A Tasteful Melding of Old and New in the Charming Village of Lagrasse.

Property Description

Summary
A tasteful melding of old and new in the charming village of Lagrasse.
This surprising jewel of a house, built during the 15th century, has been beautifully renovated and updated with materials of the highest quality. 121 square meters on three levels includes a completely private, south-facing walled terrace of 20 m2 on the first floor which doubles as an extension of the master bedroom, accessible through a set of three sliding glass doors as well as by its own staircase from the RDC. A second-floor balcony large enough to comfortably seat four offers a lovely view of village rooftops, hills and the remarkable aerial acrobatics of the swallows and house martins that flock to the village every spring.

Location
Nestled in a picturesque valley, the highly sought after village of Lagrasse, classified among “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France”, is famous for its cultural events, among which are the annual piano festival En Blanc et Noir held under the Roman roof of the market square and the literary festival Le Banquet du Livre held on the grounds of the village’s famous Abbaye médiévale which dates to the 8th century. A lively outdoor market takes place in the market square every Saturday morning. The year-round population of about 500 residents swells several-fold during holidays when many second-home owners—both French and expats of many nationalities—tend to return, and visitors from far and wide fill the village’s many gites. Lagrasse’s amenities include a grammar school, a library, a community center, a grocery store, a bakery, a pharmacy, ten restaurants (many of which are along the tree-lined Promenade), several cafés, a tabac, a variety of artists' ateliers and craft boutiques, as well as medical facilities, all within short walking distance. During the summer watergates are used to raise the surface level of a section of the Orbieu river, which runs through the village, to form a popular swimming zone. Excellent hiking and biking routes begin right from the village.

Access
A 22-minute drive to supermarkets, hardware stores, etc. and a train station in the town of Lézignan-Corbières, 40 minutes to both Narbonne and Carcassonne train stations (in different directions), 44 minutes to Carcassonne airport, 47 minutes to beaches in Gruissan, 1.5 hours to Toulouse-Blagnac airport as well as to Girona, and 3.5 hours to Barcelona.

Interior
Indoors are three 'chambres', two on the first floor and one on the second which opens onto the balcony. On the RDC is a splendid, daylight-filled kitchen which features an oversized island and countertops clad in Dekton, a beautiful 110 cm Falcon stove with gas burners and two electric ovens, ample storage cabinetry, and a washing machine and dryer hidden from view in their own a closet. Adjoining the kitchen are the dining area and salon which features a very appealing Jotul wood-burning stove. One of two tiled shower rooms is on the RDC and the other is off the master bedroom on the first floor. The house is equipped with an Atlantic climate control system which economically provides both heating and cooling.

Exterior
The north-facing facade is typical of a medieval French village house. With neighboring houses on either side, the south-facing rear of the house features a 20 m2 terrace (sans vis-a-vis) on the first floor and balcony on the second floor. Both outdoor spaces, ideal for enjoying coffees/teas, aperos and meals, are equipped with retractable awnings to provide shade from the hot summer sun.

Additional Details
Well insulated and equipped with double-glazed windows throughout, the house has an energy efficiency rating of B for performance and A for gas emissions.