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COLOMBAGE
HALF TIMBERING
Gloriously pretty, you can find colombage
style houses throughout France - sometimes infilled with local bricks or with torchis
- examples
of the former can be found
in the ancient city of Bergerac where ancient
terracotta bricks are set between the wooden beams. We
couldn't resist this gorgeous
property built in the traditional colombage
Norman style. This 18th century 7 bedroom
property in the centre of Saint Saen, just half
an hour from Dieppe, has been fully restored
into two separate houses overlooking beautiful terraced
gardens. The house belonged to
a childhood friend of the Impressionist artist
Matisse who often stayed here - no doubt he
was inspired to paint by the surroundings. Y
Ref: 95054AMO76
€386,900
FERMETTE
A SMALL FARMHOUSE
Typically built in stone, these usually consist
of a main farmhouse and outbuildings such
as a barn (grange) - although many still have
reasonable amounts of land attached, much
is likely to have been sold. This fermette is
in the village of St. Eutrope-de-Born in the
Lot-et-Garonne near the old bastide town
of Villareal. The main house has four double
bedrooms, while a second dwelling has been
converted into the perfect guest house - or
maison d'amis - with two more bedrooms.
Both are set around the private courtyard
overlooking the heated swimming pool!
Bathed in sunshine it's on the market for just
€449,000. Ref: 91777HA47
€449,000
Y