Idyllic Holiday Home in Les Forges, France – Perfect Second Home Retreat

Stand at the kitchen window on a November morning and watch mist roll off the wooded acres behind the stone walls, curling around the old longère like smoke. The fire's already been lit — the cast-iron stove in the living room takes the edge off fast — and the only sound is the distant caw of rooks settling in the tree line. This is Ménéac, deep-green Brittany, and this place is the kind of property that stops serious buyers mid-scroll. Set in a small hamlet just 2.1 kilometres from the village of Ménéac itself, this substantial granite house sits on roughly 6.3 hectares of mixed land, part cultivated, part wooded. It's been divided into two fully independent dwellings — a detail that changes everything about how you might use it. One wing for your family, one for guests, rental income, or an elderly relative who wants proximity without sacrifice of privacy. The arithmetic of that arrangement is immediately appealing for anyone buying a second home in France who wants flexibility without compromising the experience of actually being there. The main dwelling opens at ground level into a living room anchored by an open fireplace paired with a wood-burning stove — two heat sources, which tells you something about how the previous owners felt about Breton winters. Through from there, a fitted kitchen and laundry room keep the practical side of things contained, along with a ground-floor toilet. Head upstairs and you get a bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom, a second family bathroom, a further bedroom, and a room currently used as an office but easily repurposed. The second dwelling mirrors this layout almost exactly: a living room with fireplace and stove, a kitchen-dining room (combined this time, which most families ... click here to read more

On a Sunday morning in Guern, the only sounds are the wind moving through the old oak at the edge of the garden and the distant bell from the village church carrying across the fields. You're standing at the kitchen window of a house that has been standing since 1638, watching mist lift off the Morbihan countryside, and thinking you could get used to this. Really get used to this. This five-bedroom stone property sits just ten minutes from Pontivy, a proper Breton market town with a working canal, a 15th-century château, and Saturday markets where the cheese vendor knows everyone by name. Guern itself is a quiet rural commune — the kind of place where neighbors wave from tractors and the post arrives without fail. At 187 square metres of living space on a landscaped plot of around 2,857 m², this is a genuinely substantial home, not a weekend cottage. It has real scale, real history, and the kind of bones you simply cannot manufacture. The oldest section of the main house traces back nearly four centuries. You feel that age in the best possible way — in the weight of the stone walls, the depth of the window reveals, the massive fireplace that anchors the double-height living room. That fireplace isn't decorative. Light it on a November evening with a bottle of Muscadet and a cassoulet on the hob, and you understand exactly why the French have been doing this for hundreds of years. The living room's unceilinged section creates genuine drama, with the mezzanine above looking down over the space — a reading corner, a desk, a spot for teenagers who want to feel separate without being far away. The ground floor layout is practical in a way old farmhouses often aren't. Two independent entrances give the house real flexibilit ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Savignac-Lédrier, and the smell of woodsmoke curls up from the stove before you've even put the kettle on. Through the kitchen window, open fields stretch out to the tree line, the kind of view that makes you put your phone down and just stand there for a minute. This is rural Dordogne — unhurried, deeply rooted, and still genuinely affordable for buyers who move quickly. At 99,000 euros for a four-bedroom stone village house with a flower garden and unobstructed countryside views, this property sits in a price bracket that barely exists in France anymore, particularly in the Dordogne — a département that has quietly become one of the most sought-after corners of southwest Europe for second home buyers from the UK, Netherlands, and Scandinavia. The bones are solid, the condition is good, and someone has clearly loved this house for years. It shows. Step inside through the entrance hallway and you're immediately greeted by a small interior courtyard bursting with potted plants and climbing flowers — the kind of detail that takes years to cultivate and costs nothing to inherit. The ground floor opens into a generous living and dining room anchored by a wood-burning stove, which transforms the space from October through to March when the Périgord evenings drop sharply. There's a fitted kitchen that actually functions — not a renovation project, but a room you can cook in from day one. A ground-floor bedroom with its own wood-burning stove and a built-in library doubles brilliantly as a reading room or a guest suite for friends who can't manage stairs. A shower room with WC completes the lower level. Upstairs, three further bedrooms and a bathroom with WC give the house real flexibility — a family with c ... click here to read more

On a Sunday morning in southwest France, this is what you wake up to: birdsong filtering through mature oak canopy, the faint smell of dew on old stonework, and the kind of silence that cities charge a premium to escape. Step out onto the balcony off the main bedroom, coffee in hand, and you're looking across more than half a hectare of private park-like gardens that feel entirely your own. No neighbors visible. No road noise. Just the trees, the pool glinting in the early light, and the slow rhythm of Lot-et-Garonne life beginning to stir. This is a house with a genuine story. Built in the 1970s to the design of an architect — someone who clearly cared about proportion, natural light, and character — it has been owned by one family since the day it was completed. That alone says something. Properties like this rarely surface on the market in this corner of Aquitaine, and when they do, they don't stay long. Walk through the gated entrance and the house reveals itself gradually, framed by specimen trees that have had decades to reach their full, impressive height. The façade has a quiet confidence about it — nothing showy, just solid mid-century lines that hold up exceptionally well. Inside, the living room is the heart of everything: generous in scale, with a working fireplace anchoring one wall, a mezzanine gallery adding vertical drama, and light coming in from multiple directions. The parquet floors throughout have the warmth that only real wood develops over time — no laminate shortcut here. Exposed stonework and original plaster cornices add layers of detail that would cost a fortune to replicate today. The four bedrooms are arranged sensibly for a family or for hosting guests across the seasons. One opens onto a ... click here to read more

On a warm July evening in Saint-Maurin, the smell of grilled duck and lavender drifts up from the village square, where the weekly summer night market has spilled across the cobblestones beneath strings of amber light. You pull open the tall French doors in your living room and step straight into the garden, glass in hand, the low Lot-et-Garonne hills rolling out ahead of you in that particular shade of gold that only exists in southwest France at dusk. This is what owning this 19th-century stone house actually feels like. Not a renovation fantasy — a life. Saint-Maurin sits quietly in one of the most genuinely lovely historic villages in the Lot-et-Garonne, the kind of place that shows up on lists of the most beautiful villages in France and somehow still hasn't been discovered by the crowds. The old Benedictine abbey anchors the village center, its warm stone facade unchanged for centuries, and the weekly rhythms here are comfortingly real: a proper épicerie within walking distance, a café where the same faces appear every morning, and a village that actually lives rather than merely performs its heritage. Summer brings the marchés nocturnes that the whole surrounding area comes to — a proper, food-forward evening market with regional producers, live music drifting across the square, and a festive atmosphere that feels earned rather than manufactured. Come September, the vendanges and walnut harvests begin in the surrounding farms, and the air carries that unmistakable mix of woodsmoke and ripe fruit that marks autumn in Gascony. The house itself is 189 square metres of original 19th-century fabric, and it has kept its soul intact. Step inside and the sequence of original details is genuinely impressive: exposed ston ... click here to read more

Picture this: a Sunday morning in Moncaut, the kitchen window propped open, the smell of a café crème drifting up from somewhere down the lane, and absolutely no reason to be anywhere else. That's the particular magic of this three-bedroom 18th-century village house in the Lot-et-Garonne — a part of southwestern France that doesn't try to impress you, because it doesn't need to. Moncaut sits just outside Agen, the kind of small French village that hasn't reinvented itself for tourists and is better for it. The Wednesday market in Agen's old quarter has been running for generations — stalls selling Agen prunes (the area's famous AOC export, eaten fresh in season or soaked in Armagnac in winter), duck confit from local farms, goat's cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves. Life here moves at a pace that feels deliberate rather than slow. The Garonne river runs through the valley below, and on clear mornings you can see mist lifting off the water from the upper floor of the house. The property itself spans 145 square metres across three levels and dates to the 1700s — but don't let that conjure images of damp walls and draughty floors. This house has been properly sorted out. New double-glazed windows keep winters quiet and warm. Aluminium shutters go up or down in seconds. A pellet-burner heating system means running costs stay sensible, and the whole place has been redecorated with a palette that manages to feel both period-appropriate and genuinely liveable — warm tones, no fussy details, nothing you'd want to change the moment you arrived. Walk through the front door and you're straight into the sitting room, which opens directly into the fitted country kitchen. High beamed ceilings make the space feel generous without bei ... click here to read more

On a quiet summer evening in Bourg-de-Visa, you pull a chair into your stone courtyard, pour something cold, and listen. Swallows cutting low arcs over the square. A muffled football commentary drifting from Rémy's café across the way. The smell of bread from the village boulangerie still hanging faintly in the warm Quercy air. This is not a simulation of French village life — it's the actual thing, and this 19th-century stone house sits right at the center of it. The house occupies an almost theatrical position on a secondary square, its stone frontage running nearly the full length of one side. That matters more than you might think. In a village this size, your address is your identity, and this one announces itself with quiet confidence. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three barns, a sheltered courtyard, off-street parking, and a small garden — all of it in genuinely good condition, all of it inside walking distance of everything Bourg-de-Visa has to offer. Step through the entrance and you're into a large open-plan living space that the current owners have transformed with real care. A log-burning stove anchors one end — a genuinely useful thing here from October through April, when Tarn-et-Garonne mornings carry a sharp chill. The kitchen is modern and properly fitted, which anyone who has renovated a French country property will tell you is a gift not to be taken lightly. It opens directly onto the courtyard, that private outdoor room that becomes the true heart of the house from May onwards. Aperitifs out there on a June evening, the old stone still warm from the afternoon sun, is the kind of simple pleasure this property was made for. Period features survive throughout — exposed stonework, original proportions, ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Anais moves slowly. The kind of slowly you forget exists until you're standing in a French kitchen at 8am, coffee in hand, watching light creep across a garden that actually has room to breathe. That's the rhythm this four-bedroom Charente house runs on — and once you feel it, city life starts to look a little absurd. Built in the 1970s on a full basement, this solid family home in the Poitou-Charentes region sits in good condition and carries the kind of practical bones that make a second home genuinely liveable from day one. No romantic ruin-restoration headaches here. The ground floor opens into a kitchen, dining room, veranda, a corridor connecting to the basement and upper level, a toilet, a dressing room, a first bedroom, and a master suite with its own shower room. Upstairs, you'll find a second bedroom, a bathroom, a dedicated office — useful for those who can't fully unplug even on holiday — and a landing corridor linking it all together. Four bedrooms total, spread across a generous 138 square metres of interior space. The wood-burning insert in the main living area earns its keep the moment October arrives in Charente. Double glazing keeps things quiet and comfortable year-round, and the septic tank sanitation system is already in place — a detail international buyers often overlook until the paperwork stage. The outbuilding is one of those genuinely rare finds: it houses a traditional bread oven. Not a decorative one. A working bread oven waiting to be fired up for weekend baking sessions or the kind of long, smoky dinner parties that only happen in French countryside. Then there's the covered swimming pool, enclosed under a dome structure — currently in need of restoration to bring it b ... click here to read more

Step outside on a Tuesday morning and the only sounds you'll hear are the distant moo of Charolais cattle in the field next door and the wood pigeons working the oak at the far end of the meadow. That's Rom. Not a place most tourists pass through, but exactly the kind of unhurried corner of Poitou-Charentes that people who've done the Dordogne circuit a dozen times eventually find their way to — and then quietly start buying. This five-bedroom stone house sits on just over 6,400 square metres of land in the commune of Rom, in Deux-Sèvres, priced at €230,000 all in. At 164 square metres of living space in the main house, plus a fully independent 49-square-metre gîte, a 130-square-metre barn, a gym, a games room, and a carport — this is not a property that runs out of purpose. Walk through the front door and the bones of the place hit you immediately. Exposed limestone walls, thick and cool in summer. Original oak beams crossing the ceilings in every bedroom upstairs. Parquet underfoot. These aren't cosmetic details someone stapled on during a renovation — they're structural, authentic, the kind of craftsmanship that stopped being common practice a century ago. The open-plan kitchen and dining room is big enough to actually feed a crowd, which matters when this becomes the gathering point for extended family summers. Off to one side, the separate sitting room has a stone fireplace with a wood-burning stove — the kind of room that earns its keep from October through March when the Deux-Sèvres countryside turns cool and golden and quiet. Upstairs, four bedrooms with beamed ceilings share a family bathroom with a bath. The ground floor has a shower room and utility room, keeping daily life functional without fuss. The prop ... click here to read more

On a slow Sunday morning in Le Pin, the smell of bread drifting from the boulangerie two streets over is enough to make you forget the rest of the world exists. The church bell marks the half hour. A neighbour waves from across the lane. Your coffee is getting cold, but you don't much care, because you're sitting on the covered stone porch of an 18th-century village house in southwest France, and there is genuinely nowhere better to be. That's the daily reality of owning this four-bedroom stone house in Le Pin, a quietly confident little village tucked into Tarn-et-Garonne, in the heart of Midi-Pyrénées. This isn't a postcard version of rural France that collapses under scrutiny. It's the real thing — a proper community, real stone underfoot, 900 square metres of land, and a house that has already done the hard work of becoming somewhere worth living. The renovation story matters here. Too many houses in this corner of France sell the dream and deliver a project. This one doesn't. The current owners have gone through the property methodically and spent seriously — new heat pump, double glazing throughout, an energy rating of B, which in this region and this era of construction is genuinely remarkable. The result is a house that runs cheaply and comfortably year-round. You arrive with your bags, you open the shutters, and you start living. That's it. Inside, the bones of the 18th century are still very much present. The original stone staircase anchors the entrance hall. Travertine flooring catches the afternoon light in a way that no reproduction material ever quite manages. Exposed beams run the length of the ceilings in the main rooms, and the proportions throughout are the kind that modern construction simply doesn ... click here to read more

Saturday morning. The log burner is crackling in the sitting room, the smell of woodsmoke drifting toward the open window, and out past the terrace, the rolling valleys of the Tarn-et-Garonne stretch as far as you can see — all golden fields, dark tree lines, and absolutely nobody else. This is the kind of quiet that people spend years trying to find. This 19th-century stone house in the commune of Castelsagrat sits in one of the most underrated corners of southwest France. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 110 square metres of honest, well-kept interior — and then the land, the views, the silence. At €229,000, it's the sort of property that makes you recalculate your priorities. The house itself has real bones. The rendered stone facade is classic Tarn-et-Garonne — solid, thick-walled construction that keeps rooms cool through the scorching July and August heat without you touching a dial. Inside, the sitting room centres on a log-burning stove that earns its keep from November through March. Terracotta-tiled floors run underfoot, exposed oak beams cross the ceilings above, and the country kitchen feels like the kind of room where Sunday lunches start at noon and end somewhere around four. Electric heating supplements the wood-burner during shoulder seasons when it's more chilly than cold. The whole ground floor has a relaxed, unhurried feel — this isn't a house that's trying to impress you. It just works. The storage rooms are worth special mention. Large, with genuine potential — convert them into a gite, a guest annex, a studio, or leave them as generous working storage for a household that actually uses its land. The groundwork is there for anyone who wants to expand the footprint without touching the main character ... click here to read more

Some mornings in Masseret, the only sound is the wood-burning stove ticking to life and the distant call of a kite circling above the tree line. You push open the kitchen shutters and the Corrèze countryside rolls out in front of you — green fields, oak woodland, farmsteads half-hidden in the folds of the hills. It's the kind of view that makes you put the coffee down and just stand there for a while. This 132-square-metre stone house sits in the commune of Masseret in the Corrèze department, one of the least-crowded and most quietly compelling corners of the Limousin region. The price — €180,000 — reflects the real French countryside, not the glossy version sold to tourists. This is the France that locals actually live in, and it's exactly what draws a growing wave of international buyers looking for something genuine. The house reads as traditional from the outside: natural stone walls, a slate roof, timber detailing around the windows. These aren't cosmetic additions. They're original, and they carry the kind of weight and texture that new builds spend fortunes trying to fake. The mature garden wraps around the property — established trees, flowering shrubs, a sense of things that have been growing here for decades. You won't be planting hedges and waiting ten years for privacy. It's already here. Step inside and the living room does the work that every French country house should. Exposed oak beams run across the ceiling. The wooden floors are warm underfoot even in January, which matters here, because Limousin winters are real winters — crisp, clear, properly cold. The fireplace is the room's anchor, with a wood-burning stove that connects directly to the central heating system. So you're not choosing between atm ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Verfeil, and the smell of fresh bread from the boulangerie at the end of the lane drifts through the kitchen window before you've even made coffee. That's not a fantasy — it's just Tuesday here, or any other day of the week. This is a village with an actual bakery, an actual restaurant, and an actual rhythm that you slot into almost immediately. The house itself is built from the same warm ochre stone you see throughout this corner of the Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne borderlands — thick walls that keep things cool in July and hold heat in February. It's been restored with care. The kind of restoration where someone made good decisions: a quality kitchen that doesn't feel like a showroom, a dining area that flows without forcing it into an open-plan living space, all on the ground floor so there's a logic to how you move through the day. Cook, eat, spill out onto the terrace. It just works. And that terrace. There's a generous covered area purpose-built for long lunches that start at one o'clock and end when the light changes — something the French have perfected and visitors quietly adopt. Beyond it, the garden drops into a plunge pool, cold enough to actually matter during the weeks in July and August when temperatures in this part of Occitanie climb well into the mid-30s. Shade, stone, water. You don't need much more than that. Back inside, the stairs take you up to two bedrooms on the first floor, each with its own ensuite — so two couples, or parents and older children, can coexist without the usual morning queue for the bathroom. Then above that, the attic bedroom. It's the kind of room that people argue over quietly: sloped ceilings, the faint creak of old timber, a sense of being under the rooftop ... click here to read more

Picture this: it's a Tuesday morning in late June, and you're sitting on a stone terrace with a bowl of café au lait watching the mist lift off the Tarn-et-Garonne valleys below. No traffic. No notifications. Just the low clang of a cowbell somewhere down the hill and the smell of warm limestone. That's the ordinary Tuesday this 19th-century farmhouse in Roquecor makes possible. This is a proper French country house — solid walls, real character, a past you can feel in the thick stone and hand-worn steps. At 120 square metres it's not trying to be a château. It's a house you could actually live in, maintain without a team of groundskeepers, and love without it becoming a second job. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a kitchen that opens into a living room with a wood-burning stove. When January comes and the Quercy Blanc plateau turns silver with frost, you'll understand exactly why that stove exists. The covered terrace deserves its own paragraph. Long, generous, and oriented toward the kind of view that makes guests go quiet — rolling countryside in every direction, no rooftop intrusions, no pylons cutting the horizon. This is where summer happens. Lunch bleeds into afternoon, afternoon into apéro, and suddenly it's dark and nobody's moved in three hours. The productive vegetable garden alongside it means that summer lunch might involve tomatoes picked twelve minutes ago, which changes things entirely. Roquecor itself sits in the northern reaches of Tarn-et-Garonne, close to the border with Lot-et-Garonne, in a part of France that doesn't feature on the overrun tourist trail. That's the point. The village of Puylaroque is a ten-minute drive and has everything for daily life — a bakery, a pharmacy, a market on Wednesda ... click here to read more

Step out of the front door on a Sunday morning and the smell of fresh bread from the boulangerie two streets over drifts past you before you've even decided where to walk. That's Castelsagrat. A proper bastide village perched above the rolling farmland of Tarn-et-Garonne, where the main square still functions exactly as it was intended — people gathering, locals arguing cheerfully over pétanque, market stalls spilling color onto the old stone paving. This three-bedroom house sits just off that square on a quiet side road, and the address alone tells you something: you're in the middle of the action, but shielded from it. The building has its own quiet history. Before it became the house it is today, it was a workshop where craftsmen built wooden horse-drawn carriages — you can still feel that purposeful, practical quality in the bones of the structure. Thick 19th-century stone walls that keep rooms cool through the heat of July. Ceiling beams worn smooth. Wide wooden floorboards that creak in exactly the right places. The previous owners had the good sense to leave all of that alone and simply update around it — the kitchen is fitted and contemporary, the bathrooms are clean and modern, and part double glazing means the winters are manageable without the kind of heating bills that haunt older stone properties. The layout makes everyday life easy. The sitting room is on the first floor, elevated above the lane below, so the log-burning stove does its work while you watch the light change across the valley through the windows. In autumn, when the plane trees along the road start dropping leaves and the air sharpens, this room becomes the reason you bought the house. The kitchen opens directly onto a balcony — not a symbo ... click here to read more

On a still weekday morning in Bourg-de-Visa, the smell of fresh bread drifts from the boulangerie four minutes' walk up the lane before you've even thought about making coffee. That's the pace of life here — unhurried, rooted, real. This 1850s stone barn, once a working forge, has been carefully converted into a two-bedroom house that sits quietly behind a stone wall on the village edge, its garden opening up to rolling Tarn-et-Garonne countryside that stretches further than you'd think possible for somewhere so easy to reach. Midi-Pyrénées is one of those parts of France that doesn't announce itself loudly. No famous coastline, no ski resort posters plastered at Charles de Gaulle. What it has instead is the kind of slow, unselfconscious rural beauty that people spend years searching for and rarely find — and Bourg-de-Visa sits right in the heart of it. The village has genuine life to it. A weekly market, a café where the same retired farmers have been occupying the same chairs since the 1980s, and those summer night markets that run through July and August: outdoor tables, local wine, grilled meats, children chasing each other between the stalls until well past dark. It's the France visitors imagine and tourists rarely stumble across. The house itself carries its history well. The original stone walls are thick enough to keep rooms cool through the heat of a Quercy summer — and this corner of France runs hot from June through September, with long golden evenings that make the tiled terrace off the kitchen feel like an extension of the living room. Step through the gated entrance off the lane, and the first thing you notice is the well at the centre of the lawn, flanked by established trees that throw proper shade. The ... click here to read more

On a still morning in Coussac-Bonneval, the only sound you'll hear from the kitchen window is birdsong and the faint clang of the village church bell marking the hour. That's not a selling point — that's just Tuesday. This is a corner of rural France that hasn't been polished for tourists, and that's exactly what makes it worth your attention. This three-bedroom stone village house sits in the heart of Coussac-Bonneval, a quietly compelling commune in the Haute-Vienne department of Limousin, and it has been fully renovated without losing the bones that make it genuinely special. The original parquet floors are still there, worn smooth in the best possible way. The exposed timber beams cross the ceilings upstairs with the kind of presence you simply can't recreate. Two fireplaces anchor the interior, and a wood-burning stove in the living and dining room turns a rainy October evening into something you'd want to repeat every year. At 153 square metres spread across two levels, the house has real breathing room. The ground floor opens with an entrance hall that leads into a generous 39-square-metre living and dining space — French doors push open to a south-facing terrace, and in summer you'll barely bother eating indoors. The kitchen is fully fitted and functional, with a ground-floor WC keeping the layout practical. Upstairs, three bedrooms share two bathrooms, each with its own WC, plus a further separate WC — sensible for families or groups of friends who all need to be somewhere at the same time on a Saturday morning. Outside is where this property really opens up. The walled garden runs to 1,101 square metres, giving you genuine privacy without feeling like you're managing an estate. There's a paved terrace for lo ... click here to read more

The bread oven is still there. So is the wine press. Standing in the larger of the two stone barns on a warm June morning, with swallows threading in and out of the rafters above you, it doesn't take long to understand that this 1847 farmhouse near Beauville wasn't just built — it was assembled with the kind of patience and permanence that nobody bothers with anymore. That original stone sink in the kitchen still works. The cast iron roll-top bath still gleams. Some things, if they're good enough to begin with, don't need replacing. This is a three-bedroom farmhouse in the rolling countryside of Lot-et-Garonne, priced at €199,000, sitting on a generous 3,500m2 garden with a separate 1.2-hectare plot attached. Two stone barns come with the property. The house itself runs to 93 square metres. It's in good condition — not a ruin, not a renovation project from hell — but it carries that particular lived-in warmth that a period property only gets after a century and a half of occupation. A little refreshing here and there, and it would be exactly what it already nearly is: one of the most quietly singular farmhouses in this corner of southwest France. Approach along the lane — and it really is a quiet lane, the kind where you occasionally have to pull over for a tractor and nobody minds — and the first thing you notice is how the house sits in the landscape. The Lot-et-Garonne valley rolls out around it in every direction, the kind of view that you'd pay an architect a fortune to fabricate if nature hadn't already done it for free. Established trees frame the garden. Gnarled vines push along their rows. Box hedging holds everything together. There's a vegetable patch, multiple fruit trees, and a small terrace positioned, wh ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Poitou-Charentes region, this delightful two-bedroom house in Les Forges offers a unique opportunity to own a slice of French countryside charm. Located within the serene Domaine Le Bois Senis, this property is more than just a house; it's a gateway to a lifestyle filled with tranquility, community, and the timeless allure of rural France. A Home That Welcomes You Imagine stepping into a home where every corner whispers comfort and warmth. Built in 2007, this well-maintained property boasts a solid construction that promises longevity and peace of mind. The living room, with its high beamed ceiling and cozy open fireplace, invites you to unwind and savor the simple pleasures of life. Whether it's a chilly winter evening or a breezy summer night, this space adapts to every season, offering a haven of relaxation. Modern Comforts Meet Rustic Charm The open-plan kitchen is a culinary enthusiast's dream, equipped with modern appliances including a dishwasher, electric hob, oven, and fridge-freezer. The seamless flow into the dining and living areas makes it perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying family meals. Two spacious bedrooms and two well-appointed bathrooms ensure comfort and privacy for all occupants, while a separate guest toilet adds convenience. Outdoor Living at Its Best Step outside to discover a generous veranda, partially covered to offer both sun and shade. This outdoor space is perfect for al fresco dining, morning coffees, or simply soaking in the serene surroundings. The south-facing garden, lush and private, is a sanctuary for relaxation and play, offering ample space for children or gardening enthusiasts. A Community That Feels Like Home Domaine Le Bois Seni ... click here to read more

Picture this: a Sunday morning in rural Deux-Sèvres, the kitchen smelling of fresh bread from the park's delivery service, a coffee in hand, French doors open wide onto a south-facing garden already warm by nine. The only sound is birdsong and, faintly, the satisfying thwack of a golf club from the 27-hole course that runs along the park's edge. This is the quiet rhythm of life at Domaine Le Bois Senis — and this two-bedroom bungalow puts you right at the center of it. Les Forges sits in the gentle countryside of Deux-Sèvres, a department that most international travelers drive through on their way to somewhere more obvious. Their loss. This pocket of Poitou-Charentes has the kind of rolling agricultural calm that's almost impossible to find in over-touristed parts of France — sunflower fields in July, morning mist over the bocage hedgerows in autumn, local markets where the vendor knows your name by your third visit. The village center is literally a five-minute walk from the park's gate, where you'll find a well-stocked local shop and the kind of unpretentious English pub that becomes a social anchor for the international community that's made Domaine Le Bois Senis its second home. The bungalow itself sits at 80 square meters, compact but genuinely well-thought-out. High ceilings with exposed wooden beams keep the living room from ever feeling small — there's a generosity to the proportions that photographs struggle to convey. The open fireplace isn't decorative; come November, when the countryside turns amber and the pool closes for the season, you'll actually use it. Air conditioning handles the other end of the spectrum during July and August when Deux-Sèvres bakes pleasantly under long Aquitaine-adjacent summers. ... click here to read more

Nestled in the tranquil French village of Les Forges, this delightful 4-bedroom bungalow is a real find for those looking to settle in an area that combines charming rural living with excellent local amenities. Situated in Deux-Sèvres, a department in the region of Poitou-Charentes, this detached house offers quite a bit for its pricing. Constructed in 2002, this home is in a good condition and ready to welcome its new owners. Ideal as either a permanent residence or a holiday retreat, it offers great possibilities for rental income, especially considering its desirable location. Let's take a closer look at what this property has to offer. Upon entering the house, you're greeted by a welcoming entrance hall with a tiled floor, immediately setting the tone for the comfortable living spaces to follow. To the side, there's a convenient separate WC, featuring a hand wash basin. As you move into the heart of the home, you'll discover an open-plan, L-shaped living room. This inviting space showcases a high vaulted ceiling adorned with wooden beams and is bathed in natural light, thanks to patio doors at both the front and side. The patio doors open onto a tiled terrace at the front and a spacious covered terrace at the side, creating a perfect setting for outdoor relaxation. A corner fireplace adds a cozy touch for those cooler evenings. The kitchen is well-equipped and practical, complete with modern appliances, including an integrated oven, hob, extractor, and microwave. Its layout includes windows on both the front and side, ensuring a bright and pleasant environment for meal preparation. From the L-shaped hallway, a door leads to four generous double bedrooms. Bedroom 1 boasts a French door to the side and shares a sho ... click here to read more

Welcome to a real estate opportunity nestled in the heart of the stunning Poitou-Charentes region of France. This villa, positioned at Le Bourg est 11, Les Forges, beckons you to explore a lifestyle that combines tranquility with a touch of rural charm. As busy agents catering to a diverse global clientele, we're thrilled to share this property that sits beautifully on its private land of about 840 square meters. Whether you're seeking a permanent residence, a vacation retreat, or an investment in beautiful France, this property requires your attention. The city of Les Forges greets residents and visitors with a unique blend of heritage and nature. It's the kind of place where every season basks the town in different hues, from the vibrant blooms of spring to the warm, golden shades of autumn. Les Forges is a peaceful town that offers a slower pace of life compared to urban centers, yet it doesn't fall short of conveniences. It’s the perfect choice for those looking to retreat into a more tranquil environment while still retaining access to essential amenities. As you approach the villa, the street exudes a quaint, charming aura, setting the stage for what lies beyond the villa gates. Built in 2002, the villa embodies a serene yet vibrant way of life. The living experience starts as soon as you step into the cozy living room where a warm, inviting fireplace awaits—an ideal setting to gather with family and friends, especially during the cooler months that sweep through the region. In good condition, the villa spans over 104 square meters, featuring: - 3 spacious bedrooms - 2 well-maintained bathrooms - A cozy living room with a fireplace - Complete kitchen with modern appliances - Private swimming pool with a heat pu ... click here to read more

Nestled in the charming village of Vasles, located in the region of Deux-Sèvres, Poitou-Charentes, lies a unique opportunity—a delightful haven for those seeking both tranquility and adventure. For a steal at 165,000 euros, this three-bedroom detached villa stands ready to become a perfect sanctuary, whether as a permanent residence or a home away from home. Positioned perfectly on the outskirts with views of a vast 27-hole golf course, the scenery in itself brings a daily dose of serenity. Let's step inside. You'll find a villa that boasts comfort and practicality. A covered porch ushers you into a welcoming entrance hall, where you'll find a convenient cupboard perfect for storing a washing machine and tumble dryer. The open plan living area is the heart of the home, featuring a vaulted ceiling and tiled floors that lend a touch of sophistication without fuss. The wood-burning stove nestled in the feature fireplace becomes a cozy focal point, wrapped in a triple-aspect sitting area laced with French doors. These doors seamlessly merge indoor comforts with an outdoor experience, leading to a paved covered terrace that practically calls for evenings spent dining al fresco. Picture shared laughs and clinks of glasses on the terrace as you enjoy the gentle hues of sunset over the surrounding landscape. For those who like to whip up culinary delights, the kitchen offers an intuitive flow and is equipped with essentials: a suite of wall and base units, dishwasher, oven, electric hob, extractor fan, fridge/freezer, and microwave—the basics for any chef to feel right at home. The sleeping quarters offer ample retreat for rest. The master bedroom comes with an en-suite shower room, ensuring privacy and convenience. Bedroom ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque village of Pamproux, you'll find a unique opportunity to invest in an authentic French living experience. Set within the captivating landscape of Deux-Sèvres, this villa infuses timeless architectural elements with a splash of countryside relaxation. Pamproux, a village that echoes history while embracing modernity, offers you the allure of France right at your doorstep. The villa itself stands proudly with five bedrooms, two of which warmly await renovation to match your personal style. This could be a perfect fit for families longing for additional space or savvy investors eyeing a rental potential. At 148 square meters in size, the property provides ample room for versatile living. With a realistic price tag of 158,000 euros, this villa invites buyers who appreciate value without compromising on potential. Imagine entering through one of the two independent accesses, and being welcomed by a spacious garden-level entry complete with a hall that discreetly houses a staircase and a cleverly placed WC. As you step further inside, a wide open-plan living room and kitchen area greet you, perfect for family gatherings or a secluded weekend lunch. The scene is elevated by a cozy living room featuring a traditional fireplace, offering warmth and heart to the villa. A large, semi-buried cellar adds a rustic touch, promising delightful opportunities for creative conversion or storage. Upstairs, amidst the gentle elegance of three well-preserved bedrooms, you'll find a shower room with a view that sweeps across the tranquil valley. Need more room? An accessible attic waits patiently for your imagination to spark, presenting about 100 additional square meters to develop. Now, let's step outside into ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque village of Pamproux, in the Deux-Sèvres department of the Poitou-Charentes region, lies a 5-bedroom villa that awaits its new chapter. This property, sprawling across 148 square meters, is not just a house but a canvas of opportunities for those willing to see its potential and make it their own. Whether you're envisioning a forever family home or an investment for rental purposes, this villa invites you to explore its possibilities. Located for €158,000, it represents an enticing proposition. Pamproux is perfectly positioned in idyllic western France and has the best of both worlds: a quiet, friendly community atmosphere while also being conveniently connected to larger cities. Just a short 10-minute drive brings you to Saint Maixent L'École, and within half an hour, you can find yourself in the bustling hubs of Niort or Poitiers. Whether you travel for work or leisure, the local TER train station offers direct connections on the Poitiers - La Rochelle line, making it a commuter's dream. This villa isn't just about its location—it's about its lifestyle. Imagine waking up in a place where time seems to slow down, and days are filled with leisurely walks along the terraced garden that overlooks a serene river and valley. Set on a hillside and facing due south, the home receives plenty of natural light and offers picturesque views. As you step inside from one of the villa's two independent entrances, you'll find a garden level that opens into a welcoming hall. From there, a staircase leads to the upper floors, while to the right, a large living room equipped with a fireplace invites you to unwind. The open-plan kitchen offers ample space for entertaining or simply enjoying a quiet meal with th ... click here to read more

Picture yourself sipping morning coffee on a sun-drenched terrace, overlooking a private valley where morning mist rises from the river below, while the rhythm of authentic French village life unfolds around you. This substantial five-bedroom village house in Pamproux offers the rare combination of vibrant community living and complete natural tranquility, positioned on nearly 900 square meters of terraced gardens that cascade down to the valley edge. The south-facing orientation bathes every room in natural light, while stone walls and original architectural elements whisper stories of generations past. This is your opportunity to own a significant piece of Poitou-Charentes heritage, perfectly positioned for exploring western France's hidden treasures while enjoying the convenience of modern connectivity. Located in the heart of Pamproux, this property places you in one of Deux-Sèvres' most characterful villages, where authentic French life continues undisturbed by mass tourism. The village pulses with genuine activity: weekly markets overflow with regional produce, local boulangeries fill morning air with fresh bread aromas, and neighbors gather at cafés for animated conversations. This isn't a sleepy hamlet but a thriving community with essential services, shops, and the warmth of year-round residents who welcome newcomers. The property's position provides remarkable accessibility for a vacation home serving as your French base. Saint Maixent L'Ecole sits just ten minutes away, offering additional amenities and its historic military school. Within thirty minutes, you reach both Niort, the departmental capital with comprehensive shopping and cultural facilities, and Poitiers, a magnificent medieval city crowned by Notr ... click here to read more

Welcome to this idyllic property in rural Beaulieu-sous-Parthenay, France. Nestled in the heart of the stunning Poitou-Charentes region, this lovely 8-bedroom house offers an exceptional living experience, surrounded by the rich greenery and tranquil ambiance that makes this part of France so special. Located just 10 minutes south of Parthenay, a piece of France's historical gem, this classic country property offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the French countryside's enchanting allure. Spreading over 1.3 hectares of private parkland (12,615 m2), the property features a heated swimming pool, 2 cosy guesthouses, and picturesque views that will take your breath away. Living in Beaulieu-sous-Parthenay allows for a life of peace and simplicity, far removed from the bustling noise and fast pace of modern cities. Here, the locals pride themselves on their close-knit communities, charming markets, and the numerous festivals and events that highlight their rich cultural heritage. You will find bountiful opportunities for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities in the surrounding countryside, making this an ideal location for those who enjoy a balance of indoor luxury and outdoor living. The region experiences a warm, temperate climate, with pleasant summers and mild winters. A perfect climate to enjoy the property’s outdoor features all year round. The main house, which covers a generous 170 m2 across two floors, provides ample space and comfort. The ground floor offers an open-plan living arrangement with dining and salon area complete with a fireplace and wood burner. The semi-enclosed kitchen comfortably caters family-style cooking. A convenient pantry, hallway, WC, and access to a garage/atelier wi ... click here to read more

Nestled in the enchanting area of Poitou-Charentes in the charming town of Parthenay, this property offers a unique opportunity for those seeking a peaceful retreat in the heart of France. I'm thrilled to take you through this five-bedroom house that is not just a home, but a lifestyle, waiting to be embraced by someone with a taste for both tranquility and history. Parthenay itself is a city rich with art and heritage, making it an attractive spot for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in French culture and tradition. As a busy global real estate agent, I come across many properties, but few have left as lasting an impression on me as this particular home. As soon as you pass through the main gate, you're immediately captivated by a panoramic view unlike any other. The vista stretches over the old town of Parthenay, dotted with its historical churches, the serene valley of the Thouet River, and the quintessential French bocage countryside. For those looking to explore the surrounding area, Parthenay offers much to do and see. This medieval town is known for its remarkable architecture and is often referred to as the gateway to the renowned region of Poitou-Charentes. Life here comes with the charm of a quieter pace, allowing residents to enjoy leisurely strolls through cobbled streets or attend local markets bustling with fresh produce. Don’t forget the local cuisine; it's a real treat! Furthermore, the climate in Parthenay is pleasant, with moderately warm summers and mild winters — just perfect for those who appreciate a temperate climate. The house itself rests within nearly 9000 square meters of beautifully landscaped grounds. The garden gently slopes down towards the river and the private tennis court, offerin ... click here to read more

Picture this: it's a Tuesday morning in late June, the kind of warm, slow morning that only seems to happen in southwest France. You're standing on the covered terrace with a coffee, watching the light ripple across the pool through a gap in the trees. The nearest neighbor is far enough away that all you can hear are birds and the occasional tractor somewhere beyond the tree line. No traffic. No noise. Just a 119-square-meter house that's entirely yours, on a generous 2,940-square-meter plot that feels like the rest of the world forgot to find it. That's the daily reality of this well-kept three-bedroom home on the edge of Parthenay, a medieval market town in the Deux-Sèvres department that most international buyers still haven't discovered — which is precisely why the value here is so compelling. Parthenay itself deserves a closer look. The old town is strung along a rocky spur above the Thouet River, with ramparts and a 13th-century gatehouse you walk through to reach the main street of half-timbered houses. Every Wednesday, the weekly market fills the lower town with market gardeners from the surrounding bocage countryside, selling goat's cheese from Poitou, Charentais melons, Mogette beans — a white bean so tied to the region it has its own festival. The town is lively but never loud, the kind of place where you'll quickly learn the name of the baker at Le Fournil and know which café terrace catches the afternoon sun on the Place du Drapeau. The house itself was built in 2006, which matters more than it might sound. You're not buying a money pit wrapped in old stone charm. The structure is solid, the systems are modern, and the current owners have kept on top of every update that counts. The heat pump powering the ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque village of Le Tallud, in the heart of the Poitou-Charentes region, this delightful 4-bedroom house offers an idyllic escape for those seeking a second home in France. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, Deux-Sèvres is a hidden gem for international buyers looking to invest in a vacation property. Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of the French countryside, with the sun casting a warm glow over the rolling hills and vineyards. This property, in good condition, is a perfect blend of traditional charm and modern comfort, making it an ideal retreat for family holidays, romantic getaways, or a peaceful retirement. ### A Gateway to French Culture and Relaxation Le Tallud is a quintessential French village, offering a serene lifestyle with easy access to local amenities. The nearby towns of Argentonnay and Thouars provide a taste of authentic French living, with bustling markets, quaint cafes, and historic sites waiting to be explored. ### Property Highlights: - Spacious Living: The house boasts 145 square meters of living space, spread over two levels, providing ample room for family and guests. - Four Bedrooms: Perfect for accommodating friends and family, with a master suite featuring an en suite shower room. - Two Bathrooms: Ensuring convenience and privacy for all occupants. - Charming Features: A cozy lounge with a fireplace, a dining room, and a fitted kitchen/breakfast room. - Outdoor Space: Set on 2500m² of land, the property includes several stone outbuildings, an enclosed courtyard, and ample parking. - Potential for Expansion: An attached outbuilding offers scope for additional accommodation, subject to planning. - Modern Comforts: Heating via a log bur ... click here to read more

Nestled in the charming locality of Le Tallud, Poitou-Charentes, Deux-Sèvres, France, this unique 7-bedroom house offers a compelling mix of tradition, space, and potential. With a generous plot space of 157 sqm, the property comprises a meticulously restored 3-bedroom main house alongside a 4-bedroom "guest house" that awaits some loving refurbishment. This setup provides an excellent opportunity for a potential income source, once renovated, especially appealing to overseas buyers and expats who may be looking at investment possibilities or housing extended family. The main residence embodies a warm, rustic charm with its original flagstone flooring greeting you upon entrance. The farmhouse-style kitchen serves as a hearty hub of the home, leading into an inviting living room illuminated by abundant natural light. This room features a time-honored stone fireplace and polished wooden floors, creating a cozy atmosphere during colder months. The upper level of the house hosts three well-sized bedrooms, including one with an ensuite, a family bathroom, and two additional attic rooms. These rooms hold great potential for further development, subject to necessary permissions, offering new owners the flexibility to tailor the space to their needs. In contrast, the guest house, whilst structurally sound, requires refurbishment. It consists of a large living/dining area with an integrated kitchen, four bedrooms, and a shower room. This separate space opens numerous possibilities for creative redesign and could become a valuable asset as a rental property or a private abode for guests. The property is also surrounded by an array of outbuildings, including a substantial attached barn and five smaller barns and workshops, ideal ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene French countryside, this inviting single-bedroom house promises an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Located in Poitou-Charentes, within the Deux-Sèvres department, the property finds itself comfortably situated between the charming village of Villeneuve la Comtesse and the delightful town of Beauvoir sur Niort. With a drive of under an hour, you can easily venture to the coastal beauty of La Rochelle, making it a splendid destination for those who crave both tranquility and access to cultural and coastal experiences. This property, with approximately 57 square meters of living space, is set on a generous expanse of 3445 square meters of land. With its good condition, it offers a comfortable setting ready for immediate occupation. The home consists of a bedroom, a cozy living area, and a practical shower room with a WC, providing the core comforts anyone might need. The attic above hints at possibilities for expansion, ready for those with a touch of vision and creativity to elevate the living space. In the heart of Deux-Sèvres, you will find life at a slower, more intimate pace. The climate here is gentle, with mild winters and warm summers that invite you to soak up the sun in your own expansive orchard. As the seasons change, your lifestyle can adapt with it — from springtime gardening to autumn harvesting. The land also includes chicken sheds and a vegetable garden, offering a self-sustainable lifestyle. For the practically minded, the essentials are already in place — water points, an electrical network on its way to completion, and a fireplace that whispers of cozy evenings to come. The outbuilding, once the functional space for stables and a cowshed, now stands as a ... click here to read more

This sun-drenched, generously spacious house residing in the entrancing region of Poitou-Charentes, specifically located in Deux-Sèvres, France at Le Tallud for all the history and culture enthusiasts is an absolute steal. The house, a triumphant blend of modern comfort with countryside charm, sprawls over a generous 159 square meters. It's nestled in a peaceful hamlet positioned ideally between the well-known towns of Villefagnan and Chef-Boutonne, making accessibility and convenience a valid tick on your checklist. Walking in through the front door, one is welcomed by an elegant entrance hall that leads into an inviting lounge-diner area. This brightly lit, supremely spacious room is perfectly suited to hosting large gatherings or cozy family dinners. Adjacent to the dining room resides a well-equipped modern kitchen with a handy breakfast bar. With an outlook that ensures you do not miss a moment of the morning's beauty, your everyday breakfast could easily be mistaken for a tranquil weekend brunch. The house offers three bedrooms, two of which are situated on the ground floor. The master bedroom comfortably accommodates a king-sized bed while you can utilize the attached dressing room as a private wardrobe or even a serene reading corner. The second double bedroom smiles with warm daylight, making it a cozy retreat after a long day. There is also a thoroughly modern shower room and a WC on this floor, ensuring that comfort is never more than a few steps away. Equally impressive is the upper floor, housing the third bedroom. This tastefully decorated room coupled with the office area provides an ideal work-from-home situation. For the active mind, there is a large playroom, which could easily be transformed into ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Poitou-Charentes region, this exquisite 14th-century chateau in Lezay offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of French history. With its rich heritage and authentic medieval charm, this property is perfect for those seeking a second home that combines historical allure with modern comfort. Imagine waking up in a place where every stone tells a story, where the air is filled with the whispers of centuries past. This chateau, meticulously preserved, invites you to step back in time while enjoying the conveniences of today. As you approach the property, the grandeur of its architecture is immediately apparent, with its imposing towers and expansive courtyard setting the stage for a truly enchanting experience. ### A Glimpse into Chateau Living The chateau spans an impressive 490 square meters, offering ample space for family gatherings, entertaining guests, or simply enjoying the tranquility of rural France. The ground floor features a spacious kitchen-dining area, perfect for hosting lavish dinners or casual brunches. The large living room, with its open fireplace, provides a cozy retreat during cooler months, where you can unwind with a good book or share stories by the fire. Upstairs, the first floor houses two beautifully appointed bedrooms, each with its own fireplace, adding a touch of romance and warmth. A modern shower room with a toilet ensures comfort and convenience. The second floor offers two additional bedrooms and a toilet, with a 45-square-meter attic space ready for your creative vision—perhaps a home office, art studio, or additional bedroom. ### A Haven of History and Nature The chateau's annex, a 55-square-meter space, includes a kitchen-living room, two ... click here to read more

Welcome to a charming three-bedroom house nestled in the serene rural hamlet of Poitou-Charentes, Deux-Sèvres, Lezay, France. Encircled by the wonder of open countryside, the tranquility this location offers is unmatched, making it a superb choice for potential homeowners seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. This house, located just seven kilometers from the lively market town of Lezay, offers the perfect balance of rural tranquility and access to necessary amenities. Known for its vibrant shops, eclectic bars, and a variety of restaurants, Lezay is a town that pulses with life, giving you a taste of authentic French culture right at your doorstep. Additionally, the larger town of Melle is just a 15-minute drive away, adding to the home’s convenience. This attractive character stone property brims with rustic charm and modern essentials including gas central heating and double-glazed windows, providing a cozy living space of approximately 167m2. Exceptionally designed, it is southwest-facing, allowing ample sunlight to pour in and brighten up every corner of the house. On entering, you are greeted by the welcoming central entrance hall adorned with wooden staircase and traditional bulls-eye window. It leads to a lavish 26m2 dining room, perfect for hosting dinner parties. The room is equipped with an inviting fireplace, beamed ceiling, and tiled floor, and is brightly lit due to a large window, setting a warm and friendly atmosphere for meals. The generously sized 38m2 living room is equipped with another charentaise stone fireplace, catering for comfort during colder months. Additionally, the double-aspect kitchen comes fully fitted with a tiled floor and a patio-facing stable door, promisin ... click here to read more

Discover authentic French country living with this character-filled 2-bedroom house nestled in the tranquil hamlet near Lezay, in the picturesque Deux-Sèvres region of Poitou-Charentes, France. Offering an idyllic rural lifestyle, this home presents an attractive opportunity for overseas buyers and expats seeking a serene retreat or a captivating fixer-upper project. The property, while maintained in good condition, boasts a traditional charm that requires some updating to fully realize its potential. Standing on a 665 square meter plot, the stone-built house spans 104 square meters of living space. It features historical elements such as a majestic Charentaise stone fireplace, original beamed ceilings, and stunning flagstone flooring which enrich the large 43 square meter living room. Additionally, the cozy home comprises a fully fitted kitchen, and a versatile extra room, currently presenting with a combination of flagstone and wooden flooring. In need of some renovation, this home offers new owners the chance to infuse their personal style into the property. The current facilities include single glazing and a non-conforming septic tank, as well as a new gas boiler for central heating, ensuring that your renovation project starts on a solid foundation. Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, each comfortably sized and outfitted with laminate wood flooring that brightens the space, and a convertible attic of 22 square meters which could provide additional living space or storage options. The property's exterior includes a private, south-facing courtyard garden that is layered with possibilities for landscaping or creating an outdoor living area. A charming covered terrace and additional rear garden contribute further to t ... click here to read more