give the space an unhurried, grounded feel. Another set of French doors opens onto a second terrace — this one faces west, which mean ... click here to read more

Sunday mornings here start with the smell of coffee drifting through stone walls that have been standing since the 1700s. The kitchen window frames a view of rolling southwest French countryside—no rooftops, no roads, just the slow green hills of Lot-et-Garonne doing what they've done for centuries. By the time you've wandered outside with your cup, the light is already doing something extraordinary to the old barn wall beside the pool. This is Engayrac. Most people have never heard of it, and the people who live here like it that way. The farmhouse itself is one of those rare places where a serious restoration has been done without scrubbing out the soul. Exposed stone walls, original beamed ceilings, travertine floors, an old staircase that creaks just enough to remind you it's real—it's all still there. So is the stone fireplace, the wainscoting, the sense that this house has stories going back well before anyone alive today. But the plumbing works. The heating works. The energy performance rating sits at C, which for an 18th-century stone structure in rural France is not something you get without real investment. A new heat pump heating system and a recently installed septic tank mean the infrastructure is sorted—genuinely sorted, not "we'll deal with it next summer" sorted. Four bedrooms spread across three floors give the house a natural rhythm. Ground floor for cooking, eating, living. First floor for quieter things—a spacious sitting room, an office that actually earns the name, two bathrooms with clean contemporary finishes that don't clash with the old bones of the place. Then the top floor, which is the kind of surprise that makes you stop mid-sentence when you first see it: a cargo-net lounge strung beneat ... click here to read more

On a clear morning in Boussan, the Pyrenees appear close enough to touch. You open the tall French doors off the living room, coffee in hand, and the only sounds are a wood pigeon somewhere in the oak forest and the faint clang of a cowbell drifting up from the pasture below. Two other houses exist in this hamlet. That's it. The quiet here isn't the absence of something — it's the thing itself, full and rare. This 1850 manor house sits on 17 hectares of mixed woodland and open pasture in the rolling Haute-Garonne countryside, about five kilometres from the medieval hilltop village of Aurignac. The property includes a separate one-bedroom gîte, two stone barns, and a 10x5m swimming pool. At 271 square metres of living space across the main house alone, this is the kind of place that stops feeling like a property and starts feeling like a small world of its own. The manor was built with the proportions that 19th-century landowners understood intuitively — high ceilings, thick stone walls, rooms that breathe. Inside, marble fireplaces anchor the principal reception rooms, ornate plasterwork frames the ceilings, and exposed timber beams run the length of the upper floors. These aren't cosmetic details slapped on for effect; they're structural to the character of the house. The restoration has been handled with genuine care — a new roof, a fully renovated kitchen, a fresh pool lining — significant investment that means the next owner walks into something that works, not something that needs saving. The kitchen is the gravitational centre of the house. Fully equipped, country in scale, and open in spirit, it connects naturally to the main living and dining room. That room has French doors on the garden side and a wood-burni ... click here to read more

On a still summer evening in Lot-et-Garonne, the swallows dip low over a glassy 10x5m swimming pool, the scent of warm stone rises from the courtyard, and somewhere beyond the vine-draped pergola, the rolling hills of Aquitaine dissolve into a haze of gold. This is what you came to France for. Not a postcard version of it — the real thing. This 4-bedroom, 196 sqm stone barn conversion sits about three kilometers outside Tournon-d'Agenais, one of the most characterful bastide towns in the Lot-et-Garonne. The original structure dates to the 18th century, but it was reimagined two decades ago by its architect-owner with the kind of precision that most renovation projects only dream of achieving. The result is a home that honors its agricultural past while functioning brilliantly as a modern residence — and it shows in every detail. You arrive through a gated entrance that opens onto an ornamental pond and a courtyard that already tells you something about how this place was put together. It's composed. Considered. The gardens are established and deeply planted, not the kind of thing you throw together in a season, and the views across the surrounding countryside are the sort that make you stop mid-sentence. Step inside and the scale of the main living space takes a moment to absorb. Full-height beamed ceilings — properly high, the way only old barns can deliver — span the open-plan ground floor where the fitted kitchen, living, and dining areas flow together. The kitchen itself uses the original animal feeders as a clever spatial divider, a small architectural flourish that's both functional and quietly witty. Tiled floors underfoot, underfloor heating for the cooler months, a stone fireplace for the evenings when the te ... click here to read more

On a still Tuesday morning in July, you open the ancient shutters of your top-floor bedroom and the Tarn-et-Garonne countryside rolls out in every direction — sunflower fields, oak-lined lanes, and a sky so wide and blue it takes a moment to convince yourself it's real. The church bells from the village drift up the hill. You don't need to be anywhere until lunch. That's the whole point. This 17th-century stone presbytery in the quiet hamlet of Roquecor is one of those properties that stops you mid-scroll. And rightly so. Built with the authority and permanence that the Catholic Church demanded of its residences in this part of France, it has aged into something extraordinary — all vaulted ceilings, original stone sinks, wide-plank floorboards, and a fireplace so substantial it practically has its own postcode. The priests who once lived here would barely recognise the interiors now: the present owners have brought the kind of quiet, confident taste that lets the architecture do the talking, with muted colours, carefully chosen furniture, and not a single unnecessary gesture. You enter up a grand exterior stone staircase — the kind of entrance that makes guests stop and reach for their phones before they've even crossed the threshold. Inside, the layout unfolds across three floors. The ground level delivers a sitting room anchored by a monumental stone fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove (the winters here are mild, but November evenings around that fire are something else), a snug that earns its name, and a country kitchen with original tiled floors, a fitted range, and a stone sink so characterful it would be the centrepiece of a lesser house. Below the kitchen, a vaulted stone cellar doubles as a wine store an ... click here to read more

Step onto the terrace on a July morning and the view stops you cold. Rolling hills in every direction, sunflower fields catching the early light, the occasional church spire poking through the haze — and absolute silence, save for the swifts cutting arcs above the rooftops. This is Lauzerte at its most honest, and from this stone tower house on the village's most prized street, you get front-row seats every single day. Lauzerte isn't a discovery anymore — it earned a place on the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" list years ago — but it hasn't turned into a tourist circus either. The Saturday market still draws locals as much as visitors. The boulangerie on the main square still sells out of pain au levain by nine. There's a real community here: French retirees, a handful of Dutch and British families who came for a holiday a decade ago and never quite left, artists who set up studios in the old stone buildings and sell work out of their front windows. The Camino de Santiago passes right through the village, so from spring through autumn there's a gentle current of walkers moving through, giving the cafés on the terrace a particular energy that's hard to find elsewhere in Tarn-et-Garonne. The house itself sits on the Rue de la Garrigue, the kind of address that locals mention with a slight nod of respect. From the street it reads as a proper medieval tower — thick stone walls, a certain gravity to it — but push open the front door and the interior has been completely rethought. The current owners spent years on a renovation that prioritised quality over speed, and it shows in every detail. Travertine floors run throughout the ground level, cool underfoot even in August. The staircase is original stone, the kind that ... click here to read more

On a clear October morning, you step out through one of four sets of glass doors onto the stone terrace, coffee in hand, and the whole of Moissac spreads out below you — the Romanesque abbey tower catching the early light, the Tarn glinting silver beyond the rooftops, and on days when the air is sharp and clean, the white line of the Pyrenees etched along the southern horizon. This is the view that the current owners fell for. It's the kind of view that makes you stop mid-sentence every single time. Built in 1975 by an architect who clearly had opinions, this 278-square-metre Tower House sits at the top of the Bel Air quarter, behind electric gates, at the end of a long private driveway lined with mature trees that form a canopy in summer. The grounds feel more like a private park than a garden — established oaks, flowering shrubs, wide lawns, all of it enclosed and genuinely quiet. You'd never guess you're a ten-minute walk from a town centre that comes seriously alive on market days. The house itself has been modernised and upgraded by its current owners at considerable cost, and the quality of the work shows. Step inside and the first thing you notice is scale. Cathedral ceilings with exposed timber beams give the main living space a sense of real drama. The oak herringbone floor in the sitting room is the kind of detail you'd find in a Parisian apartment — warm underfoot, with a log-burning stove anchoring one end of the room. Four pairs of doors open directly onto the terrace, so in warmer months the line between inside and outside practically disappears. The kitchen is modern and properly fitted — integral appliances, clean lines, no compromise. Six bedrooms and three bathrooms across the property means this wor ... click here to read more

Pull up the gravel drive on a July evening and the first thing you notice isn't the swimming pool or the outbuildings or the countryside rolling out in every direction — it's the towers. Two of them, flanking the entrance like something lifted from a minor aristocrat's estate, framing a period stone facade so symmetrically confident that you half-expect a butler to appear at the top of the stone steps. This is a house with a clear sense of itself, and it has been waiting patiently for an owner who matches that energy. Tournon-d'Agenais sits in the Lot-et-Garonne, one of France's quietest and most underrated departments — a stretch of the southwest that most people drive through on the way to the Dordogne without ever stopping. Their loss. The market town itself is a classic bastide, perched on a ridge with views that drop away in three directions, and on Thursday mornings the square fills with vendors selling Agen prunes (the real ones, sun-dried and full of flavor), foie gras from farms you could walk to, and vegetables that were in the ground forty-eight hours ago. The café on the corner opens at seven and the owner knows how to make a proper café crème. Life here moves at a pace that used to exist everywhere and now doesn't. The farmhouse occupies a setting that earns the word "exceptional" without having to try. The surrounding countryside — low hills, rows of sunflowers in summer, the amber and ochre of vineyards in October — unfolds from every window with the unhurried quality of a landscape painting. On clear mornings, when the mist sits low in the valley and the stone walls catch the early light, the whole property feels like it belongs to a different century. The silence is the kind you can actually hear. Ins ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in southwest France sounds like this: a wood pigeon calling from the walnut tree outside, coffee brewing in a kitchen built from bleached oak and old stone, and absolutely nothing else demanding your attention. That's the daily reality of owning this 208 sq m restored stone farmhouse in a quiet hamlet just outside Beauville — a property that took its time becoming what it is, and shows every bit of it. The house sits among the rolling valleys of Lot-et-Garonne, a département that most international buyers fly over on the way to Dordogne without realizing they're passing one of the most quietly rewarding pockets of rural France. Prune orchards, sunflower fields, truffle-rich oak woods — the landscape shifts with every season, and you'll find yourself noticing all of it from the covered stone terrace where lunch tends to run well past three o'clock in July. The farmhouse itself is genuinely old, and the restoration didn't try to disguise that fact. Exposed limestone walls, hand-hewn oak beams, flagstone floors worn smooth over generations — these aren't decorative choices, they're what was already there. The work involved knowing what to keep and what to quietly modernize: double glazing sits behind deep stone reveals, a heat pump system hums efficiently behind a centuries-old façade, and a bespoke kitchen in bleached oak with stone countertops and integrated appliances would look entirely at home in the pages of a serious interiors magazine. The pantry off the kitchen is the kind of detail that only makes sense once you're shopping at the Friday market in Puymirol and coming home with more than you planned. There are four bedrooms across the main house, each with air conditioning and heating through the ... click here to read more

Stand at the kitchen window on a Tuesday morning in October and watch mist lift slowly off your own private lake. The woodlands beyond it are turning amber. A heron stands perfectly still at the water's edge. There's no traffic, no neighbor noise — just the kind of quiet that city people pay a fortune trying to find for a week. Here, it's yours every day. This nine-bedroom estate in Genouillé, a small commune in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charentes, sits on roughly 14 hectares of meadow, woodland, and water. It's not a property you stumble across. It's the kind of place that takes decades to assemble — the right land, the right buildings, the right bones — and rarely comes to market at anything close to this price point. The main house anchors the estate with the kind of architectural weight that only comes with age. Stone walls that have stood for centuries, exposed timber beams overhead in the reception rooms, and four generous bedrooms, each with its own private shower room. That last detail matters more than it sounds: when you're hosting a family gathering or a group of friends from abroad, nobody's negotiating bathroom schedules. The layout is genuinely sociable. Wide reception areas open naturally for long lunches that drift into evenings, and the in-ground swimming pool just outside keeps things moving between meals and conversation. Separate from the main house — properly separate, with its own front door and its own world — sits a fully independent gîte. Four to five bedrooms, a second swimming pool, and complete privacy from the main residence. This is where the property's income potential becomes very real, very quickly. The Poitou-Charentes region draws steady summer tourism, and well-presented rural ... click here to read more

Saturday morning in Néré. The sun hits the stone façade at an angle that makes it look almost golden, and somewhere across the garden, the pool filter hums quietly while dew still sits on the lavender. This is what 511 square metres of southwest French countryside feels like before anyone else is awake — and with 14 bedrooms spread across a main house and five independent gîtes, there's a lot of space for quiet mornings before the families roll out of bed. This is a serious property. Not just in size, though the scale is genuinely impressive — it's the kind of estate that only comes along once in a generation in a market like Charente-Maritime. The combination of a fully functioning gîte complex with a private residence, a heated swimming pool, outbuildings, a landscaped garden, and two on-site wells is rare at any price point. At €525,000, it's the sort of opportunity that draws in buyers from Paris, London, Amsterdam, and beyond, usually too late. The main house anchors the whole property. Its entrance hall leads into a living room that's genuinely liveable — not a showroom — followed by a dining area that gets good light through the day, and a fully fitted kitchen ready to handle a Sunday lunch for twenty without complaint. Three bedrooms complete the main residence, one of which has its own shower room, so guests or extended family can come and go with real independence. It's laid out with logic, the kind of floor plan that grows on you the longer you spend time in it. Then there are the gîtes. Five of them, each self-contained, each with its own lounge and dining area, fitted kitchen, shower room or bathroom, and WC. Between them they deliver 11 additional bedrooms — which means the estate can sleep multiple fami ... click here to read more

On a clear January morning, you step out onto the upstairs balcony with a coffee in hand and the Godin range cooker already warming the kitchen below. The Pyrenees are right there — not a postcard suggestion of mountains, but the full, snow-capped range stretching across the horizon in sharp winter light. Two hectares of land roll out beneath you, fruit trees bare and skeletal against the frost, a walled courtyard catching the first sun. This is Les Tourreilles, a corner of Haute-Garonne that most people drive through without knowing what they've missed. The farmhouse dates to 1893, built from local pebbles and stone in the way they built things back then — to last. And it has. The walls are thick enough to keep August heat at bay without air conditioning, and the character that took more than a century to accumulate hasn't been renovated away. It's been respected. The current owner put serious thought and real money into the restoration: slate floors, high ceilings, cast-iron structural elements left exposed where they add something, quality throughout rather than flash. Three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom — a practical arrangement that matters enormously when you're hosting family or renting the property. No arguments over the shower schedule. The living room organizes itself around a wood-burning stove, the kind of focal point that makes a room actually feel inhabited rather than staged. And the open-plan kitchen and dining area is the real heart of the house, anchored by that Godin range cooker running on gas, electricity, and wood — a serious piece of equipment that makes Sunday lunches an event. Granite countertops, quality fittings, nothing cheap. Then there's the spa room, which is genuinely unexpected. ... click here to read more

A Tranquil Retreat in the Heart of Poitou-Charentes Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, as the first rays of sunlight filter through the skylight, casting a warm glow across the seagrass flooring. This is the serene lifestyle awaiting you at this exquisite 5-bedroom farmhouse in Champagne-Mouton, nestled in the picturesque Poitou-Charentes region of France. A Home Steeped in Character and Comfort Step inside to discover 280 square meters of beautifully renovated living space, where traditional charm meets modern convenience. The heart of the home is the expansive 63 m² living room, featuring two wood-burning stoves and oak beams that exude rustic elegance. It's the perfect setting for cozy family gatherings or lively soirées with friends. The fitted kitchen, complete with an "Aga" cooker, invites culinary adventures, while the French door opens to an east-facing terrace, ideal for savoring your morning coffee and croissant as the sun rises over the horizon. A Haven for Equestrian Enthusiasts Set on over 2 acres of lush land, this property is a dream come true for horse lovers. Two substantial stone barns offer endless possibilities for equestrian facilities, workshops, or creative studios. The expansive grounds provide ample space for paddocks, riding trails, or simply enjoying the tranquility of the countryside. Embrace the Outdoors The exterior is a paradise for those who cherish outdoor living. A south-facing terrace offers stunning views of the rolling landscape, while the 8m x 4.5m swimming pool beckons for a refreshing dip on warm summer days. With walking and cycling routes right on your doorstep, every day is an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of t ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Charente region, this delightful 4-bedroom house in Champagne-Mouton offers a unique opportunity for those seeking a second home in France. With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant local culture, this property is more than just a house; it's a gateway to a lifestyle that many dream of. Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of the French countryside, where the air is crisp and the views are nothing short of breathtaking. This home, set in a tranquil hamlet, provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether you're looking for a holiday retreat, an investment property, or a place to eventually retire, this house ticks all the boxes. ### A Home with Character and Comfort The main house exudes charm with its exposed beams and stone details, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere. The open-plan layout is perfect for modern living, while the cozy corner library provides a peaceful nook for reading or reflection. With three bedrooms in the main house and an additional one-bedroom gite, there's ample space for family and guests. - Main House Features: - Ground Floor: - Spacious kitchen (15m²) with modern fittings and two windows for natural light. - Inviting living room (14m²) with a large French window, perfect for entertaining. - Convenient ground floor bedroom (14.51m²) with an electric radiator. - Stylish bathroom (4m²) with an Italian shower. - Playroom/storage room (17.30m²) with garden access. - First Floor: - Mezzanine bedroom (13.4m²) with a French window and sink. - Additional bedroom (15m²) with a private toilet. - Gite Features: - Ground Floor: - Spacious living room (40m²) with a fitted kitch ... click here to read more

Presenting a unique property opportunity in the picturesque French village of Champagne-Mouton, Poitou Charentes – a charming 100 sqm barn ripe for renovation. Nestled within the rolling hills and lush landscapes of Poitou Charentes region, this barn offering is the epitome of a delightful fixer-upper, making it a perfect choice for those looking to imbue their personal touch in a property with great potential. The barn, currently masked by rusticity, can be easily converted into a beautiful house boasting remodeled spaces. It features two spacious rooms that provide a blank canvas for designing, both measuring 75 sqm and 25 sqm respectively. Each room features a concrete floor with damp-proof course underneath, allowing for sound architectural foundation or potential personalized renovations. The current condition of the property is good, with the roof remarkably well-maintained and showing no signs of leaks or damage. However, please note that no plumbing system or electricity connection exists within the property yet, but these can be easily installed with connection services readily available in the local area, adding to the convenience of the future renovations. The plot measures 1050 sqm, including an adjoining garden that potential owners can convert into a lush outdoor space, perhaps with a charming French-style garden or a cosy alfresco dining area. An additional bonus includes three non-attached plots of woodland on a total of 3410 sqm, amalgamating into a sizable chunk of lush land that ensures peace, privacy, and a connection to nature for the future inhabitants. Amenities: - Fixer-upper property - 100 sqm barn - Two rooms - Damp-proof flooring - 1050 sqm garden - Non-attached woodland plots (3410 sqm) ... click here to read more

Discover the charm of French country living with this spacious 5-bedroom house nestled in the serene village of Champagne-Mouton, in the Poitou-Charentes region of Charente, France. This property, which enjoys a rich historical context having previously served as the village shop and undergoing partial modernisation post-war, offers a delightful blend of traditional architecture and modern conveniences, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in a tranquil rural lifestyle. Set over a generous 166 square meters, the house is thoughtfully designed with ample living spaces that include a welcoming entrance hall, a cozy living room with direct access to the lush garden through glazed doors, and a study/library which could serve a variety of uses from a quiet reading room to a productive home office. Additionally, the first floor hosts two more well-proportioned bedrooms complementing the ground-floor bedrooms, ensuring space and privacy for all residents. Key Features: - Five well-sized bedrooms - Two bathrooms including a large ensuite - Modern oil-fired central heating - Double glazing throughout - Solar-powered shutters on the main windows - Spacious eat-in kitchen with modern amenities - Attached large garage and workshop - Sprawling deck and mature garden - Extensive plot of just under half a hectobe ideal for equestrian pursuits - Former attic with potential for conversion (subject to planning permission) The heart of the home is undoubtedly the kitchen, which offers a large dining area and direct access to the decked outdoor space—ideal for al fresco dining and gathering with friends and family. The serene outdoor setup is accentuated by established gardens flanked by mature trees and shrubs, inviting a sen ... click here to read more

This charming, south-facing, 2-bedroom country house in Champagne-Mouton, Poitou Charentes, France, is brimming with potential. The countryside dwelling may be habitable, but will benefit from loving refurbishment efforts. The age of this property only adds to its charm. With a history dating back 300 years, it offers a unique blend of traditional French architecture and stunning countryside views. The property is nestled in the heart of a serene country setting and is conveniently located a few miles from the picturesque town of Champagne-Mouton. Known for its scenic landscapes and tranquil lifestyle, the town features quaint local shops, traditional restaurants, and a bustling market place. This 140 square-meter country house awash with character details such as wooden floors, rustic stone walls and age-old oak beams. On the ground floor, a homely sitting room boasting a cosy wood burner invites you to unwind, followed by the kitchen complete with tiled floors, fitted units and original stone walls. A bedroom with ensuite bathroom can be found on this floor, adding to its practical layout. The upper floor consists of a generous guest bedroom/mezzanine and a second bathroom. Furthermore, there is another large-sized bedroom, allowing the owners to accommodate guests comfortably. Please note that some oak beams on this floor are low, providing a cosy, rustic atmosphere. The property sits on a sizeable plot of 1885 square meters, with a beautiful mature garden, featuring an abundance of fruit trees. Imagine relaxing on the south-facing terrace, savoring the spectacular views that stretch beyond the horizon. The courtyard at the rear provides plenty of space for car parking. This home is also accompanied by a fabulo ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene hamlet not far from the picturesque town of Champagne-Mouton in the region of Poitou-Charentes, France, this charming 3-bedroom stone house offers a delightful blend of traditional architecture and natural surroundings. With a price tag of €129,000, this property serves as an inviting sanctuary for those looking to immerse themselves in the tranquil French countryside. This elegant home spans approximately 180 square meters over two stories, combining rustic appeal with spacious living areas. The ground floor of the house features a cozy, fitted kitchen measuring 20 square meters, complete with a tiled floor, a wood burner, and exposed beams that add to its rustic charm. Adjacent to the kitchen is a welcoming lounge, a generous 30 square meters in size, featuring lustrous wooden floors, another wood burner, and captivating stone walls which open out to the garden. A modest office space and a bathroom equipped with tiled floors, a bath, sink, and WC are also located on this floor, along with a dining room enriched with beams and a unique atmosphere provided by another wood burner. Ascending to the first floor, you are greeted with a wooden-floor landing area that leads to three bedrooms, each maintaining the same charismatic wooden beams and floating floorboards, creating a warm, homely feel. The most spacious of these is 30 square meters and offers ample space for both rest and activities. Additionally, a practical shower room on this floor includes a shower, sink, and WC. The exterior of the property does not disappoint, boasting a large barn covering 150 square meters, with a durable roof protected by a membrane. The attached garden is expansive at 842 square meters, providing a lush, green esc ... click here to read more

Discover the charm of rural France with this delightful three-bedroom house in the serene village of Champagne-Mouton, located in the picturesque region of Charente. This house, while presently in good condition, offers immense potential for those looking to inject a personal touch into their next home. Priced at an inviting €70,000, the property spans 140 square meters, providing a spacious environment perfect for family living or as a serene countryside retreat. The house greets you with a cozy layout comprising a well-sized kitchen featuring a traditional wood-fired oven, creating a rustic feel that awaits your modernizing touches. The adjacent living room, complete with sturdy wooden floors, offers a warm space for family gatherings. Two of the bedrooms are conveniently located on the ground floor, while the third bedroom, nestled upstairs, presents a quiet haven. Additional spaces such as a back kitchen and a store room add to the functional aspects of the home. Part of the excitement of this property lies in its potential: the large attic and an additional room on the first floor are poised for transformation, perfect for those who delight in renovation projects. While the property does need a new septic tank system, new windows, doors, and a general refreshment, these updates are an excellent opportunity to add value to your investment. Outdoors, the property does not disappoint, featuring a 700 square meter garden filled with beautiful trees, creating a peaceful outdoor area ideal for relaxation and family activities. A sun terrace fronts the property, offering a perfect setting for enjoying the tranquil surroundings. Living in Champagne-Mouton is living amidst the quiet charm of rural France. The village its ... click here to read more

This charming 3-bedroom country home is set in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes in Charente, Champagne-Mouton, France. Embraced by 5173 square meters of verdant gardens, this home with its rustic golden stone facade offers a peaceful retreat with sweeping views over the L’Argentor valley. The property encompasses a generous 230 square meters of living space, featuring a roomy 42 square meters of living area that provides ample room for family gatherings and relaxation. The home is perfectly equipped for those seeking tranquility away from bustling city life, yet it retains connections to urban conveniences. Angoulême is just a 45-minute drive away, offering further amenities and transport links to major European destinations as well as international locales. In terms of layout, the ground floor introduces an entrance hall, a convenient laundry room, a kitchen fitted out for culinary enthusiasts, and dual living rooms—one of which is 42 square meters, perfect for enthralling family and friends. Additionally, there’s a bedroom complete with an ensuite shower and dressing area providing comfort and privacy on the same level, enhancing its accessibility. The original oak staircase leads to the upper floor, where additional bedrooms and bathroom facilities are present. The attic is accessible and offers potential expansion space, which could cater to additional bedrooms or a hobby area, subject to approval. Living in Champagne-Mouton provides residents with a serene atmosphere complemented by the simplicity and beauty of the rural French countryside. The local area teems with outdoor activities such as cycling, horse riding, and scenic walks through lush landscapes. Moreover, residents are integrated into a warm ... click here to read more

Welcome to this substantial 7-bedroom maisonette nestled in the scenic community of Champagne-Mouton, a charming village in Poitou-Charentes, Charente, France. Boasting a generous living space of 303 square meters set on a plot of 2670 square meters, this unique property is an ideal choice for anyone looking to immerse themselves in French village life while enjoying the space to grow and personalize their home. Constructed in a style reflective of the region's historic charm, the residence forms part of a rare, walled mansion complex. Complementing the main house are extensive additional structures including vast barns and a secondary stone house awaiting renovation. These offer new owners a magnificent opportunity to either expand their living space or develop business ventures, subject to necessary approvals. The house itself is securely located in a beautifully secluded, wooded courtyard, providing privacy and tranquility. Yet, it benefits from proximity to the village center where you can find all essential commerce, quaint boutiques, and delightful restaurants within walking distance. The weather in Champagne-Mouton provides a temperate climate characterized by mild winters and comfortable summers, perfect for enjoying the picturesque outdoors and the rustic charm of the local area. Internally, the home presents a traditional yet functional layout: - The ground floor features a grand entrance hall, an expansive open-plan living and dining area of 57 square meters, a cozy study, a practical kitchen, a laundry room, and a comfortable bedroom complete with a bathroom. - The first floor is home to further six bedrooms, two of which enjoy ensuite bathrooms, and one additional standalone bedroom. This arrangement is ... click here to read more

Nestled in the gently rolling hills of Poitou-Charentes, in the scenic region of Charente, this idyllic country home in Champagne-Mouton offers a tranquil retreat that resonates with the rustic charm of the French countryside. With a total built size of 230m² and sitting on a generous plot of 5173m², this three-bedroom property positions itself as a serene haven, ideal for those seeking a peaceful lifestyle or a picturesque escape from city life. The residence, built from charming old rustic golden stone, commands sweeping views of the lush valley of the L’Argentor. It's surrounded by approximately 5000m² of beautifully manicured gardens adorned with an array of fruit trees and an aesthetic water feature. A south-facing terrace lets you bask in the natural beauty of your surroundings, and the property features an eco-friendly automated self-watering system, ensuring maintenance is as effortless as it is effective. The home's interior exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere, with high ceilings and generous dimensions throughout. An impressive oak staircase links the two levels of the house, further enhancing the home's character and charm. The layout is thoughtfully designed with a ground floor bedroom and a bathroom ensuring accessibility, alongside a well-appointed kitchen and a spacious living/dining area with a chimney flue ready for cozy evenings by the fire. Upstairs, the landing leads to two more bedrooms and a beautifully styled bathroom featuring a period bath, offering a touch of elegance and an aura of times past. The potential for additional bedrooms exists, subject to necessary approvals, making this a versatile space suited to a variety of needs. For those considering taking on a project, this home, while ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Poitou-Charentes, in the commune of Champagne-Mouton, this charismatic three-bedroom country home presents a unique opportunity for those looking to embrace a tranquil rural lifestyle in France. With its generous plot size of 5173m² and an overall living space of 230m², the property promises ample room both inside and out. The residence itself exudes rustic charm, accented by its traditional golden stone exterior and lush surroundings that feature beautifully manicured gardens, a variety of fruit trees, and a sophisticated eco-friendly automated self-watering system. The serene ambiance is further enhanced by the absence of busy roads, making this an ideal retreat for peace and privacy. The house is designed thoughtfully, with spacious, luminous interiors and a layout that encourages a flow of natural light. The ground floor includes an expansive living/dining room with a chimney flue, adding to the home's cozy atmosphere. Additionally, there is a large, luminous second living room that offers spectacular views of the valley of L’Argentor, making it a perfect spot for relaxing or entertaining guests. The fitted kitchen is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, complemented by modern amenities and a generous size of 27m². For convenience, there is a bedroom on the ground floor equipped with an en-suite shower room, providing easy access and privacy. Upstairs, you will find two more bedrooms and a period-style bathroom featuring a characterful bath, alongside additional space that could potentially be converted into further bedrooms, subject to necessary approvals. The property is equipped with double glazing, electric and underfloor heating systems to ensure comfort through ... click here to read more

Nestled in the beautiful heart of the Charente region in France, within the quaint village of Champagne-Mouton, lies an expansive seven-bedroom maisonette, embodying both history and potential. It's a house where tradition meets the ease of daily conveniences, offering a unique lifestyle that combines the tranquility of rural France with modern needs. Imagine waking up each day in this grand mansion house, which provides not only a substantial living space of 303 square meters but also a touch of history and mystery with its walled facade and secluded wooded courtyard. The property sits on a generous plot of 2670 square meters, offering you the luxury of space – something increasingly rare in today's world. Living in Champagne-Mouton means you'll be residing in an area renowned for its natural beauty and sheer tranquility. The Nord Charente region is famed for its picturesque landscapes. It's a place where you can breathe in the pure country air and embrace the slower pace of life. The local area offers opportunities for outdoor activities like siestas by the riverbank, picnics with family and friends, and delightful strolls through unspoiled countryside trails. This property itself isn't just about living; it's about living well. As you enter through the entrance hall covering 39 square meters, you are immediately greeted by an open-plan living and dining area of 57 square meters—a perfect space for entertaining guests or simply unwinding with family. The kitchen, which spans 20 square meters, is ripe with potential, ready to be transformed into a culinary haven. For those who work remotely, the 10-square-meter study provides the ideal space for concentration and productivity, making working from home both feasibl ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene and picturesque landscape of Poitou-Charentes, France, is a uniquely positioned farmhouse that carries both the charm of a traditional home and the amenities of contemporary living. This spacious property, located in the tranquil region of Champagne-Mouton, offers a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life, without being isolated—ideal for overseas buyers and expats looking to settle in the French countryside. Imagine waking up each morning to the sight of rolling fields and the distant echo of rural France in a farmhouse that's just the right balance of old and new. This 280m² haven offers five spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms—plenty of room for a growing family or to entertain guests frequently visiting the French countryside. The airy layout is immediately felt as you enter a vast 63m² living room, complete with a tiled floor, two traditional wood-burning stoves, and accentuated by robust oak beams that elicit a feeling of warmth and homeliness. Adding to the allure of this traditional farmhouse is its generous plot of 8196m², where two adjoining barns provide ample storage or potential for creative projects—just waiting for someone with a vision. One might explore converting a barn into an artist’s studio, a workshop, or even more living space. Such potential caters perfectly to those who want to put in their own stamp whilst living in a place that is already move-in ready. There is yet another touch of rural France that makes this farmhouse stand out: its very own swimming pool. A perfect place to cool off during the warm summer days. Speaking of the climate, Poitou-Charentes promises a generally mild and pleasant weather pattern, with warm summers ideal for poolside ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene landscapes of Poitou-Charentes, Charente, in the quaint village of Le Bouchage, France, this charming three-bedroom house offers a perfect blend of comfort and rural tranquility. Anyone seeking a peaceful lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of city life will find this home an ideal fit. With 180 square meters of living space priced at an inviting €165,000, this property represents not just a home but a delightful escape into nature. This well-renovated house exudes warmth and character, brought to life by skillfully handcrafted materials. As you step inside, you are welcomed into an entrance hall that leads directly into a cozy fitted kitchen, designed to cater seamlessly to family needs and culinary experiments. Adjacent to the kitchen, a storeroom provides ample space for storage needs, ensuring the home remains clutter-free and organized. The living room, spacious and inviting, features a wood-burning fireplace that promises warmth and comfort during the cooler months. It's the perfect space for gathering with family, entertaining friends, or simply enjoying a quiet evening by the fire. Windows frame bucolic views of the surrounding countryside, painting a picture of pastoral bliss with every glance. On the upper level, the residence boasts three well-appointed bedrooms. The master bedroom is a particular highlight, complete with an en-suite shower and WC, offering privacy and convenience. Another family bathroom equipped with a shower and an additional WC ensures that mornings are hassle-free, making this home suited for family dynamics. Outdoor space includes an attached garden at the rear, which overlooks stretching fields—a peaceful retreat for gardening, relaxation, or play. Additi ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene hamlet of Chassiecq in the celebrated Poitou-Charentes region of Charente, France, this charming country home presents an appealing prospect for those looking to immerse themselves in tranquil country living. Recently refurbished, the one-bedroom property spans across a generous plot of 3522 square meters, with a constructed area of 130 square meters and enjoys panoramic views of the lush surrounding countryside. The home itself, having undergone a considerable restoration, offers a living space that radiates a warm and inviting atmosphere. The ground floor features a spacious living area of 40 square meters, perfect for family gatherings or cozy evenings. Adjacent to this, the modern kitchen extends 25 square meters, equipped with contemporary amenities and fixtures, catering to all culinary needs. Upstairs, the master bedroom covers an expansive 40 square meters, with rustic exposed beams adding character and the potential to partition the room to create additional bedrooms if desired. Additional accommodation includes a versatile office space, currently utilized as a second bedroom, ensuring ample space for family and guests alike. This property is especially appealing for those with a penchant for outdoor living, boasting a 15 square meter terrace from which to enjoy the idyllic rural setting. The extensive flat land that surrounds the property also offers countless possibilities for gardening, outdoor recreational activities, or even installing a swimming pool. While seclusion is a key attribute of this delightful country home, connectivity and access are not compromised. Convenient road and TGV links are nearby, enabling easy travel to larger cities and airports that serve the region, faci ... click here to read more

1 Bedroom Country Home in Chassiecq, Charente Located in the scenic Chassiecq within Poitou-Charentes, this charming one-bedroom country house offers a serene and idyllic lifestyle set amidst the picturesque landscapes of Charente. Perfect for those looking to enjoy peaceful rural living, the home boasts a generous plot size of 3522 m² and a total built size of 130 m², providing ample room for outdoor activities or future expansions. The living area comprises 40 m² of space, creating a light and airy feel, thanks to recent renovations including a new kitchen, modernized bathroom, and updates to the heating system with gas central central heating and double glazing. The large windows bathe the space in natural light, enhancing the fresh, newly-laid carpets and floorings that run throughout the property. For practicality and charm, the well-equipped kitchen spans 25 m² and includes new fixtures, perfect for home-cooked meals. The property features a beautifully restored staircase leading to the expansive 40 m² master bedroom upstairs, showcasing enchanting exposed beams. This space offers flexibility and could be configured to include an additional bedroom. Property Features: - Generous living area of 40 m² - Restored kitchen of 25 m² - Spacious 40 m² master bedroom with potential for additional sleeping area - Modern bathroom - New gas central heating system - Double glazed windows - 15 m² terrace - 3522 m² of attached flat land with countryside views Living in Chassiecq provides a calm and tranquil environment, complemented by its proximity to the market town of Champagne Mouton, only ten minutes away, where local markets, shops, and cultural activities bring the community together. For those seeking a broader range ... click here to read more

Welcome to this stunning 1 bedroom country house, delicately placed amid the tranquil locale of Chassiecq, in the Poitou-Charentes region of Charente, France. Boasting an all-around panoramic marvel of the exquisite French countryside, this 130 m² property exhibits the true essence of a country home. Imagine waking up to the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape from the comfort of your home, perched amid 3522m² of level grounds. This picture-perfect panorama invites you to start your day with a refreshing outlook. The charming house enjoys a unique architectural form that blends seamlessly with the tranquil surroundings. The alluring country house has been beautifully refurbished and is ready for immediate occupancy. Offering a generous living area of 40m², ample space to sit back, relax or entertain guests. The interior is perfectly formed and derogated, capturing the essence of a French country home. Insightful attention to detail showcases a modern and well-equipped 25m² kitchen. Offering a fresh dimension of functionality and style, it is your perfect companion for those culinary endeavors. Upstairs, the incredibly spacious master bedroom of 40m² occupies the lion's share of the dominance. Exposed wooden beams span overhead, effectively enhancing the sense of spaciousness and manifesting a rustic charm. This space holds the potential to be effectively transformed into an extra bedroom if desired. The house also encompasses a fully renovated bathroom and an office which also doubles up as the second bedroom. The quality renovation includes double glazing, gas central heating, brand new staircase, flooring, and carpets, along with refreshing redecoration. Living here, you're delicately cradled amidst ... click here to read more

Tucked away in the charming village of Beaulieu-sur-Sonnette, this picturesque house invites you to embrace the tranquil beauty of the French countryside. If you're seeking a home that seamlessly combines modern convenience with traditional charm, this property could be your dream come true. As a busy real estate agent, I'm thrilled to offer this unique opportunity to buyers looking to establish roots in one of France's scenic towns, especially those from overseas who are eager to experience the tranquil life with an exquisite view. This delightful 3-bedroom home is a gem located in the heart of Poitou-Charentes, Charente. Imagine living in a house where every window frames the picturesque backdrop of the rolling valley and where each sunrise offers a reason to smile. Situated on a generous plot, this property boasts not just stylish interiors and comfortable living spaces, but also stunning outdoor arenas that emphasize the joy of al fresco living. Stepping into the house, you're welcomed by a good-sized, modern fitted kitchen/diner. It's a cook's paradise, featuring underfloor heating to keep those toes toasty during the colder months, a range cooker ready for culinary adventures, a dishwasher to ease your post-dinner tasks, and a roomy fridge. From here, a rear entrance leads to a useful pantry/utility room and a convenient WC. This space was designed for practicality and ease of living, keeping the family chef in mind. - 3 Bedrooms - 2 Bathrooms - Fitted kitchen with underfloor heating - Vaulted ceilings in living areas - Large terrace with stunning views - Double-glazing windows - Oil Central Heating - Double staircases - Large ensuite Master Suite - Home office/library space - Mezzanine area - Large cellar wit ... click here to read more