Beautiful old farmhouse set in five-acre park belonging to European ambassador and American wife. All modern amenities. Secluded, sweeping hilltop views.
5,000 sq. ft. living space: Great room, 3 double bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, dining room, library, salon, modern kitchen, laundry + 3 working fireplaces, oak beams, terraces. Adjoining barn with 3-room guest apartment, storage rooms, garage. Proximity to Atlantic beaches, Pyrenees, Spain, small lake. 15-minute drive from Dax (spa/health center, TGV, etc.); 5-minutes from village with all services + swimming pools, tennis, equestrian facilities, restaurants.
The house is a ?master? farmhouse (maison de maître) which dates, in its original form, to the end of the 15th century. The ?new? façade was completed in 1703 (as inscribed in the tablet above the entrance portal). The house and barn (at 90 degrees) are a prime example of an architectural ensemble indigenous to southwest France. The property was the residence of a succession of wealthy landowners who lived in it until the mid-19th century. Thereafter, the house was occupied by farmers who cultivated the surrounding land. The present owners purchased the property in 1977 and restored it over the years to its original beauty. Modern features, such as central heating, were incorporated into the house, carefully respecting the original architecture. The mature surrounding landscaping incorporates only trees and flowering plants native to the area.
More information at: http://metternick.wordpress.com/
