Lectoure, Midi-Pyrénées 32700

In the Gers, near Lectoure, in a commanding position, a Carthusian house dating from the 18th century, its outbuildings and its 22-hectare park. At the end of a departmental road, a long driveway of more than 300 meters, sheltered by the foliage of ancient cedars, leads to the buildings. Erected in a park of about 22 hectares planted with major trees, the two structures, built in a rectangular, elongated plan, are set on a gravel terrace. From the space set between them, the view extends to the village church bell tower and, further, to the silhouette of the château. On the courtyard side, a terrace rests on a fortified stone wall overlooking an old fishpond. Facing the valley, the Carthusian house, modified in the 18th century, develops a living area of 580 m², mainly on one level. It is topped by a two-pitched roof covered with canal tiles and pierced by five dormers, in keeping with the characteristics of houses built in the Gascon countryside at the end of the 17th century. The main façade, symmetrical, is organized around a central double glazed door and four bays on either side. A limewashed coat of plaster covers the stone walls, while rounded openings are emphasized by stone voussoirs and jambs. The central block is flanked at each end by two towers. The south wing features an orangery. Slightly apart, a garden pavilion and a wooden above-ground swimming pool have been created.