EXPERT
€670,000
PLAZAC, DORDOGNE Located on the edge of a pretty village, this old mill house has an underfloor aquarium. The garden is an oasis with streams and ponds. The property is currently run as a B&B with three guest suites from which visitors can enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
CASE STUDY Maggie and Barry’s waterside retreat
Maggie and Barry bought their water mill in Haute- Vienne more than 26 years ago. For the first 16 years, they used the property as a holiday home during school holidays with their two children, who knew every inch of the woods and enjoyed having the freedom to explore the land and
surrounding area. Since selling their businesses 10 years ago and retiring, they have spent five or six months a year at the mill and have enjoyed the surrounding environment, nature and local activities. Their 12 grandchildren have also enjoyed many happy adventure- seeking holidays here, as has their cat who has a French passport and loves staying there too! “We chose the mill for its solitude, accessibility, beauty and south-
facing aspect – with all-day sunshine, a pretty stream and lots of wildlife,” says Maggie. Indeed, wildlife is plentiful at the property and over the years they’ve seen deer, wild boar and water voles, as well as lots of beautiful birds including kingfishers, yellow wagtails, green woodpeckers, barn owls, buzzards and migrating cranes. Barry adds: “It’s been a wonderful family hideaway, and we feel very lucky to have had such a beautiful, peaceful home. It’s been a fabulous paradise for children and adults alike.” Although the water mill is in a peaceful, secluded location, where
they can walk and cycle, they are also near civilisation and have lovely French neighbours in the village. There is easy access to Limoges airport for visitors, and supermarkets and local markets in Marval and Piégut. There is also canoeing at the local lake, St-Estèphe. They’ve spent their time updating the property including
repointing walls, installing terraces on three sides and a swimming pool, putting in working sluices on the leat, creating a vegetable garden (water pumped from the stream keeps it well watered) and a fruit cage, as well as discovering their lake, which they cleared trees from and refilled. This is located down a track surrounded by beautiful woodland and is completely private. Maggie and Barry are now reluctant to sell the property as it
holds many happy memories for them, but feel the time is right to let someone else enjoy the peace and tranquillity this property offers. The water mill is situated in the Marval area of Haute-Vienne and is for sale with Beaux Villages for €385,000.
€495,000
PARISOT, TARN-ET-GARONNE Renovated four-bedroom, two-bathroom stone property with just over an acre of gardens leading down to the river, and a pool too. Accessed by a country track, there are no neighbours in sight and yet the village is just 3km away.
€399,950
RUFFEC, CHARENTE A charming water mill in a beautiful location just a short walk from the town. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom property has a stunning vaulted sitting room with views of the private, mature garden to one end and river views to the other.
you an educated view on the likelihood of this happening. Your estate agent will be
able to go through this with you when you’re looking at a potential place to buy. It can also be useful to speak to your agent and neighbours at the property, who will have first-hand knowledge of the risk of flooding. For example, although our property was in a flood zone, our 80-year-old neighbour, who was born in our house, had never seen flooding at the property in his lifetime. It is always important to discuss your concerns with your agent when looking at a property in France and make sure you’re fully aware of the risks so that
you can make an informed decision on whether or not the property is right for you.
MAINS AND DRAINS For properties not connected to mains drainage, sanitation can be another issue to consider. Regulations for properties close to rivers and streams are more restrictive when it comes to installing a new individual drainage system as the authorities want to make sure there’s no chance of the waterways being polluted. A site visit from the local sanitation board followed by a soil study will give you all the information you need in order to install the correct system.
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: September/October 202335
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