DESCRIPTION

Chateau St Amand is a very elegant C18 single-storey chateau which feels more like a fine Roman Villa than a medieval castle! The accomodation in the house is superb and the library especially is one of our favourite rooms. The large, secluded pool and adjacent covered sitting/dining area with summer kitchen together form the perfect holiday relaxation area.

The house stands in its own land on a hill above the quiet hamlet of St Amand, yet only 3kms from the charming market town of Eauze, an historic centre for Armagnac making.

From the Eauze road, you will drive up through trees to arrive in the sheltered South facing courtyard formed by the Chateau with its adjoining buildings, including the old wine 'chai' and barrel store. The house has been very well renovated by the present French owners to a high standard, in classical French design but maintaining all the original features.

The main entrance to the house is from the courtyard up the stone steps and through the fine front door into the entrance hall/small sitting room. This leads into the main Drawing Room which has views out to the garden at the back of the house. Stone and tile floors run throughout the house, keeping it cool in summer. To the right of the entrance is a very attractive book-lined Library, with comfortable sofas and a fireplace. Next to the Drawing Room is a very pretty Dining/Breakfast room with tables seating 16, again with views over the gardens and lawns to the back of the house. Beyond the Dining Room is a large, well-equipped kitchen with range oven/gas hob, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and other catering equipment. The back door from the kitchen leads across the central corridor to a games room/tv room/sitting room. There is a laundry room outside the back door off the kitchen, with washing machine, dryer and ironing board.

Off the East side of the Drawing Room, there is a double bedroom (with 2 single divan's) with ensuite bathroom & WC. Beyond this are two further bedrooms. On one side of the central corridor is a family room with double and single bed downstairs, and 2 single beds on a mezzanine floor upstairs, and also the bathroom. On the other side of this corridor is a large double room with ensuite bathroom which faces out onto the main courtyard. The fourth ground floor double bedroom and bathroom is rather romantic with a four-poster bed and open fireplace (the 'Red Room'); access is off the main courtyard.

The door at the East end of the central corridor leads onto a gravelled terrace which surrounds the chateau. This East terrace has a covered area and large fig tree - a lovely spot to enjoy an 'apero' in the evening - and a small garden gate leading to the Swimming Pool garden.

The swimming pool has a lovely private and secure setting, having gates on all entrances, with wooden boarding around the pool making it more comfortable on the feet and less slippery. Surrounded by trees, with the barn on one side, there is the summer kitchen, and a super outside covered entertaining area, with sofas, pool table, and large dining table seating 10/12 - this is a perfect place to relax and enjoy a lazy sunny afternoon.

Between the Swimming Pool garden and the main front Courtyard is a large barn, part of which has recently been converted into a lovely large double bedroom (No 5) and ensuite bathroom. This barn (which will have more bedrooms in future) has access to the pool-side summer kitchen, the summer verandah/sitting-room/playroom, the main courtyard and the East side of the house.

From the East gravelled terrace, with covered area and large fig tree - a lovely spot to enjoy an apero in the evening, there is a small garden gate leading to the Swimming Pool. Also on this small courtyard/terrace is a small one bedroom outside 'den'; a perfect place for teenagers who don't mind sleeping a bit 'rough', with 2 double beds, upstairs & downstairs, but that's it. The gardens are mainly lawn, with lots of space for games of every sort, an orchard, small potager, and a very pretty woodland walk. It is only a short walk down the drive and across the road, to the hamlet and interesting small church of Saint Amand.