Spacious 3-Bedroom Home in Souvigné with Barn, Courtyard & Garden – Embrace French Countryside Living!

Picture a Thursday morning in late June. You've driven seven minutes down a quiet lane from La Fouillade, windows down, and the air already smells of cut grass and warm stone. Back at the house, coffee is on, the fireplace insert still holds a little warmth from last night, and through the kitchen window you can watch a buzzard circle lazily over your 8,617 square metres of land. This is what it feels like to own a piece of the Aveyron — unhurried, deeply French, and entirely your own. This former farmhouse in the commune of Bor-et-Bar has the kind of bones that reward a buyer with vision. At 126 m² across two floors plus a full basement, the main house is solid and liveable right now, while the constellation of outbuildings surrounding it opens up a range of possibilities that few rural French properties at this price point can match. A 50 m² double garage. A 60 m² former pigsty. And then — the showstopper — a 300 m² stone building that once housed livestock and could, with the right project, become gîtes, a workshop, an artists' residency, or simply extraordinary storage for the serious hobbyist. Planning permission in this part of the Aveyron has historically been sympathetic to thoughtful rural conversions. That 300 m² building alone makes this property worth serious attention. Inside the main house, the ground floor revolves around a generous 38 m² open living space where kitchen, dining, and sitting areas flow together around a fireplace with an insert — the kind that throws real heat on a January evening when the Ségala plateau gets its occasional frost. Three bedrooms of 9, 13, and 14 m² sit off this level, along with a bathroom and a separate WC. Upstairs, three further bedrooms, a second WC, and a convertible ... click here to read more

Stand on the balcony on a clear October morning and you'll understand immediately. The valleys below are wrapped in a low mist, the tree canopy has gone amber and rust, and the only sound is the wind moving through the pines. This is Limousin at its most elemental — and this little stone cottage sits right at the top of it all. Saint-Gilles-les-Forêts is not a village that makes headlines. That's precisely the point. Tucked into the wooded hills of Haute-Vienne, about 30 kilometres southeast of Limoges, it belongs to a part of rural France that many people drive through on the way to somewhere else and later wish they'd stopped. The rolling forested landscape here is part of the wider Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin territory, and the surrounding countryside has the kind of unhurried quality that simply cannot be manufactured. The air actually smells different — a mix of damp earth, pine resin, and woodsmoke drifting from farmhouse chimneys on cool evenings. The cottage itself is built in the traditional Limousin stone style, that characteristically dark granite that seems to absorb the light differently at each hour of the day. At around 40 square metres of habitable space, it's compact and honest — there are no pretensions here, just a well-proportioned one-bedroom home that has been kept in good condition. But the real story is what lies beyond those walls. The attic holds genuine conversion potential, and the basement adds further flexibility for anyone who wants to expand without sacrificing the character of the existing structure. Planning something bigger? The bones are already there. The enclosed plot is tree-lined and private, with a wood shed that will earn its keep the moment the first autumn cold s ... click here to read more

Step through the wide sliding door of a former barn on a quiet hillside above Morlhon-le-Haut, and the first thing that hits you is the scale of the place. That 65-square-metre living room opens up before you like the inside of a cathedral — timber overhead, light slanting in from the south-facing terrace, a wood-burning stove already crackling on a November afternoon. It smells faintly of oak and old stone. Outside, the orchard is dropping its last apples into the wet grass, and across the flat, open grounds you can count two wells and a fish pond without taking a single step. This is the kind of property that takes a few minutes to fully comprehend. At just under ten kilometres from Villefranche-de-Rouergue and a short drive from Rieupeyroux, the address sits at a genuinely quiet crossroads of rural Aveyron — a département that most international buyers haven't yet discovered but seasoned France-watchers have been quietly watching for years. The land here is a deep, folded green, crossed by the Dourdou de Conques river valley and threaded with country lanes where you might go twenty minutes without seeing another car. The nearest TGV connection runs through Figeac or Rodez, both reachable in under an hour, and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport — the main gateway for international arrivals — sits roughly two hours southwest. You're remote enough to properly decompress, close enough to civilisation that it never becomes inconvenient. The main house, the converted barn, is where the real story of this property begins. The original structure — massive, honest stonework dating back generations — has been carefully opened up rather than gutted. Entering via a sloping ramp that still echoes the barn's working past, you arrive in the ... click here to read more

Stand on the terrace on a Saturday morning and the only sounds you'll catch are birdsong, the distant bark of a hunting dog somewhere in the oak woods, and the faint clatter of a tractor on the lane. That's life in Roziers-Saint-Georges — unhurried, grounded, and genuinely rural in a way that most of France has long since traded away for tourism infrastructure. This three-bedroom stone house sits in the Haute-Vienne department of Limousin, a region most international buyers haven't discovered yet, which is precisely what makes it worth paying attention to right now. The house itself is honest architecture. Thick granite walls — the kind that keep rooms cool in July without air conditioning and hold warmth in October without the heating working overtime. The original stone structure has been extended with a timber-clad addition that widens the ground floor living space and gives the interior an unexpected texture: rough-hewn stone on one side, warm wood on the other. Single-level living runs across the main floor, making the everyday practical and comfortable. Head upstairs and the sloping ceilings of the upper floor add a certain character — the kind of attic-ish charm that adults secretly love and children turn into dens within minutes of arriving. At 85 square metres, this is a manageable property. No vast rooms to heat or maintain, no sprawling grounds to upkeep when you're back in your home country. The garden is real enough to feel like a garden — space to eat outside, to grow tomatoes, to sit and do absolutely nothing — without becoming a burden. A stone terrace extends the living space outdoors through the warmer months, and given that Limousin enjoys genuine summer heat from late June through September, that te ... click here to read more

Early on a Tuesday morning in Villefagnan, the weekly market on the square is already buzzing—farmers unloading sunflowers and Charentais melons, a boulanger selling still-warm pain de campagne from the back of a van. You could walk there from this property in under ten minutes, or take three minutes by car if your arms are already full of last night's wine bottles. Either way, you'd be back before the coffee in the kitchen's old stone fireplace alcove had gone cold. This is rural Charente at its most liveable. Not a sleepy nowhere—a proper working French village with a school, a pharmacy, a few local businesses, and that particular kind of quiet that city people spend years chasing. Villefagnan sits in the heart of Poitou-Charentes, a region that rarely makes the glossy magazine covers but that seasoned France-lovers return to again and again. The light here in July is long and golden. The summers are reliably warm without the punishing heat of Provence. And in October, when the cognac vineyards around Jarnac and Cognac—barely an hour south—shift from green to deep amber, the countryside becomes something else entirely. The property itself is a genuine Maison de Maître, that distinctly French architectural form built to project quiet authority: symmetrical façade, high ceilings, solid stone construction that keeps rooms cool in summer and holds warmth through the Charente winters. This one sits on just under a hectare of land—enough space to feel genuinely rural, not enough to become a full-time landscaping project. The grounds are divided into formal garden areas and open land, with a large hangar at the far boundary that has serious practical value for storage, vehicles, or conversion. And that's where things get i ... click here to read more

Saturday morning, and the boulangerie on Rue de la République is already pulling trays of pain au levain from the oven. You can smell it from two streets away. That's the kind of neighborhood Le Grand-Quevilly is — compact, lived-in, genuinely French in the way that tourist brochures can never quite capture. This 35 m² townhouse sits quietly on a fenced plot of 252 m², and it's the kind of find that doesn't stay on the market long. The numbers make sense immediately. At €109,900, with an approved building permit already in hand, this isn't just a property — it's an open door to something bigger. For an investor looking to build equity in the greater Rouen metropolitan area, or a buyer planting roots in Normandy for the first time, the groundwork has already been done for you. Step inside and the house surprises you. What reads as compact on paper feels considered in person. The ground floor kitchen is functional and ready for your own vision — whether that means a sleek modern fit-out or something warmer and more rustic, the bones are there. Climb the stairs and you land on the first floor, where parquet flooring runs underfoot and the space opens up more than you'd expect. It works equally well as a living room or a generous bedroom — fluid, adaptable, genuinely useful. The bathroom here is modern and sharp: walk-in shower, toilet, vanity unit — everything finished, nothing left to guess at. Up another floor, the top-level bedroom has its own parquet floors and a quiet, settled feeling that makes you want to linger. What sets this property apart practically is the list of updates already completed. New electrical wiring throughout. A new water heater. Double-glazed PVC windows keeping the Seine-Maritime winters at ba ... click here to read more

There's a particular kind of quiet you only find in this corner of France. Standing on the private terrace on a Sunday morning, coffee in hand, you hear nothing but birdsong and the faint rustle of leaves from the garden's edge. No traffic. No sirens. Just the deep, unhurried exhale of rural Limousin. That's what this two-bedroom house in Rochechouart offers — and once you've felt it, you'll understand why people come here and never quite want to leave. Rochechouart sits in the Haute-Vienne department, about as authentically French as a town can get without being on a tourist poster. It's built on the rim of a 200-million-year-old meteorite impact crater — yes, an actual crater — and the local Musée de la Préhistoire documents this remarkable geological history in ways that'll have even skeptical visitors lingering longer than planned. The medieval château dominates the hilltop, and on market days the square below it fills with vendors selling Limousin beef, local walnuts, and cheeses that have no business being as good as they are. This isn't the manicured, postcard-perfect Dordogne that gets all the magazine coverage. It's better. It's real. The house itself is a compact, single-story bungalow — 56 square metres of well-proportioned living that gets the essentials exactly right. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, and four rooms total, arranged in a way that feels practical rather than cramped. The kitchen-diner is the heart of the home: a proper gathering space with a fireplace where the whole point is to sit around it on October evenings with a bottle of local wine and absolutely nowhere to be. The living room opens to views across the private garden, and the terrace catches the afternoon light in a way that makes you reth ... click here to read more

Picture a Tuesday morning in summer: you step out of your front door, still holding a coffee, and within three minutes you've nodded to the boulanger on Rue du Marché, bought tomatoes that were on the vine yesterday, and are back in your courtyard under a lime tree before the morning gets warm. That's not a fantasy — that's just Tuesday in Chef-Boutonne. This five-bedroom townhouse sits right in the middle of it all, and at under €100,000, it's one of those rare finds that makes you stop scrolling. Chef-Boutonne is a small market town in the Deux-Sèvres department of Poitou-Charentes, the kind of place that French people from the cities quietly buy into while property prices elsewhere have gone sideways. It sits in a gentle limestone valley about 40 minutes southeast of Niort, roughly an hour and a half from Poitiers, and about two and a half hours from Bordeaux if you take the N10. La Rochelle — with its Atlantic beaches, its old harbour, and its year-round flights from the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands — is under an hour and a half away. The practical reality for international buyers is strong: fly into La Rochelle or Poitiers, pick up a rental car, and you're here before lunch. The house itself sits on three levels and gives you 174 square metres to work with — serious floor area for a family or for anyone thinking about rental income. On the ground floor, the entrance opens into a living and dining room that gets good afternoon light, with a kitchen alongside and a ground-floor bedroom complete with its own shower room and WC. That ground-floor suite is worth noting: it works well for elderly relatives or guests who'd rather avoid stairs, and for rental purposes, it functions almost as a self-contained annexe. U ... click here to read more

On a quiet Tuesday morning in Charroux, you can walk out onto your wooden terrace with a coffee and hear almost nothing. A church bell in the distance. Maybe a tractor somewhere beyond the stone walls. The air carries that particular mix of cut grass and old limestone that you only get in the Vienne countryside, and the view out over the surrounding hills doesn't have a single billboard, rooftop antenna, or modern intrusion to break it. This is what €130,780 buys you in one of France's most overlooked medieval villages — and once you've spent a weekend here, you'll struggle to understand why more people haven't discovered it already. Charroux sits in the heart of Poitou-Charentes, a region that most international buyers race through on their way to the Dordogne or the Vendée coast without realizing what they're passing. That's your advantage. The village itself is classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France — a designation earned by fewer than 160 communes in the entire country — and it earns that status honestly, with its 11th-century abbey ruins, cobblestone lanes barely wide enough for a Citroën, and a Saturday market where the same families have been selling goat cheese and walnuts for generations. The centre is a five-minute walk from this house. Not a vague "close to amenities" five minutes — a genuine, flat, pleasant walk past honey-coloured stone walls. The house itself has been fully renovated and is genuinely ready to move into, which matters more than it sounds in this part of France where "good condition" can sometimes be a generous interpretation. Here, the work has been done properly: double glazing throughout, electric shutters, and — crucially — an air-to-water heat pump system that keeps ene ... click here to read more

Saturday morning in Civray starts with a sound you won't hear in Paris or London — the unhurried clatter of market stalls being set up along the town square, vendors arranging towers of local goat's cheese, bunches of sunflowers, and baskets of walnuts from the Charente countryside. From this house, you can walk there in under ten minutes. That's not a selling point dressed up as a lifestyle — it's just Tuesday. Or Saturday. Or any day you choose. Civray sits in the southern tip of the Vienne department, in a region that most international buyers haven't discovered yet — which is precisely why it still feels real. The Charente River curves lazily around the edge of town, and the surrounding landscape is the kind of unhurried, rolling farmland that makes you slow down involuntarily. If you've been looking at overpriced Dordogne villages or the increasingly crowded Lot, the Vienne is quietly offering something comparable for a fraction of the cost. This house is a proper maison bourgeoise — the kind of solid, high-ceilinged French townhouse that was built to last centuries and very much has. At 103 square metres, it's not enormous, but every room breathes. The ground floor draws you in through a living room lined with decorative wood panelling that catches the afternoon light in a way that feels almost theatrical — warm, amber, like the inside of a French film you can't quite name. That room flows into a lounge with an ornamental fireplace, and beyond it, a fitted modern kitchen that somehow manages to feel at home alongside all the period character. French doors off the kitchen open directly onto the terrace, so summer dinners happen naturally outside — a carafe of Haut-Poitou rosé, the garden going gold in the evening ... click here to read more

Picture this: a Saturday morning in early June, the air carrying the faint sweetness of flowering linden trees, a rooster somewhere in the distance, and nothing but the sound of your own footsteps on old stone as you walk across the courtyard to figure out what this barn could one day become. That's the kind of quiet that Clussais-la-Pommeraie deals in. It's not dramatic. It's not performant. It's just deeply, genuinely peaceful — the kind that people from Paris or London or Amsterdam spend years trying to find and then overpay for somewhere more famous. This is Poitou-Charentes, one of France's most underrated rural regions, sitting right in the soft belly of the country between the Loire Valley to the north and the Cognac country to the south. The Deux-Sèvres department doesn't have the international name recognition of Provence or the Dordogne, and that's precisely why a stone property complex on roughly 2,400 square metres of land with a courtyard, a garden, a 240-square-metre barn, and multiple outbuildings is available for €70,000. Let's talk about what that number actually means. For the price of a decent second-hand car in London or a semester of private school fees in Switzerland, you're acquiring a genuine piece of rural France — original stone construction, exposed beams, a fireplace still intact, an attic that adds another 46 square metres of potential living space above the 90-square-metre ground floor. The property needs full renovation, and that's the point. It's a blank canvas, not a compromised one. Someone hasn't already ripped out the character and replaced it with laminate flooring and recessed lighting. The bones are there, waiting. The barn alone changes the arithmetic of what's possible here. At ... click here to read more

On a quiet Sunday morning in Brie, the kind of quiet that cities charge a premium for, you open the French doors off the first-floor living room and step onto the terrace with a coffee. The Charente countryside rolls out in front of you — pale gold fields in summer, mist-softened green in autumn — and the only sound is a distant tractor and whatever bird has claimed the courtyard wall. That's the morning this house gives you, reliably, every time you show up. Brie is a small commune in the Charente department, deep in the Poitou-Charentes region of southwestern France. It sits in that comfortable middle ground that serious buyers of French property know to look for: rural enough to feel genuinely removed from the pace of modern life, but close enough to real infrastructure that you're never stranded. The commercial hub at Champniers is just a few kilometres away — hypermarket, hardware, the practical errands done in twenty minutes. Angoulême, one of the most underrated cities in France, is eighteen minutes by car to the main station, which puts you on a direct TGV to Paris Montparnasse in under two hours. Bordeaux is roughly ninety minutes south. This is not a remote retreat you'll eventually resent; it's a genuinely usable second home in France. Angoulême deserves more than a passing mention. The city runs on two great obsessions: comics and cognac. The Festival International de la Bande Dessinée, held every January, transforms the old town into an open-air gallery and draws visitors from across Europe. Year-round, the medieval ramparts above the Charente river offer some of the best walking in the region, and the covered market on Place des Halles — open Tuesday through Sunday — sells Charentais melons so ripe in Jul ... click here to read more

Saturday morning in La Bazouge-du-Désert sounds like this: a wood fire ticking quietly in the kitchen insert, the smell of coffee cutting through cool Breton air, and birdsong coming in through a window that looks out over 462 square metres of your own garden. No neighbours at your elbow. Just countryside, quiet, and the kind of unhurried morning that most people only manage once a year on holiday — except here, it would be yours whenever you wanted it. This compact stone country house sits in the northern Ille-et-Vilaine, the oldest corner of Brittany, in a rural commune that most visitors driving toward Saint-Malo never bother to slow down for. That's exactly the point. At €54,800, it's one of those rare entry points into genuine French rural property ownership — the kind of deal that doesn't appear often in a department where coastal prices have been climbing steadily and even inland villages are attracting more attention from buyers priced out of Normandy. The ground floor is functional and liveable right now. A kitchen with a wood-burning insert fireplace anchors the space — this is the room you'll be in most, and in October when the temperature drops and the trees turn, it earns its place. The living room flows from there, with one bedroom and a shower room/WC completing the footprint at around 60 square metres of living space. It's honest, not fussy. Good condition means you can move straight in, run it as a bolt-hole, rent it out short-term, or use it as a base while you plan what comes next. What comes next, potentially, is the attic. The first floor is an unconverted space of approximately 65 square metres — structurally there but requiring modifications to bring it into full use. That's a significant canvas ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Melle, and the smell of something baking drifts up from the boulangerie on Rue de Niort before you've even opened the shutters. You pad downstairs in socks, fire up the log burner in the kitchen, and the whole ground floor starts to warm up. That's the rhythm of life in this corner of Poitou-Charentes — unhurried, deeply French, and nothing like the tourist-saturated south. Melle is one of those towns that rewards people who actually look. Sitting in the Deux-Sèvres department, it punches well above its weight: three Romanesque churches dating to the 11th and 12th centuries, a working silver mine that once supplied coins to the Frankish kings (the Mines d'Argent des Rois Francs is genuinely fascinating, not just "historically significant"), a weekly market on Saturday mornings where local producers sell Charentais melon, goat's cheese rolled in ash, and the area's distinctive Pineau des Charentes. It's about 70 kilometres south of Poitiers and 80 kilometres east of La Rochelle — close enough to the Atlantic coast for a spontaneous beach day on the Île de Ré, far enough to feel worlds away from the summer crowds. This four-bedroom, four-bathroom house sits right in the commune and has been finished to a level you don't often find at this price point. At 201 square metres, it gives everyone room to breathe — which matters enormously when you're sharing a holiday home with extended family or hosting friends from abroad. The centrepiece of daily life here is the large eat-in kitchen, anchored by a log burner that turns it into the kind of room where conversations last hours. On grey November afternoons or cold January evenings, when the courtyard stones glisten with rain, this is where you'll want to be. ... click here to read more

Imagine waking up on a Saturday morning to the faint toll of church bells drifting across the rooftops of Brux, pulling on a linen shirt, and walking two minutes to the local boulangerie for a still-warm baguette before the rest of the village stirs. That's the pace of life here. Quiet, unhurried, and real. This four-bedroom renovated stone house in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charentes isn't just a property — it's a doorway into one of rural France's most genuinely liveable corners, at a price that makes it one of the smartest second home opportunities in the country right now. The house itself pulls you in from the street. The traditional stone façade gives nothing away — you have to step through the front door to understand what's been done here. Whoever renovated this place clearly loved it. Exposed stone walls run through the open-plan living and dining room, where timber beams cross the ceiling overhead and wide wooden floorboards run underfoot. A wood-burning stove anchors the room, and on a cool October evening with the fire lit and a bottle of local Charentais Pineau opened, you'll understand exactly why people fall for French country houses and never quite recover. The kitchen is the kind that makes you actually want to cook. A central island, generous worktop space, well-thought-out storage, and a direct door out to the courtyard — so you can hand plates through to guests without navigating a corridor. The materials are authentic: stone, wood, solid fittings. Nothing feels like a shortcut. On the ground floor, there's a bedroom with its own modern shower room. For families with older parents or guests who can't manage stairs, this is genuinely useful. Upstairs, three further bedrooms hold onto the build ... click here to read more

On a quiet Sunday morning in the hamlet of Saint-Romain, you'd hear almost nothing. A wood pigeon somewhere in the oaks. Maybe the distant clang of church bells drifting over from Charroux, that perfectly preserved medieval village ten minutes down the road where market traders set up their stalls beside the ruins of a Benedictine abbey. That stillness is the point. This is rural Vienne at its most unhurried — and this renovated farmhouse sits right in the middle of it. The property is a former working farmhouse that's been brought back to life without losing its bones. Stone walls, generous room proportions, the kind of building that took decades to settle and now feels entirely solid underfoot. At 148 square metres across two floors, it has real breathing room. The ground floor arranges itself practically: a living kitchen that opens directly onto a covered pergola — your default setting for every meal between May and October — a separate lounge for cooler evenings, and a bedroom with its own shower room and toilet. That ground-floor bedroom is a detail worth pausing on. It makes the house genuinely work for mixed-generation groups, guests with mobility considerations, or owners who want the option to use the upstairs rooms purely as a private retreat. Head up the stairs and the character shifts. The first floor has the slightly improvised warmth you only get in converted agricultural buildings — skylights cut into the roof, dormer windows framing sections of the surrounding countryside, ceiling lines that aren't quite parallel. There's a large double bedroom, another bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom and toilet, an additional room that could easily become a study or a fourth sleeping space, and a separate WC. T ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Civray. The market on the Place du Champ de Foire is already humming—local farmers setting up stalls of Charentais melons, rounds of chèvre, and bottles of Pineau des Charentes—and from the veranda of this town house, the soft green sweep of the valley rolls out in front of you with not a single rooftop to interrupt it. That unobstructed view across the Charente river valley is the first thing people notice. It tends to be the thing they remember longest. Civray sits in the Vienne department, right at the southern edge of the old Poitou-Charentes region, a part of France that doesn't make it onto postcards as often as it should. That's quietly a selling point. Property prices remain grounded compared to the Dordogne or the Loire Valley, the countryside is genuinely unspoiled, and the rhythms of daily French life here feel real rather than performed for tourists. The boulangerie on Rue du Marché opens at 7am and runs out of croissants by 9. The café on the square fills up after noon with regulars who have been having lunch there for thirty years. It's that kind of town. The house itself sits in a calm residential pocket just a short walk from all of those shops and cafés—close enough to grab a baguette without getting in the car, far enough that the street outside is quiet. It's been renovated to a solid standard and is genuinely move-in ready, something that matters more than it sounds when you're buying from abroad. No surprise works to commission before you can turn the key. The heat pump, double glazing, and full renovation are already done, and the energy bills reflect it—this is a low-consumption home with a GHG rating of B, which is genuinely rare in French residential stock of this age. The li ... click here to read more

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

Nestled in the serene landscapes of Poitou-Charentes in Charente, the quaint village of Souvigné presents an exciting opportunity for those looking to immerse themselves into tranquility with a touch of renovation. Introducing a spacious yet traditional French home, this property is ideal for a hands-on buyer keen to tailor a residence or holiday retreat to their exact tastes. Possessing a robust structure across a generous plot, this house presents itself as a promising project. This uniquely appealing property occupies an extensive walled land area which includes its own small vineyard—perfect for those who might entertain the idea of cultivating their own vintage or simply enjoying the pastoral charm it adds to the garden landscape. With approximately 312 square meters of living space, the property features: - Six bedrooms distributed between the main house and a separate, smaller dwelling - Potential for a large, welcoming kitchen - Combined dining and living area offering a canvas for modern updates or cozy, rustic decor - One bathroom with provisions to add more as part of the renovation - Utility space for practical daily living needs - A remarkable vaulted cellar that can be transformed into a unique feature room - Multiple outbuildings including two barns, a hangar, and additional garage space The main house includes two independent entrances which enhance privacy and could offer flexible living arrangements. The attached smaller house, with its garage and cellar, could serve perfectly as guest accommodation or a rental opportunity. The reality of renovating can be both a considerable challenge and a deeply rewarding endeavor. This property requires a visionary approach to breathe new life into its solid bo ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes in Charente, the town of Souvigné offers a tranquil countryside lifestyle with the convenience of nearby market towns Villefagnan and Ruffec. This exceptional property provides a unique opportunity for those looking to immerse themselves in the charming French rural life, while also entertaining the possibility of running a business through its established gite rentals. The property features a primary residence and three additional gites, set on a generous plot of 3862m². The total built-up area of the property is 372m², with a living area of 34m² and a pleasant terrace space of 25m². Residents and guests can enjoy a plethora of amenities including a covered heated swimming pool, a spa area with a jacachuuzi, and massage room, ensuring relaxation and leisure are just a step away. For those considering relocation or seeking a holiday home, Souvigné brings a blend of serene rural lifestyle and accessibility to urban conveniences. Local markets in neighboring towns offer fresh produce, while numerous bistros and restaurants provide dining options featuring local and international cuisine. Overview of the main house and gites: - The main residence displays a thoughtful layout with a ground floor comprising a cozy kitchen (13m²), a spacious living room (35m²), an inviting dining room (20m²), and an essential utility room. The living room opens onto a covered terrace, perfect for alfresco dining and entertaining guests. - The first floor hosts the master bedroom (18.5m²) complete with a modern shower room and separate WC. A second large bedroom (22m²) offers additional living space. - The second floor includes two bedrooms and a shared bathroom, retaining a sense of priv ... click here to read more

Imagine the potential of this historic house located in the charming Tusson, Charente, 16140, in the heart of France. With a grand total size of 320 sqm and a price of 65000, it is an opportunity ripe for individuals with a keen eye for renovation and a passion for crafting extraordinary spaces. This property comes with a world of possibilities for those who hold large aspirations and are not phased by a bit of groundwork. The heart of the house is the expansive Old Village Hall. The ground floor houses an 85 sqm room complete with a wooden floor, stage, bar and two restrooms. The welcoming entry hall is a cosy 13 sqm with exposed stonework and a similarly wooden floor. It leads to an 18 sqm room with a tile floor. The first floor holds several diverse rooms, including two smaller rooms measuring 11 sqm and 16 sqm respectively, a more sizeable 60 sqm room with exposed stones, and two more compact rooms of 8 sqm and 60 sqm which share a characteristic wooden floor. The 2nd floor reveals a massive 135 sqm attic waiting to be refurbished. This historic building also features the Old Post Office, which is currently awaiting accessibility. The property kitchen and bathrooms are yet to be installed, giving you a clean canvas to design these spaces according to your specific tastes and needs. The exterior of this beautiful property boasts a garden and quaint sheds with the potential to be transformed into useful outdoor spaces. Beyond the property itself, the location is an attraction all on its own. Tusson is situated near the heart of the alluring department of Charente, which located in the centre-west of France. Not only can one enjoy the beauty of the local river Charente, but the area is a hub of activity in terms of ... click here to read more

On a still morning in the Cantal countryside, the only sound is a wood pigeon calling from the oak at the edge of the field. No traffic. No sirens. Just the creak of old timber, the faint smell of woodsmoke still lingering from the stone fireplace the night before, and light coming in slow and gold through windows that frame a landscape unchanged for centuries. This is Bessé — and life here moves at a pace most people have forgotten is still possible. This six-bedroom stone house sits in a quiet hamlet in the Cantal department of Auvergne, one of the least-visited, most quietly rewarding corners of rural France. It's the kind of property that stops you mid-conversation the moment you step through the door. The exposed stone walls have a solidity to them that feels almost geological, and the heavy oak beams overhead give the interior that particular warmth you can't fake with renovation. The proportions are generous — genuinely generous, not estate-agent generous — with a ground-floor living room stretching to around 80 square metres, anchored by a period fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove. On a January evening with snow on the hills and a Truyère stew on the stove, this room becomes the entire world. The layout works well for a large family or a rotating cast of guests. Three bedrooms on the ground floor, three more upstairs, a shower room, a bathroom, and sensible separation between sleeping and living spaces. The house is in good condition — you're not buying a project that swallows summers and savings. You're buying something that's already liveable, already warm, already itself. Outside, the grounds include a well — useful and evocative in equal measure — plus a collection of outbuildings that opens up ser ... click here to read more

Nestled within the picturesque region of Charente in the charming village of Tusson lies a home that truly embodies the essence of rural French living. This inviting 3-bedroom house is set against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes of sunflowers and rolling hills, just a leisurely 5-minute drive from the town of Aigre and a 10-minute drive from the bustling hub of Ruffec. Arriving at this property, you'll immediately appreciate its peaceful setting and the sense of community that Tusson exudes. This village is not just a place to live but a place to join in with delightful community happenings. Tusson offers its residents much more than mere amenities; it's an experience. With its local restaurant, quaint tea room, intricate pottery shops, takeaway pizza spots, and lively music events—and a bar set to open soon—the village pulses with life and camaraderie. The sense of belonging here is tangible, a trait that appeals to international buyers and expatriates seeking the genuine warmth of rural French life. The property itself is in good condition, thoughtfully presented, and ready for its new occupants to move in without fuss. Stepping inside the ground floor welcomes you with a spacious kitchen. It features not only functionality but also direct access to a large outdoor deck. Imagine preparing a delicious meal with fresh ingredients and enjoying it under the open sky, surrounded by nature's symphony. Adjacent to the kitchen is a snug area, ideal for flexibility as either an extra bedroom or a study—a space that adapts to your needs. Across the kitchen, you find the main entrance hall. It flows beautifully into an office area and leads you to the main sitting room. This room is the heart of the home, with an impr ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque village of Tusson, this expansive 18th-century house offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of French history. With its charming cobblestone streets and vibrant local culture, Tusson is a hidden gem in the Poitou-Charentes region, making it an ideal location for a second home or holiday retreat. A Glimpse into Tusson's Allure Tusson is a quaint village that exudes old-world charm, with its historic architecture and friendly community. The village is renowned for its artisanal shops, delightful restaurants, and a famous cake shop that draws visitors from near and far. Just a short drive away, the riverside town of Aigre offers all the modern amenities you might need, from supermarkets to healthcare facilities. Property Highlights This remarkable property spans 377 square meters and is set on a walled parcel of land, providing privacy and tranquility. The house boasts six spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms, making it perfect for hosting family and friends or even considering a rental opportunity. - Ground Floor: - A large eat-in kitchen, perfect for culinary enthusiasts. - A cozy living and dining room, ideal for entertaining. - A library that can be transformed into an additional living space. - An ensuite bedroom with a dressing room and WC. - Access to a large annex with its own staircase, leading to another bedroom. - Upper Floor: - A grand landing that doubles as a music room. - Three additional bedrooms, one with a dressing area. - A shower room/WC and an office space. - A large kitchen/living room, perfect for gatherings. - Additional Features: - A convertible loft space, offering potential for more bedrooms or a games room. - A spacious cella ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene landscape of Brettes, France, within the region of Poitou-Charentes, Charente, this charming country house beckons those who dream of owning a slice of the tranquil French countryside. A haven for overseas buyers seeking a retreat or a potential investment, this residence offers a genuine feel of rural French living combined with the accessibility of modern amenities a short drive away. Property Features: - A generous living space of 240 square meters - Six well-appointed bedrooms providing ample space for family and guests - Two bathrooms ensuring convenience for all residents - A welcoming kitchen that opens up to a cozy dining room, perfect for gatherings - A spacious and inviting living room at the heart of the house - Characteristic attic space, offering potential for additional living or storage areas - Convenient outbuildings, including a garage and workshop, catering to a variety of needs - A verdant garden enveloping the property spreads across 1960 square meters, providing peace and privacy Amenities & Lifestyle: Living in Brettes means being part of a community where life slows down, and nature takes center stage. Though the property radiates the charm of rural living, it is conveniently located just 7 kilometers away from the nearest town offering basic amenities and 15 kilometers from a larger town where more extensive services and enjoyment can be found. Local Area: Brettes is a gem within the Poitou-Charentes region, known for its picturesque landscapes, historical sites, and a robust culinary tradition that food enthusiasts will adore. The temperate climate, with mild winters and pleasant summers, adds to the allure of the area, making outdoor activities a year-round enjoyment. W ... click here to read more

A Tranquil Retreat in the Heart of Charente Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds in the serene French countryside. Nestled in the picturesque village of Villefagnan, this expansive 12-bedroom gîte complex offers a unique opportunity to own a slice of rural paradise. With over a hectare of lush land, a sparkling swimming pool, and a collection of charming guest houses, this property is more than just a home—it's a lifestyle. A Day in Villefagnan Start your day with a leisurely stroll through the vibrant gardens, where the scent of blooming flowers mingles with the fresh morning air. As the sun rises, enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace, taking in panoramic views of the rolling countryside. The main house, with its spacious living areas and rustic stone fireplaces, invites you to unwind and savor the simple pleasures of life. As the day unfolds, explore the quaint streets of Villefagnan, a village that embodies the charm and warmth of rural France. Here, you'll find local bakeries offering freshly baked baguettes, cozy cafés serving aromatic espressos, and a friendly community eager to welcome you. Seasonal Delights and Cultural Riches Throughout the year, Villefagnan and the nearby market town of Ruffec host a variety of seasonal festivals and cultural events. From lively summer markets brimming with local produce to winter fairs showcasing traditional crafts, there's always something to celebrate. The region's rich history is reflected in its architecture, with ancient churches and historic sites waiting to be discovered. For those who relish outdoor adventures, the Charente region offers a plethora of activities. Embark on scenic hikes through verdant trails, enjoy leis ... click here to read more

Nestled in the charming village of Villefagnan in the picturesque region of Poitou Charentes, France, this delightful 2-bedroom house presents an excellent opportunity for those looking to immerse themselves in French village life. Poised on a tranquil street, this property offers a peaceful retreat with the potential to customize and infuse your personal touch. The home spans 110 square meters and features an elegant combination of contemporary amenities and rustic charm. On entering, you are greeted by a spacious fitted kitchen (32m2) boasting a tiled floor, a programmable pellet stove ensuring warmth during the cooler months, a water softener, and striking exposed stone walls that add to the character of the home. Adjacent to the kitchen lies the living room (30m2) where parquet flooring and another pellet stove create a cozy and inviting environment, perfect for relaxing evenings. Bedroom one (23m2) is conveniently situated on the ground floor, featuring parquet flooring, exposed stone, and direct access to the garden, offering a serene view and easy outdoor access. The utility room (11m2) could serve as an additional bedroom and maintains the home's rustic charm with its tiled floor and exposed stone walls. The shower room is modern and efficient with a walk-in shower, washbasin, WC, heated towel rail, and a ventilation system ensuring comfort and convenience. The upper level houses the second bedroom (32m2), featuring parquet floors and providing ample space for personal decoration and styling. The attic (36m2) presents an opportunity for conversion, potentially expanding the living area or creating a home office or additional bedroom. What truly complements the house is the enclosed garden that provides a priv ... click here to read more

Welcome to your potential new home in the pastoral setting of Poitou-Charentes, Charente, in the charming village of Villefagnan, France. A serene countryside retreat, this three-bedroom stone house gently whispers the promise of tranquil rural living combined with the necessity of modern comforts. Set within a beautifully maintained garden, the property offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, establishing a perfect balance for either a family abode or a delightful holiday home. The house spans approximately 177 square meters and unfolds over two levels. The ground floor introduces a welcoming living room warmed by an insert fireplace that sets a cozy atmosphere during cooler evenings. Adjoining this space is a bright kitchen and dining area where family meals can be prepared and enjoyed in a light-filled environment. The ground floor also features a bathroom equipped with a modern Italian shower, a separate toilet, a practical laundry room, a storage area, and direct access to a double garage—ensuring ample space for utilities and storage. Additionally, there is one bedroom situated on this level, providing convenience for family members or guests preferring not to climb stairs. Ascend to the first floor and you find three well-sized bedrooms, two of which boast built-in cupboards, offering ample storage. These rooms are ideal for rest and rejuvenation, away from the main living areas. The exterior grounds include a barn, which could serve multiple purposes such as a workshop or extra storage, and a large hangar that will excite camping car enthusiasts with the opportunity to store their vehicle conveniently on site. Living in Villefagnan means embracing a lifestyle of peacefulness and leisure. The vi ... click here to read more

Nestled at the back of a tranquil village in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes, Charente, this charming stone house in Villefagnan, France, offers a serene retreat with a rustic edge. Set against the backdrop of the quaint village and expansive surrounding land, it presents an inviting opportunity for those seeking the allure of countryside living combined with the convenience of minimal renovations required. The house itself has been thoughtfully renovated, making it a comfortable living space without demanding immediate additional improvements. It encompasses a generous 136 sqm of living area, comprising three well-proportioned bedrooms, two bathrooms, and spacious common areas that cater well to family life or entertaining guests. Inside, the living room is notably expansive, featuring sliding doors that open out to the front, illuminating the space with natural light and offering views of the peaceful exterior. The kitchen, while operational, is somewhat of a blank slate, eagerly awaiting the personal touch of its new owners to transform it into a culinary haven. While the property is in good condition, there is room for creativity, particularly with the attached garage and barn which could, with the appropriate permissions, be converted into additional living space. The garage includes a functional corner sink and leads up to a floor above, accessible through the attached open barn—ideal for a renovation project to expand the living quarters. Outdoor space includes a charming front courtyard and garden, perfect for outdoor dining, children’s activities, or simply soaking in the calm of the rural surroundings. Property Features: - Total area: 136 sqm - Bedrooms: 3 - Bathrooms: 2 - Extensive living room ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Poitou-Charentes region, this delightful 3-bedroom house in Villefagnan offers a unique opportunity to own a slice of French countryside charm. With its serene setting and proximity to local amenities, this property is an ideal second home for those seeking a tranquil retreat or a savvy investment in the European holiday home market. Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. This beautifully renovated house, set on an isolated plot with no immediate neighbors, promises complete privacy and peace. Yet, it's conveniently located just 4 km from the quaint town of Villefagnan, where you can enjoy the local bar, bakery, butcher, and a newly established medical center. For those who crave a bit more activity, the larger town of Ruffec is a mere 10-minute drive away. Here, you'll find a vibrant community with shops, cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, and even a train station, making travel to other parts of France a breeze. The house itself is a testament to thoughtful design and modern comfort. All accommodation is on the ground floor, ensuring easy access and convenience. The open-plan living and dining area is bathed in natural light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. A modern freestanding log burner adds a touch of rustic charm, perfect for cozy evenings. The kitchen-diner is a chef's dream, spacious and well-equipped for entertaining family and friends. Above the lounge, a mezzanine offers a versatile space that could serve as a home office, with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Step outside, and you'll find a wraparound garden that beckons you to relax and unwind. There's ... click here to read more

This charming two-bedroom house, nestled in the heart of the Poitou-Charentes region in picturesque Villefagnan, France, is an exciting prospect for anyone seeking a home that offers an opportunity to add personal touches and improvements. This is the quintessential fixer-upper, a stone house with solid bones, holding immense potential to be molded into a dream abode. Encompassing a sizeable 78 square meters, the house, steeped in authentic French character, invites revitalization and renovation. It features a cosy kitchen and welcoming dining room. The bathroom is organised with convenience in mind, and an added bonus is a handy cupboard for additional storage. Coupled with these features, are the building's two expansive bedrooms, which promise comfortable living and sleeping quarters once the property has been spruced up and tailor-made to fit the occupants' tastes and requirements. Boasting an expansive attic that spans the entire length of the property, this feature introduces the potential for an additional living area or a luxurious master suite. The property also includes a shed and outbuildings, perfect for tool storage and DIY projects. Meanwhile, the dwelling sits on an extensive plot of land, measuring in at a staggering 4055 square meters. Perfect for landscaping, gardening, or even installation of a pool- the choices are endless. Key Features of the property: - Two bedrooms - One bathroom - Size: 78 square meters - Kitchen and dining area - Cupboard for extra storage - Attic across the entire length of the property - Shed and outbuildings - Sits on 4055 square meters of land Villefagnan, France is deeply enriched in beauty and history. Life in Villefagnan is peaceful, offering a relaxed pace and a tig ... click here to read more

In the charming region of Poitou-Charentes, nestled within the tranquil commune of Villefagnan in the Charente department of France, lies a delightful two-bedroom house that's a beautiful blend of traditional French charm and modern convenience. If you've ever dreamt of owning a slice of the idyllic French countryside, this property could be just what you're looking for. Now, believe me, as a real estate agent juggling countless viewings and appointments, it's rare to come across a property that immediately exudes warmth and character, but this is such a place. With its lovingly maintained structure and fully enclosed garden boasting two gated access points, this house provides both seclusion and accessibility that aren't always easy to come by. The home is just a quick five-minute drive from the quaint town of Villefagnan. Here, you'll discover a delightful mix of small shops, cozy restaurants, a café brimming with local flavor, and even a medical center for necessities—not to mention the friendly and welcoming locals who will make you feel right at home. If you're in need of more extensive amenities, a short ten-minute drive leads you to Ruffec. This bustling town caters to all practical requirements and offers more comprehensive shops and facilities. Let's walk through the home together, shall we? As you enter, you're greeted by a spacious living area that promises warmth and homeliness. The ground floor features a fully equipped kitchen—imagine the aroma of fresh baguettes wafting through as you prepare meals here. Adjacent is a dining room complemented by a wood burner, providing the perfect cozy spot to enjoy homemade French cuisine during the colder months. The ground level also includes a shower room and WC, a ... click here to read more

Early on a Tuesday morning in Villefagnan, the weekly market on the square is already buzzing—farmers unloading sunflowers and Charentais melons, a boulanger selling still-warm pain de campagne from the back of a van. You could walk there from this property in under ten minutes, or take three minutes by car if your arms are already full of last night's wine bottles. Either way, you'd be back before the coffee in the kitchen's old stone fireplace alcove had gone cold. This is rural Charente at its most liveable. Not a sleepy nowhere—a proper working French village with a school, a pharmacy, a few local businesses, and that particular kind of quiet that city people spend years chasing. Villefagnan sits in the heart of Poitou-Charentes, a region that rarely makes the glossy magazine covers but that seasoned France-lovers return to again and again. The light here in July is long and golden. The summers are reliably warm without the punishing heat of Provence. And in October, when the cognac vineyards around Jarnac and Cognac—barely an hour south—shift from green to deep amber, the countryside becomes something else entirely. The property itself is a genuine Maison de Maître, that distinctly French architectural form built to project quiet authority: symmetrical façade, high ceilings, solid stone construction that keeps rooms cool in summer and holds warmth through the Charente winters. This one sits on just under a hectare of land—enough space to feel genuinely rural, not enough to become a full-time landscaping project. The grounds are divided into formal garden areas and open land, with a large hangar at the far boundary that has serious practical value for storage, vehicles, or conversion. And that's where things get i ... click here to read more

Welcome to your new home in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes, in the calming town of Courcôme, France. Nestled in an idyllic hamlet, this charming four-bedroom stone house promises tranquillity, comfort, and a sense of authentic French living. The property is just five minutes away from Ruffec, a vibrant small town with a rich cultural heritage and several amenities. Everything from quaint bakeries and traditional open-air markets to modern supermarkets and medical facilities are within easy reach. What's more, you'll find yourself surrounded by organically farmed fields - a delightful reminder of the region's commitment to sustainable living. On the ground floor of the main house, you'll find a captivating entrance hall that leads you into a well-equipped and commodious kitchen. The grand dining room, featuring a traditional open fireplace, is perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying a family meal. The cozy sitting room is enhanced by a wood-burning stove - ideal for quiet evenings indoors. A comfortable bedroom and a practical shower room with a toilet complete the ground floor details. The upper floor continues the warm and homely tone set on the ground level. A spacious mezzanine ideal for a reading nook or office area, two bedrooms, and a bathroom with a toilet ensure ample living space for the whole family. An oil-fired central heating system keeps the house alive and warm during the crisp winter months, typical to the region. The property also boasts a separate annex and converted barn. The annex includes a corridor, a shower room with a toilet on the ground floor, and an additional bedroom upstairs. Electric radiators are provided in the annex for heating. The barn is a versatile space, housing ... click here to read more

Welcome to your potential new haven in the picturesque village of Courcôme, nestled in the heart of the Poitou-Charentes region of Charente, France. As a busy global real estate agent, it's not often I come across a property that combines space, location, and opportunity as seamlessly as this one does. This well-kept 6-bedroom house offers a unique lifestyle tucked away in a serene setting just a short jaunt from the lively town of Ruffec. Courcôme is a charming village that offers a peaceful way of life with a touch of rural magic, perfect for foreign buyers seeking a tranquil home base. It’s a place where you can enjoy the simplicity of rural life while remaining closely connected to various amenities. The climate here is mild with warm summers and cool winters, making it an ideal location for those who appreciate seasonal variety without the extremes. The local area is replete with verdant landscapes, providing ample opportunities for outdoor adventures and relaxed countryside walks for both families and retirees. Life in the area can be both peaceful and active, thanks to the vibrant community life in Courcôme. There are local markets, cafés, and cultural events that will integrate you into the social fabric of the region. The nearby town of Ruffec offers more extensive shopping, dining, and healthcare services, guaranteeing convenience only a short drive away. The local cuisine is something to look forward to, with authentic French flavors promising a gastronomic delight. Now, let's talk about your prospective home. As you approach this property, a beautiful garden welcomes you, with a large arched gateway that promises privacy and beautiful countryside views. The large, luminous kitchen and dining room on the gr ... click here to read more

You set your glass of Pineau des Charentes on the stone ledge, look out past the mulberry tree toward fields turning amber in the late afternoon, and feel your shoulders drop about three inches. That's the moment this house gets you. It happened to everyone who walked through before you, and it'll happen to you too. This maison de maître sits in a quiet hamlet in north Charente, the kind of village where the Sunday morning air smells of woodsmoke and someone's always got a baguette tucked under their arm heading home from Ruffec. It's not the France of Instagram postcards — it's the real thing. Slow roads, big skies, neighbours who actually wave. The house itself has generous bones. At 189 square metres, it breathes. Previous owners renovated it with obvious affection rather than a quick cosmetic flip — you can feel the difference the moment you step onto the travertine floors and look up at the exposed beams. Light tracks through the rooms from east to west across the day, and the house seems to understand this, with windows positioned so you're always chasing a patch of warmth or shade depending on the season. The open-plan kitchen anchors daily life here. It opens directly onto a courtyard — flagged, sheltered, sized for a table that seats ten without anyone knocking elbows. This is where the long lunches happen. The ones that start at one and end somewhere around six when someone finally puts a lid on the rosé. From the kitchen you move into a very large reception room dominated by a fireplace, the kind of proportions that handle both a family Christmas and a quiet Tuesday evening with equal ease. A sage-panelled study sits off the ground floor, calm and book-lined in your mind already, and there's a near self-con ... click here to read more