Castres, Midi-Pyrénées 81100

A collection of three houses and annexes with nine hectares of woods and meadows in a 500-hectare public forest, near Castres in south-west France. From a country lane, a 1,800-metre-long track in good condition leads to the collection of buildings. A private drive takes you there with a view down over the place: the countryside stretches to the horizon and the first rooftops appear in the foreground. With dry-stone retaining walls that have been well-maintained, the plot has been landscaped harmoniously. Grouped together, except for the garage, the buildings are similar in appearance, with slate roofs and white rendering. There is a main house, a gîte and a former chapel that has been turned into a dwelling. Each of these three dwellings has a ground floor and a first floor. Beside them there is a barn, a woodstore and a garage. Several terraces follow the natural slope of the land. They are not at all overlooked, so they preserve the dwellers' privacy. In this calm haven, no unwanted noise or sight spoils the peacefulness of the property. Furthermore, there are natural springs, which ensure the buildings are supplied with water. And the public forest that surrounds the property ensures absolute tranquillity.