Gite Rental Investment: Lovely Farmhouse with a 5bed Barn & a Pool

Property Description

Le Martrat, near Buxy, a refurbished 3bed Farm House and adjacent 5 bed Stone Barn for 495,000 Euros.

OVERVIEW:

This is the opportunity to rent or live in either property in a beautiful quiet village in Burgundy, 15 minutes from Le Creusot TGV station.

Near the centre of the village of Le Martrat the property is located on a hill giving commanding views over the surrounding countryside and it is also close to many well known vineyards many unusual and interesting sights to investigate.

The Farmhouse is offered for sale unfurnished with tenant family on 3 year contract and the barns are offered for sale furnished. There is also room to build a further property in the grounds.

INTERIOR:

The stone barn of 134 sqm, recently renovated with a new roof, a brand new Kitchen and double glazing, has retained many original features to provide a combination of convenience and rustic attraction. There are five double bedrooms, three with ensuites, plus a family bathroom. The living room is large at 42 sqm and enjoys its original ceiling, looking over the adjacent garden and valley.

The farmhouse of 85sqm, also renovated contains a new kitchen, living area together with a bedroom and ensuite downstairs. The hayloft has been converted into two bedrooms and a bathroom. The terrace gives fine views again across the adjacent valley. Under the house are two cellars.

EXTERIOR:

The farm has extensive grounds, an indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool and a large sun deck with superb views of the valley.

In the landscaped garden are a number of trees and shrubs to bring colour throughout the year as the paths wend their way down to the enclosed heated pool. This pool is overlooked by two terraces provided in the gardens.

In the gardens are also a garage/outbuilding and extensive parking within the 5000sq m property. A dividing wall enables the Farmhouse and Barns to be used as one or two separate properties and over the last 17 years the Farmhouse has been continuously occupied by long term paying families; the barns have been rented out every summer to families from the UK, the rest of the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and China.

REVENUE GENERATION:

The House

This has been on the market since 2001 earning between 6000 and 7500 euros pa with very short periods between tenants. We do not have to advertise the property as it sells by ‘word of mouth’. However there are a number of estate agents in Buxy.

The Barns

After investing 330,000 euros, this has been rented out mainly in July and August since 2002, netting between 22,000 euros in 2007 and between 10-12,000 euros pa since. We advertise only through French Connections property ref 4265. The property is and has been successfully managed since 2001 by a local family. Fortunately the mayor and local residents are very supportive of the additional custom we bring to the village.

FOOD AND WINE:

Burgundy is renowned for its food and wine and you cannot go wrong in any of the local restaurants. There is a restaurant with a bar in the village called the "Cheval Blanc". This restaurant has received high approval ratings from visitors to La Grange des Giraffes.

About 4 Km away in Germagny you will find L'Expresso, which is recommended by the owners and previous visitors. Les Vignes is a restaurant which has recently re-opened under new management and, although more expensive than Le Cheval Blanc or L'Expresso, offers an excellent range and quality of dishes.

If you prefer a more formal setting, then Annees Vins in Buxy is a much more formal restaurant. A guide to local restaurants with directions is provided by the owners when bookings are made.

As for wine, well the area is your oyster (or tastevin!). Conveniently situated between Montagny and Givry (the favourite wine of Henry IV of France). Close by are all the great Beaujolais vineyards, most of which offer 'degustation gratuit' – free wine tasting.

All these wines are available in local supermarkets and the local co-operatives. In the local co-operatives (one in Buxy, one in Genouilly) you can also buy plastic barrels which can be filled at the 'fontaine' for about one euro a litre! There are some of these plastic barrels in 5 litre, 20 litre and 30 litre sizes. They have their taps on them. You are welcome to use them, but please do not remove them. However, this is wine for drinking now! It does not really keep or travel well.

SPORT:

Walking – visitors have been impressed with the quality of walking opportunities, just from the house and the amount of wild life that can be seen in this tranquil setting.

Cycling – many visitors appear to go to the area for cycling holidays and are, again, impressed with the number of quiet side roads.

Bicylces can be hired from a hotel in Buxy.

Tennis – there is a tennis court opposite next to the ‘ecole maternelle’. It belongs to the commune and no charge is made to use it.

Table tennis – there is a table tennis table (made of concrete) in the tree covered area just beyond the bakers. Again it is ‘communale’ and no charge is made to use it. There is also a small and quite elderly table tennis table in the house, which seems to give people a lot of pleasure!Please use it outside!

Golf – is available about 10 minutes away by car.

Horse riding – “poneys” (the French spelling) can be hired at Boujolles, about 5 minutes away.

Beach life – for those of you who enjoy beach life, there is a leisure lake at Lac de Laives (about 20 minutes away), where there are pedaloes, a café, ice cream, etc. A small charge is made, but you can buy a season ticket and make further savings.

Skiing – Le Martrat is 2 hours away from the Jura and Switzerland and in the right season, skiing. Mont Blanc can be seen from Chalon-sur-Saone on a clear day.

HISTORY:

The historical city of Beaune is only half an hour away. The owners strongly recommend a visit to the ‘Hotel Dieu’. The Hotel Dieu is a 14th Century hospital built by Nicholas Rolin who was Chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy.

Dijon is about an hour away, where at the Musee des Beaux Arts you can see the fabulous tombs of the Ducs de Bourgogne.

Cormartin is a Chateau on the way to Cluny with very interesting exhibitions. Slightly further on is Taize (about 30 minutes to the south) and is an ecumenical organisation for young people to study their faith. Cluny is about 10 minutes further on and well worth a visit.

There are many places to visit from the photographic museum in Chalon to the great Clos de Vougeot (if you do not understand French, please request a copy of the visit).

ACCESS:

It is an easy drive from the Eurotunnel or Calais Port as it is more or less a straight drive and takes about four and a half to five hours.

By train take the Eurostar to Lille, where there is a cross platform change and take the TGV to Montchanin-Torcy-Le Creusot. All the main car hire companies are represented at Montchanin-Torcy-Le Creusot. The drive from the station takes 10 to 15 minutes.

By air, currently there are only flights to Lyon St Exupery or Paris, although there used to be a flight to Dijon Longevic, but since Buzz ceased trading this flight no longer goes, but it is worth keeping an eye out, in case someone starts it again. The drive from Lyon takes about one and a half hours, but all the major car hire companies are represented there.
The nearest servicable airport isDole Jura [DLE]