Stunning 4 Bedroom Charentaise House with Pool in Néré, Charente-Maritime

Saturday morning in Sauzé-Vaussais and the smell of fresh bread from the boulangerie on Rue du Marché drifts through the kitchen window before you've even put the coffee on. The cathedral ceiling above you catches the early light, throwing long shadows across original stone walls that have stood here for well over a century. This is what slow French living actually feels like — not the postcard version, but the real one. This four-bedroom stone farmhouse in the heart of Deux-Sèvres sits on the edge of one of Poitou-Charentes' most genuinely liveable market towns. At 234 square metres of interior space plus multiple stone outbuildings, there's a generosity here that's increasingly rare at this price point in rural France. The property is in good condition throughout — meaning you can arrive, unpack, and start living rather than project-managing. Walk through the entrance hall and the double-height living room stops you. Properly stops you. The open mezzanine gallery floats above, a cast-iron wood-burning stove anchors one wall, and the exposed beams overhead give the room a warmth that no interior designer can manufacture — it just accumulates over decades. On a January evening with the stove lit and rain on the old stone courtyard outside, this room earns its keep in a way no modern open-plan ever quite manages. The kitchen is the other great room. Stone-flagged floors, a traditional range cooker, a fireplace fitted with its own log burner, and a dining area large enough for the whole extended family to argue cheerfully around. It's the kind of kitchen where Sunday lunch becomes a four-hour event. The ground floor also includes a bedroom — genuinely useful if you have older relatives visiting or simply prefer not to c ... click here to read more

Picture this: it's a Tuesday morning in July, and the only sound reaching you through the open kitchen window is birdsong and the faint rustle of wind through the oak trees bordering your garden. No road noise. No neighbors. Just 140 square meters of 1800s Quercy stone, your swimming pool catching the early light, and absolutely nowhere you need to be. That's the daily reality at this four-bedroom farmhouse on the elevated plateau above Montaigu-de-Quercy — and once you've spent a morning here, the idea of going back to city life gets harder to justify. The house itself has been through a careful restoration that didn't sand away its soul. The original stone staircase is still there, worn smooth by two centuries of footsteps. Exposed oak beams cross the ceilings the way they were intended to — not as a design affectation, but because they're structural, honest, and genuinely beautiful in the way that only old things can be. The stone walls, thick enough to keep the interior cool through August without air conditioning, bear the marks of the craftsmen who laid them. This is a building with a geological patience to it. On the first floor, two generous double bedrooms look out across open countryside toward the rolling Tarn-et-Garonne patchwork of sunflower fields and walnut orchards — the view changes colour almost month by month. Downstairs, the country kitchen with its traditional terracotta-tiled floor is the kind of room that makes you want to cook slowly. A built-in wood-burning stove anchors the living room — and from November through March, when the Quercy plateau gets cold and clear and the stars over the garden are ridiculous, that stove becomes the centre of everything. The practical side has been handled pro ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in Saint-Groux moves at its own pace. The kitchen window is open, the smell of damp grass rising from the park, and somewhere beyond the barn a woodpigeon is calling. You pour a coffee, lean against the stone sill, and realize — genuinely realize — that this is what you came to France for. Saint-Groux sits in the Charente, one of those quietly magnificent corners of southwest France that hasn't been discovered by the tour buses and hasn't tried to be. The village is small, the roads narrow, the countryside rolling and thick with oak. But it's not remote — Mansle-les-Fontaines is five minutes by car, the N10 puts Angoulême within easy reach, and Poitiers is just over an hour north. This is the Poitou-Charentes region, famous for Cognac, Pineau, limestone villages, sunflowers in July, and some of the most affordable rural property left in France. The house itself is a proper characterful residence — 287 square metres of living space built when rooms were made to last, with thick walls that keep things cool in August and hold the warmth in February. Step through the entrance hall and you move into a layout that actually makes sense for family life or hosting: a dining room large enough for a long table and twelve people, a functional kitchen with a pantry behind it, a bright living room, and a separate office that has already served a hundred different purposes over the decades and will happily serve a hundred more. A hallway connects to a WC and shower room on the ground floor, keeping things practical for arrivals from the garden or the barn. Upstairs, a broad landing opens onto six spacious bedrooms — yes, six, though the listing counts five — and a dressing room, plus a former WC that could easily be c ... click here to read more

On a Sunday morning in the Charente, you wake up to nothing. No traffic, no sirens — just the faint ticking of cooling stone walls as the sun climbs over the cypress trees lining the garden, and the smell of coffee drifting up from a kitchen that was clearly built for living rather than showing off. This is Paizay-Naudouin-Embourie. Small, unhurried, and quietly extraordinary. This four-bedroom stone farmhouse sits in a village that most people drive past on their way to somewhere louder. That's exactly the point. Set within the rolling Charente countryside of Poitou-Charentes, the property spans 201 square metres of thoughtfully renovated living space arranged around a generous gravel courtyard, with a heated pool, a private tennis court, and the kind of silence you actually have to travel to find. At €375,000, it's the sort of property that makes buyers wonder why they waited so long. Pull up through the wrought-iron electric gate and the first thing you notice is the scale of it. The main house commands the courtyard with the quiet confidence of a building that has stood through several centuries — original stonework, weathered and golden, contrasting with the crisp glazed facade that was added during renovation. Step inside and the 78-square-metre open-plan living space genuinely stops you in your tracks. Soaring ceilings, exposed timber beams, stone walls that stay cool even in August, and a wood-burning stove at the heart of it all. The room flows from lounge to dining area to kitchen without feeling like a floor plan exercise — it feels like someone actually thought about how a family moves through a space. A mezzanine overlooks it all from above, useful as a reading perch, a home office, or a sixth sleeping spo ... click here to read more

Stand at the back of this house on a quiet Tuesday morning in October and watch the Orne River catch the light through the tree line. The mist lifts slowly off the water. A heron lands on the far bank without a sound. That's the pace of life here, and once you've felt it, a weekend in the city starts to feel like a poor trade. Noron-l'Abbaye sits within the Suisse Normande — a stretch of Normandy that surprises people. They come expecting flat wheat fields and leave talking about the gorges, the river bends, and the ridgeline walks above Clécy. The nickname "Swiss Normande" wasn't given ironically. The Orne carves through ancient rock here, creating cliffs and forests that feel genuinely wild, just a couple of hours from Paris on the A13. This four-bedroom character house occupies a 2,425 square metre plot directly on the banks of the Orne. The setting alone would justify a detour. But what you're actually getting is a property with serious bones — a living room anchored by an original stone fireplace, a fully fitted and equipped kitchen, a dedicated office space, two bathrooms, and a 105-square-metre attic that's ready for conversion. That attic is worth thinking about carefully. Opened up properly, it could become the kind of master suite or open studio that you'd never find in a new-build, all with exposed timber and river views. The plot comes with a secondary house in need of renovation, plus a collection of outbuildings: cellar, garage, workshop, and carport. For buyers who've been burned by properties with no storage or no room to grow, this is the kind of compound that rewards forward planning. Convert the secondary house as a rental unit or a guest cottage for family visits, and suddenly you've got a self-sup ... click here to read more

On a still Tuesday morning in the commune of Pers, just outside Sauzé-Vaussais, the air smells of cut grass and warm stone. A rooster somewhere across the fields. The kitchen window frames a stretch of open Deux-Sèvres countryside that hasn't changed much in a century. This is what 288 square metres of authentic French rural life feels like — and it's waiting for someone with vision. This is a serious property. Not a weekend renovation fantasy, but a genuine multi-building complex in good condition, sitting on approximately 6,763 m² of garden and land, with 13 rooms across three separate structures. Two independent houses and a studio. Seven bedrooms total. A family could move in tomorrow, or an investor could start generating gîte income within a season. Few properties in this price range in Poitou-Charentes offer this kind of immediate flexibility. The main house grounds you from the moment you step inside. The living room has the kind of proportions that make you want to leave the furniture where it is and just sit for a while. The eat-in kitchen is genuinely spacious — not the architectural lie of most listings — with room enough for a long Sunday lunch with extended family. Three bedrooms on this side of the property, two bathrooms, a separate WC, and a utility room that takes the practicality of country living seriously. Cross the garden and you're in a fully independent second house. Four more bedrooms, its own living room, kitchen, dining room, and two bathrooms with WC. The layout is exactly what you'd want if you're running a gîte operation, hosting friends from London or Amsterdam who want their own front door, or eventually housing adult children who need space but want to stay close. The separation is rea ... click here to read more

Sunday morning in La Faye sounds like this: the distant chime of the church bell in Ruffec carrying across the fields, a coffee going cold on the kitchen windowsill because you got distracted watching a pair of hoopoes pick through the garden. That's the pace of life here, and once you've had a taste of it, it's very hard to go back. This five-bedroom stone house sits just outside the small village of La Faye in the Charente department of Poitou-Charentes — rural southwest France at its most quietly compelling. Five minutes by car puts you in Ruffec, a proper market town with a covered market, a decent boulangerie on the Rue du Marché, and a weekly Wednesday market where local producers bring in their chevre, walnuts, sunflowers, and duck confit in jars. It's not a tourist circuit. Real people live here, shop here, grow things here. That's exactly the point. The house itself is built in the classic Charentais style — solid stone walls that keep rooms cool through July and August without air conditioning, high ceilings that make every space feel unhurried. At 231 square metres across two floors, this isn't a weekend bolt-hole; it's a proper family base for extended stays. The ground floor was designed with genuine practicality in mind: a fitted kitchen with a utility room directly off it, a formal dining room that seats everyone comfortably, and a living room with enough light in the afternoons to make you forget you intended to do anything productive. There's also a master suite on the ground floor with its own private bathroom — a detail that matters enormously when you have teenagers upstairs and grandparents visiting. Head upstairs and you'll find four more bedrooms and a dedicated office. That office isn't an afte ... click here to read more

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

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

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

Picture waking up on a Saturday morning to absolute quiet — no traffic, no sirens, just the soft chorus of birds drifting through the timber-framed terrace doors and the smell of coffee rising from a kitchen that somehow manages to feel both industrial and utterly at home. That's a regular weekend at this former dairy in Firbeix, a small, unhurried village in the northern Dordogne where the pace of life is set by the seasons, not the clock. This is not a typical holiday home in France. Not even close. Over 300 square metres of converted space — once used to house cattle and process milk — has been rethought entirely, from the concrete floors to the soaring ceilings, into one of the most genuinely distinctive live-work properties in Aquitaine. The transformation took patience and a clear creative vision, and the result is something between a Manhattan loft, a Provençal farmhouse, and an artist's compound. Except it's in the Dordogne. And it has a pond. Walk through the electric gates into the private courtyard and you immediately understand that something different is happening here. The building's exterior — honest, solid, with that particular kind of French agricultural permanence — hints at the scale inside without quite preparing you for it. The ground floor alone covers around 130 square metres of open workshop and studio space, flooded with natural light through large glazed openings. Right now it functions as an artist's workspace and gallery. But it could just as easily become a furniture-making atelier, a ceramics studio, an architect's office, a design showroom, or — for those who simply want space — a garage, games room, and workshop rolled into one. The ground floor also holds two double bedrooms, an office, ... 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

Picture this: a Sunday morning in late September, the air still warm enough to sit outside, a coffee in hand, the vines on the terrace just beginning to turn amber. From here you can hear absolutely nothing except birdsong and the faint clanking of tractors on neighboring plots. That's Duras. And once you've had a taste of it, the idea of going home starts to feel like a very poor decision. This 190-square-metre farmhouse sits at the heart of a working agricultural landscape in Lot-et-Garonne — one of the least-discovered corners of southwest France, and quietly, one of the most rewarding. The house is solid, full of original character, and in good condition throughout. No gut renovation required, no guesswork. You arrive, you unpack, and life in rural Aquitaine begins. Walk through the front door and the terracotta-tiled entrance hall immediately sets the mood — unhurried, warm, rooted in something real. The farmhouse-style kitchen and dining room is the room the whole house revolves around. An Aga-style wood pellet range cooker anchors one wall. But the feature that stops every visitor in their tracks is the original prune drying oven, still intact, built directly into the fabric of the kitchen. This part of Lot-et-Garonne has been producing Agen prunes — the pruneau d'Agen, with its own protected designation of origin — for centuries. Finding a domestic drying oven in this condition is genuinely rare. It's not decorative. It's a working piece of regional history embedded in your kitchen wall. The living room opens off the kitchen and has a different energy — slower, quieter. A Dovre log-burning stove sits at its center, and on a January evening when the temperature outside drops and the fields are silver with frost ... click here to read more

On a Tuesday morning in late June, the hamlet of Marsalès is almost too quiet to believe. A rooster somewhere down the lane. The smell of warm stone. Your coffee cooling on the covered terrace while the Dordogne countryside rolls out in every direction — golden fields, oak woods, church spires poking through the haze. This is not a postcard. This is a Tuesday. And this is what owning a second home here actually feels like. This three-bedroom stone cottage sits in an elevated position in the hamlet of Marsalès, in the southern Dordogne département — one of the most consistently sought-after pockets of rural France among British, Dutch, Belgian, and North American buyers. The elevation matters more than you might think. From the terrace, you get an uninterrupted sweep of the Périgord Pourpre landscape, the kind of view that stops mid-conversation. No neighbors directly in your sightline. No road noise. Just the countryside doing its thing. The property itself is in good condition — solid, liveable, and full of the kind of quiet character that comes from old stone walls and good proportions. Three bedrooms gives you enough room for a couple with visiting family, or a group of friends splitting the cost of a summer week. The fitted kitchen is functional and practical, the living room is genuinely warm in the way only thick-walled stone houses can be in winter. This is not a gut-renovation project. You could be here with a suitcase and a bottle of Bergerac red within weeks of completion. Outside, the swimming pool changes everything. It turns the garden from a nice feature into the center of daily life during July and August. Lunch by the water. Evening swims after the heat breaks around seven. The covered terrace runs alo ... click here to read more

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

The kitchen window faces east, and on a clear morning in Civray, the light comes in low and golden across terracotta floors that have been worn smooth over generations. There's a particular stillness to this corner of the Vienne — not emptiness, but the kind of quiet you have to actively seek out and rarely find. This is that place. The house is a stone longère, which is the long, low farmhouse form that defines rural Poitou-Charentes. These buildings were built to last, and this one has. Thick limestone walls keep the interior cool in July when the sunflower fields along the D1 are baking in 30-degree heat, and warm in February when morning frost whitens the lawn. At 243 square metres, the proportions are genuinely generous — you feel it the moment you step through the entrance hall and realize this isn't a weekend cottage stretched thin across too many rooms, but a proper family house with room to breathe. The heart of everything is the dining room. Cathedral ceilings, exposed oak beams, a fireplace wide enough to stand in, and a mezzanine gallery above that catches afternoon light beautifully. This is the room that will make your guests go quiet for a moment when they first see it. It's the room where Christmas happens, where Sunday lunches run until four in the afternoon, where the kids eventually claim the mezzanine as their own private territory. The country kitchen sits adjacent — practical, substantial, with a dining area and a large utility room behind it that serious cooks and rural living both demand. There's also a sitting room with a wood-burning stove and a quieter room that works perfectly as a study or reading space, the kind you actually use rather than just photograph. A ground-floor bedroom with its ... click here to read more

Stand on the covered terrace on a July evening, a glass of Buzet red in hand, and watch the last light of the day settle over a medieval village rooftops and rolling Gascon hills. Church bells drift up from the valley. The smell of wild thyme rises from the stone walls. This is not a fantasy — this is Tuesday night at this three-bedroom stone house perched above one of Lot-et-Garonne's most quietly captivating corners, just minutes from the royal town of Nérac. The house itself is the kind of place that takes a moment to fully comprehend. Walking through the entrance hall and into the main living room, your eye goes straight up — a genuine cathedral ceiling, double-height, with exposed oak beams crossing overhead. The wood-burning stove sits at one end of the room like it has always been there, because it has. Original fireplaces anchor two separate reception rooms, and the stonework throughout speaks to construction that predates most countries on earth. At 175 square metres spread across three distinct levels, this is a home you can spread out in, not just visit. The layout rewards the way families and groups actually use a holiday home. Ground floor offers two bedrooms, each with its own private shower room and WC — so two couples can share without negotiating bathroom schedules at 8am. The mezzanine level, currently a sun-filled home office with beautiful beam detailing, leads to the third bedroom with its own en suite. Three bedrooms, four bathrooms total. Privacy is built into the architecture. Down on the garden level — and this is where the property genuinely surprises — you find a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room with real character, a second sitting room with fireplace, and a bright veranda that the cur ... click here to read more

Step outside on a clear October morning and the entire Pyrenees range is just sitting there, spread across the horizon like a wall of silver and slate. Not glimpsed between rooftops. Not partially obscured by trees. The full panorama, uninterrupted, from the flat land that wraps around this single-story farmhouse in Marignac-Lasclares, a small village tucked into the rolling countryside of Haute-Garonne. It stops you mid-coffee, every time. This is the kind of property that doesn't announce itself loudly. No grand gates, no ostentatious facade. What you get instead is a completely renovated, 133 square meter stone farmhouse that works — genuinely works — as a home. Solid. Functional. Lived-in in the best possible sense. The renovation has been done with care, preserving the honest character of the original structure while making everything inside comfortable and ready to use from day one. No peeling plaster to address, no outdated wiring to budget for. You arrive, you unpack, and you're home. The property sits on flat, fully fenced land. For families with young children or anyone who's ever tried to garden on a slope, that matters more than it sounds. There's real usable outdoor space here — room for a terrace table long enough to seat everyone, a kitchen garden if you want one, or simply a stretch of lawn where nothing in particular happens except relaxation. Three bedrooms give the layout genuine flexibility. A couple using this as a second home in the French southwest will find the extra rooms genuinely useful — one for guests, one as a workspace or reading room for those weeks when you're not quite on holiday but not quite at the office either. Families will appreciate the spread. The single bathroom is well-appoi ... click here to read more

A Symphony of Tranquility and Opportunity in the Heart of Charente-Maritime Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds in the picturesque French countryside. Nestled in the charming village of Néré, this expansive 15-bedroom estate offers a unique blend of rustic allure and modern convenience, making it an ideal vacation home, holiday property, or second home for discerning international buyers. A Day in the Life at Your French Countryside Retreat Start your day with a leisurely stroll through the estate's lush gardens, where mature trees provide a canopy of shade and a serene play area for children. As the sun rises, the scent of blooming flowers mingles with the fresh country air, creating a sensory experience that invigorates the soul. The main house, a testament to timeless elegance, boasts original features such as exposed beams and stonework, seamlessly integrated with modern amenities. Each of the five gîtes offers high-quality accommodation, perfect for hosting family and friends or generating rental income. Imagine cozying up by the wood-burning stove on a crisp autumn evening, the warmth enveloping you as you sip a glass of local wine. A Hub for Celebrations and Gatherings This property is not just a home; it's a venue for life's most cherished moments. An additional outbuilding, ready to host events such as weddings and birthdays, adds a layer of versatility to this estate. Picture a summer wedding under the azure sky, the laughter of guests echoing through the gardens, or a milestone birthday celebrated with loved ones in the spacious event hall. Exploring the Charente-Maritime Region Beyond the estate, the Charente-Maritime region beckons with its rich tapestry of ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Charente-Maritime region, this expansive 15-bedroom house in Néré offers a unique blend of traditional French charm and modern comforts. Perfectly suited for those seeking a second home or a vacation retreat, this property promises a lifestyle filled with relaxation, adventure, and cultural richness. Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of leaves from the mature trees that dot the beautifully landscaped gardens. The morning sun filters through the windows, casting a warm glow on the exposed beams and stonework that speak to the home's rich history. This is not just a house; it's a sanctuary where memories are made and cherished. ### A Home with Endless Possibilities - 15 Bedrooms & 9 Bathrooms: Ample space for family gatherings or hosting guests. - Five Modern Gîtes: Each gîte is equipped with authentic features and modern amenities, perfect for vacation rentals or accommodating extended family. - Heated Swimming Pool: Dive into luxury with a pool that offers relaxation year-round. - Event-Ready Outbuilding: Host weddings, birthdays, or group events in a dedicated space. - Woodburning Stoves: Cozy up during the cooler months, adding a touch of rustic charm. - Income Potential: Substantial revenue from gîte rentals and event hosting. ### The Charente-Maritime Lifestyle Living in Néré means embracing the quintessential French countryside lifestyle. The region is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. Just an hour's drive from the Atlantic beaches, you can enjoy sun-soaked days by the sea or explore the charming coastal towns. - Proximity to Aulnay-de-Saintonge: A mere 8-minute drive brings you to this bustling town, where you can indulge in l ... click here to read more

Discover the idyllic rural lifestyle offered by this picturesque 4-bedroom house nestled in the serene hamlet of Romazières, located in Poitou-Charentes, Charente-Maritime. This property presents a perfect amalgamation of tranquility and comfort, making it an ideal choice for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in the calm of the French countryside. The property spans approximately 180 square meters and boasts a welcoming stone façade that perfectly encapsulates the timeless appeal of rural French architecture. As you enter this charming home, you are greeted by a spacious living room that radiates warmth and comfort. Large windows not only enrich the space with abundant natural light but also offer enchanting views of the surrounding landscape. The heart of the home is its central heating system, ensuring cozy winters throughout the living spaces and four generously-sized bedrooms. For those who relish outdoor living, the private swimming pool is a highlight, providing an exclusive retreat for relaxation and entertainment. The pool area, coupled with the property’s proximity to a vast forest, offers numerous leisure activities right at your doorstep, from serene walks to adventurous hikes exploring the local flora and fauna. Living in Romazières offers more than just a home; it’s a lifestyle. The area is known for its peaceful environment and is perfect for families or individuals seeking a quieter life. The local community is welcoming, adding to the charm of making this your new home. Furthermore, the temperate climate of the Charente-Maritime region, with mild winters and warm summers, complements the outdoor-centric living that this property encourages. Amenities and ... click here to read more

Nestled in the picturesque serenity of Cressé, France, this stunning 6-bedroom Charentaise property exudes both historic charm and modern convenience. Offering an expansive 284m² of living space, the home is situated in the bucolic Poitou-Charentes region within Charente-Maritime. With its close proximity to the vibrant hubs of Matha, Cognac, and Saint-Jean-d'Angély, you’re just a short drive away from a world bursting with culture, fine dining, and acclaimed vineyards, making this property a gateway to the finest that French country life has to offer. As a bussy real estate agent, let me tell you, properties like these don't come on the market very often. So, if I sound a bit rushed, it’s because every moment counts when it comes to showing off exceptional finds like this one. Now, let's dive into what makes this house a fantastic chance for overseas investors or expats seeking their slice of French charm. As you approach the property, a grand porch welcomes you, silently whispering the stories of its storied past, all while inviting you into a world of understated elegance. The property has been sensitively renovated to preserve its unique character, featuring original beams, exposed stonework, and cozy fireplaces that evoke a sense of timelessness. Whether you're warming by the wood stove during the crisp winter months or lounging by the pool in the vibrant summer, this home offers an idyllic all-year-round experience. The main house is thoughtfully laid out over two floors: - Ground Floor: - A stunning entrance hall sets the stage for the home's refined ambiance. - Inviting bedroom with easy access to a separate toilet. - Luxurious bathroom with a walk-in shower opening to the garden and pool. - Practical ... click here to read more

Step out onto the front balcony on a clear October morning and the whole of the Charente-Maritime countryside unrolls in front of you — pale gold fields, distant church spires, the kind of quiet that city people spend years trying to find. That's Fontaine-Chalendray. A small village in the Poitou-Charentes region that most tourists drive straight past on their way to the Atlantic coast, which is precisely what makes it so good. This three-bedroom house sits on a fully enclosed plot and has been kept in genuinely good condition — not "good condition" as a euphemism for "needs imagination," but actually solid, move-in ready, and full of thoughtful details that someone clearly cared about. The 142m² of living space works hard, and a 150m² barn plus three separate garages mean you have more flexibility here than you'd typically find at this price point in France. Inside, the lounge anchors the ground floor with a Dutch wood-burning stove — a proper, cast-iron thing that radiates heat differently from a standard fireplace, warming the room evenly rather than scorching whoever's sitting nearest. On a January evening with the fire going, this room has real pull. Double doors at the rear open directly onto a glassed veranda, which then connects to a covered terrace outside. That sequence — lounge, veranda, terrace — creates a natural flow for entertaining across three seasons without anyone getting rained on. The kitchen and dining room is where this house gets interesting. Bamboo countertops that develop a warm honey tone over time, a breakfast bar for morning coffee and the newspaper, and a professional Italian range cooker with five gas burners plus an electric and solid-fuel oven combination. This isn't a show kitchen ins ... click here to read more

This charming 4-bedroom house situated in the scenic region of Poitou-Charentes, Charente-Maritime in Fontaine-Chalendray, France offers a wonderful opportunity for those looking to immerse themselves in the French countryside. Perfectly positioned on a spacious 4282m² plot, this property has a total built area of 250m² with a cozy 38m² living area. The residence provides a family-friendly layout featuring a private master bedroom with its en-suite bathroom and a separate staircase, ensuring privacy and tranquility. Additionally, at the opposite end of the house are three generously sized bedrooms, each with access to their own bathrooms and a separate staircase, ideal for children or guests. The configuration lends itself beautifully for use as a bed and breakfast, or for those considering the holiday rental market, adding potential income streams for the savvy investor. The games room adds an element of fun, equipped with a full kitchen corner and a stove, and is strategically linked to the three bedrooms. It can serve as a comfy kitchen/sitting room or be transformed into a large third gîte with direct access to the picturesque back terrace and garden. The potential for expansion is significant, with additional outbuildings such as a barn, garage, and workshop awaiting transformation, subject to planning permissions. Renovations completed in 1999 have brought the house up-to-date with new roofing, plumbing, and electric systems. The residence benefits from quality insulation reaching a high-efficiency C rating, central heating, double-glazed windows, and equipped with stoves in all reception rooms and gîtes to ensure comfort during the colder months. Property Features: - Four bedrooms - Three bathrooms - Separate ... click here to read more

Nestled in the enchanting French countryside, this expansive property in Haimps, Charente-Maritime, offers a unique opportunity for those looking to make a home in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes. Just a stone's throw from the bustling town of Matha, which is beautifully accessible at just 7 km away, local amenities are never far, but you’ll revel in the tranquil retreat that this home provides. With six bedrooms across the main house and additional lodgings, this spacious dwelling sits amid captivating gardens, providing panoramic views over fields typically adorned with sunflowers, wheat, and barley. Perfect for accommodating a large family or entertaining guests, this property offers endless possibilities. The local area of Haimps is steeped in history and rich with stunning landscapes. Living in this part of France, you'll embrace a serene rural lifestyle infused with local culture and cuisine. The mild climate, marked by warm summers and mild winters, makes it an ideal location for enjoying outdoor activities throughout the year. The region is known for its sprawling vineyards and Cognac production, inviting residents to indulge in tastings and tours, offering an authentic glimpse into traditional French living. Life here is also marked by charming local markets, where fresh produce and homemade goods can be found. The local towns offer a great sense of community, often hosting festivals and events that bring residents together in celebration. For history enthusiasts, the region is dotted with castles, Roman remnants, and historic villages waiting to be explored. As for the property itself, the main house invites you in with an entrance hall leading to a kitchen that serves as the heart of the home. ... click here to read more

Picture yourself stepping out onto sun-warmed terracotta tiles, clutching a morning café au lait, as the bells of the UNESCO-listed Romanesque church drift across the rooftops of Aulnay-de-Saintonge. This is your French countryside escape—a solid 152m² stone house where breakfast happens in a 30m² kitchen that easily holds eight around the table, where winter evenings revolve around the crackling wood stove in a living room that still bears its original mangeoir, and where the rhythm of life slows to match the gentle pace of the Charente-Maritime countryside. This detached four-bedroom home sits on the peaceful outskirts of Aulnay, positioned perfectly between authentic village life and rural tranquility. The fully enclosed 1,565m² plot delivers absolute privacy while keeping the village center within a five-minute walk. You can stroll to the boulangerie for warm croissants, browse the weekly market for local cheeses and wines, or join neighbors at the café—all without needing your car. Yet return home, and you're surrounded by open fields, singing birds, and the kind of silence that city dwellers crave. Inside, the ground floor layout serves both daily living and holiday gatherings effortlessly. That generous dining kitchen becomes the heart of family vacations—imagine prepping lunch with produce from Cognac's Saturday market while children play in the garden visible through the windows. The adjacent living room, anchored by its traditional feeding trough feature and efficient wood burner, provides cozy winter evenings after exploring nearby Cognac distilleries or returning from autumn walks through the surrounding farmland. A ground-floor bedroom and full bathroom on this level make the home immediately accessible fo ... click here to read more

Nestled amidst the tranquil and picturesque landscape of Poitou-Charentes in Charente-Maritime, Bresdon, this charming 4-bedroom farmhouse offers an idyllic setting for those looking to immerse themselves in the serene French countryside. With its significant yet tastefully completed renovations, this property is ideal for both personal use and as potential to establish a Bed and Breakfast, subject to the usual local approvals. Originally a barn, this residence has been meticulously transformed while keeping its heritage features in the spotlight. A welcoming entrance leads into the convivial layout, comprising a cosy living room and a bright dining room that opens onto the terrace—perfect for enjoying alfresco meals during the warmer months. The kitchen is fully equipped, beautifully marrying functionality with a touch of farmhouse elegance. Adjacent to it is an additional living space complete with a log burner, creating a snug atmosphere for chilly evenings. The master suite showcases exquisite wooden beams, an expansive dressing room, and a luxurious private bathroom with both a bath and an Italian shower. On the opposite side of the farmhouse, the three additional bedrooms offer ample privacy and each comes with its own modern shower room. These rooms are accessed by independent staircases, which is especially ideal if the property were to serve guests. The layout also includes a mezzanine currently set as an office, a practical laundry area, and extensive storage space that runs the length of the house, accessible via the workshop. The inviting enclosed garden and its terrace provide a private oasis to revel in the outdoors, whether it's gardening or simply soaking up the sun. While the farmhouse breathes a ru ... click here to read more

Welcome to this charming 5-bedroom house in the serene and beautiful countryside of Matha, nestled in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes, Charente-Maritime, France. Offering a blend of tranquility and convenience, this property is an ideal choice for overseas buyers looking for a slice of French country living paired with the potential for personalization. Property Features: - Spacious Living Area: With a total size of 262m², this house boasts ample space for a comfortable living experience. - Bedrooms: Comprise 5 well-appointed bedrooms, offering flexibility in use for families, guests, or as additional working spaces. - Bathrooms: Includes 3 well-maintained bathrooms, ensuring comfort and convenience for all residents. - Kitchens: The property features two fully fitted kitchens, providing an excellent opportunity for those who love to cook or entertain. - Additional Spaces: A sitting/dining room with a fireplace, a large drawing room with a wood-burning stove, a separate dining room, and a snug - all add to the charm and appeal of the house. - Outdoor Area: A pretty country garden with terraces enjoys rural views, perfect for outdoor dining or simply soaking up the peaceful surroundings. - Parking: A large parking area at the rear, along with a covered terrace, adds to the convenience. - Renovation Opportunity: While in good condition, the house and guest cottage offer a unique opportunity for further customization and enhancement to suit personal tastes. Local Area Information: Living in Matha provides a unique experience characterized by the beauty of the French countryside, rolling vineyards, and historic sites. The region around Matha is famed for its production of Cognac and local wines, making it an ex ... click here to read more

Picture yourself cycling through sunflower-lined lanes on a June morning, returning to your private courtyard where breakfast waits under the shade of century-old lime trees. The scent of fresh croissants mingles with lavender from the garden, while the pool shimmers invitingly in the distance. This is the everyday rhythm of life in your French vacation home in Matha, where the authentic Charente countryside unfolds at your doorstep. Nestled in a tranquil hamlet in the Poitou-Charentes region, this exceptional 331 square meter property combines the warmth of French country living with the flexibility modern holiday home owners demand. The estate comprises two distinct residences on one generous plot: a spacious seven-bedroom main house and a fully independent three-bedroom guest cottage, creating endless possibilities for family gatherings, friendship retreats, or generating rental income during your absence. The main residence welcomes you through an entrance hall that sets the tone for the entire property: light-filled spaces with character intact. The ground floor flows naturally from room to room, beginning with a comfortable sitting room where winter evenings are spent by the fire, progressing to a practical study perfect for remote work between holiday adventures, and opening into a well-appointed kitchen that becomes the heart of family meals. The living room bathes in natural light throughout the day, its windows framing views of the gardens beyond. A dedicated utility room handles the practical side of vacation home ownership with ease. Ascending to the first floor, four generously proportioned bedrooms provide restful retreats after days exploring the Charente-Maritime. A full bathroom and separate shower room ... click here to read more

Nestled in the charming region of Charente-Maritime in the quaint town of Matha, this delightful 7-bedroom farmhouse presents an appealing blend of traditional charm and renovation opportunities. Set on a significant plot of 1498 m2, surrounded by a mature garden, this property promises both space and privacy in a serene rural setting. The primary residence spreads over two levels and showcases a welcoming entrance that leads into a fitted, well-equipped kitchen where family meals can be prepared with ease. Adjacent to the kitchen lies a cozy living room featuring a classic fireplace that provides the perfect spot for relaxation during cooler evenings. The ground floor also includes an office (or additional bedroom) alongside a handy shower room, scullery, and separate toilet. Upstairs, a corridor leads to four gracious bedrooms and a well-appointed dressing room. A second shower room on this floor emphasizes convenience for family living. Notably, the property is equipped with electric heating and partial double glazing, enhancing comfort throughout the seasons. Adjacent to the main house is a second structure that is ripe for full renovation. Currently, this 70m2 area comprises a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a shower with toilet, offering a fantastic project for those looking to inject their personal touch or seeking an investment opportunity. Please note, however, that this part lacks heating, and individual sanitation standards need addressing. Supporting structures on the property include a wine storehouse, several workshops, a shed, and two gated entrances, providing ample utility and flexibility for various hobbies or storage needs. Accommodations and Amenities: - Main House: Entrance, fitted kitch ... click here to read more

On a quiet morning in Villemain, the only sound you'll hear is birdsong cutting through cool air and the distant creak of a wooden shutter swinging open somewhere down the lane. That's the pace of life here — and once you've felt it, the city you came from starts to feel very far away indeed. This four-bedroom stone farmhouse sits on the edge of the village of Villemain, a small commune in the Deux-Sèvres department of Poitou-Charentes, in a part of France that most international buyers haven't discovered yet. That's both an honest observation and, frankly, a significant advantage. Property prices here remain well below those of the Dordogne or the Lot, yet the quality of the landscape, the food, and the way of life is every bit as rewarding. The house itself is in good condition — no project property requiring months of contractors, just a well-built, characterful home that's ready to live in from the first weekend you arrive. Pull through the iron gates onto the broad gravelled driveway and the house announces itself properly. The full stone frontage stretches the width of the plot, and there's room to park four or five cars comfortably — useful when family comes down from Paris or friends fly in from London through Poitiers-Biard airport, barely an hour's drive north. Step through the front door and the entrance hall does something that very few rooms manage: it makes you want to slow down. Original terracotta tiles underfoot, a fireplace for the cooler months, and a wooden staircase that curves upward with the kind of confidence that only comes from being built to last. This is not a house that was thrown up quickly. The lounge runs wide across the front of the building, wooden floors worn smooth with age, a stone ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque village of Couture-d'Argenson in the Deux-Sèvres department, this stone house offers you the perfect opportunity to experience authentic French living. Whether you're an overseas buyer looking for a charming retreat or an expat seeking a cozy place to call home, this property stands as a promising investment well-woven into the local community fabric. As a busy agent who works globally, it’s a delight to present a property that combines quaint village appeal with potential for growth. Couture-d'Argenson, located in the charming Poitou-Charentes region, is a blend of countryside beauty and welcoming village life. The climate here is quite pleasant with warm summers and mild winters, making it an ideal year-round destination for those seeking a serene lifestyle or a seasonal hideaway. The house is modest in size yet packed with potential. It spans 63 square metres, offering a cozy living area suitable for individuals or couples. As you step in, you are welcomed by an entrance hall that smoothly transitions into the various spaces that make up this quaint abode. Here's a visual walk through this delightful property: - 1 Bedroom - 1 Bathroom - Entrance hall - Shower room to your right - WC to your left - Functional kitchen - Dining room - Sitting room The house also boasts a large attic, unused and just waiting to be transformed into a potential addition to your home. Of course, it would be subject to obtaining the necessary permissions, but it opens up the possibility of creating extra living space or perhaps a studio. The thought of designing an area exactly as you want is truly exciting. The property has a kitchen and bathroom, but both would benefit from a bit of modernizatio ... click here to read more

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Poitou-Charentes region, this expansive 6-bedroom property in Villemain offers a unique opportunity for those seeking a tranquil second home or a vibrant holiday retreat in France. With its charming stone and tile construction, this property exudes a rustic elegance that perfectly complements the serene French countryside. Imagine waking up to the gentle sounds of nature, sipping your morning coffee on the terrace as the sun rises over the lush landscape. This is more than just a house; it's a gateway to a lifestyle filled with relaxation, exploration, and unforgettable memories. ### A Home with Endless Possibilities The property comprises a main 3-bedroom house, a 2-bedroom cottage, and a 1-bedroom cottage, all seamlessly connected yet offering distinct living spaces. Whether you envision a large family home or a series of cozy guest accommodations, the flexibility of this property is unmatched. - Main House: Features a spacious living area with a striking stone fireplace, perfect for cozy evenings. - Cottages: Ideal for hosting guests or generating rental income, each with its own unique charm. - Stone Staircase: Adds a touch of historical elegance, leading to the upper floors. - Wood Timbers: Exposed beams throughout, enhancing the rustic ambiance. - Large Outbuilding: Offers ample storage or potential for further development. - Courtyard: Provides convenient parking and a welcoming entrance. - Manageable Garden: A perfect spot for outdoor dining or a small vegetable patch. ### Embrace the French Countryside Lifestyle Villemain is a quintessential French village, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, you can immerse yourself in the local ... click here to read more

Nestled on the fringe of Brie-sous-Matha, a quaint village in the picturesque region of Poitou-Charentes, Charente-Maritime, this enchanting 4-bedroom house conjures the essence of rural French charm and peaceful living. Originally a water mill, this residence weaves history with modern living, making it an ideal purchase for those looking to immerse in French culture and countryside serenity. Whether you’re a family seeking to relocate, a couple dreaming of a pastoral retreat, or an individual exploring income opportunities abroad, this house reveals itself as a versatile dwelling. The residence spans 140 square meters of living space, tastefully accentuating its heritage with contemporary touches. On entering the farmhouse-style kitchen, one is greeted by a welcoming fireplace with wood-burner — an ideal locale for family gatherings over home-cooked meals. Adjacent to this, the expansive living room, also equipped with a fireplace and wood-burner, ensures warmth and comfort during the cooler months. The layout includes four well-proportioned bedrooms, one boasting ensuite facilities, and a separate bathroom to cater to both family and guest needs. Throughout, the home maintains a good condition, though new owners might find delight in adding personal enhancements which could further increase its allure and functionality. Potentially appealing to those with entrepreneurial spirit, the property is accompanied by a significant expanse of land totaling 9590 square meters. This includes an attached barn with a robust concrete floor, presenting a felicitous opportunity for conversion, possibly into an entertainment venue or additional residential units, pending required permissions. The former milling house and additional ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene village outskirts of Brie-sous-Matha, this delightful four-bedroom house was once a bustling water mill. Today, it makes for a picturesque family home that retains an abundance of character amidst its extensive grounds, complete with outbuildings, garden, and expansive land offering wonderful development possibilities. This charming property seamlessly blends rustic elegance with modern comfort, making it especially appealing to families and expatriates seeking a tranquil life in the heart of France’s Poitou-Charentes region. The available space and structures provide ample opportunity for both personal customization and potential income avenues through gîtes or a revived culinary business, as previously operated on-site. ## Property Features: - Four bedrooms; one with ensuite facilities - Two bathrooms in total - Spacious farmhouse-style kitchen with a traditional fireplace and wood burner - Generous living room also featuring a wood-burning fireplace - Attached large barn with concrete floor and versatile usage potential - Additional outbuildings ideal for storage or workshop space - Plot size extends over 9590 square meters, featuring a well-maintained lawn with trees, shrubs, and meadow areas - Rear and front entrance providing accessibility and privacy Stepping into this home, you will find yourself in the large, inviting kitchen that serves as the heart of the house with its cozy fireplace, perfect for gathering the family over sumptuous meals. Adjacent, the living room, considerable in size, offers a warm setting for relaxation and social engagements. A convenient ground-floor WC and spacious bedrooms upstairs, including one with ensuite facilities, ensure comfort for all inhabitants. T ... click here to read more

Nestled in the serene and scenic hamlet of Verdille, within the heart of Poitou-Charentes, Charente, this charming, renovated stone house offers a delightful blend of traditional architecture and modern comforts, set against a backdrop of lush countryside. With its expansive plot of 6,943 sq. m., including numerous outbuildings and a refreshing in-ground swimming pool, this property captivates those who seek the tranquility of rural France coupled with the potential for personalization. This 220 sq. m. house, perfect for a family or as a spacious retreat, comes equipped with a large kitchen-diner that provides a warm and inviting space for family meals and gatherings. Adjacent to this is a separate laundry and storage room, adding convenience to everyday living. The home features a cozy lounge and a spacious second living room, ideal for relaxation or entertaining guests. The ground floor also includes an office space, which could alternatively serve as an additional bedroom, a downstairs shower room, and a separate toilet. The bespoke wooden staircase in the hallway leads to a mezzanine landing where you will find another shower room, a separate toilet, and three bedrooms, including one sizable master bedroom. This residence benefits from oil-fired central heating, ensuring comfort throughout the seasons. Externally, the property boasts a variety of outbuildings which present a wealth of potential. An open barn is attached to the house, and a completely separate outbuilding is poised for transformation into a spacious gite or guesthouse, subject to necessary planning permissions. An additional barn is attached to the back of the property, enhancing storage options or workshop space. The gated entrance opens to a siz ... click here to read more