For sale:
Le Parc aux Bambous

HOUSE, MAGNIFICENT GARDENS with RIVER FRONTAGE, LAND, all with HUGE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, for sale near Pamiers in the Ariège.

The heart of this property is a wonderful 6 ha block of land bordering on the river Hers in the Ariège. This has been turned into a wonderful parc, created through the life-time passion of the owner (a landscape gardener), and his wife. These gardens, and the site in general, must feature significantly in the interests of the buyer.

A Farmhouse, is located near the river, and has belonged to the owner’s family for some generations. Associated with this are various Farm Buildings.

The parc is opened to the public, and the owners have built a substantial Visitor Centre. In 2006 the parc has received the national label: Jardin Remarquable, awarded by the ministry of culture.

Location

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Land Register

• 10 km from Pamiers, with all schools, shops, supermarkets etc
• 45 mins from Toulouse (airport) by car/train
• 45 mins from Carcassonne (airport) by car
• 1 hr from Andorra (duty free, skiing) by car
• 1.5hr from the Mediterranean by car

The Parc

The Parc has about 500 m of frontage of the river Hers. In the summertime, when this shrinks, there are pleasant shingled beaches. The owner has assembled a collection of over 200 species and varieties of bamboo and ornamental grasses during a lifetime of collection. These have been used with other shrubs and trees to create a mature garden with several km of walks, ponds, a maze… More recently added, but already mature, are substantial and charming herbaceous border beds. This parc has to be seen to be appreciated.

None of this would have been possible without irrigation: water is pumped (with authorization) from the river at low cost to achieve this. Thans to a gigantic water basin (Lac Montbel) the water supply is guaranteed throughout the whole year. Even in the summer of 2003 there was plenty.

At the entry of the parc there is a huge parking area (about 3500 m²) fit for receiving busses.

The Farmhouse

This is about 200-250 years old, and is approximately 13 x 11 m, yielding about 120 m² over three floors. The entrance is from a shaded patio (about 40 m²), into the Kitchen/dining room (about 25 m²). The Kitchen is recently fitted, to a high standard, with a built-in oven and a gas hob. The floor is of terracotta tiles.

A door from the kitchen leads to a spacious, and well renovated, living room (about 42 m²). From here there are stairs down to the ground floor (garage, cellar and bathroom), and stairs up to the second floor. A Jotul wood-burning stove provides heat for the Living Room and, indeed, for the rest of the house.

From the Kitchen and Living Rooms there are doors though to a large, undeveloped room (about 55 m²), presently used for Utilities. This could be developed to provide additional rooms on one, possibly two, floors. This room has doors to a veranda and external stairs.

On the second floor there are two bedrooms (about 15 and 30 m²), a WC and a bathroom (bath, basin).

The first-floor entrance patio (see above) is walled on three sides: by the exterior wall of the kitchen, by the exterior wall of a ruin (about 50 m²) belonging to the property, and by a wall of a ruin (about100 m²) belonging to others (but which could probably be bought).

House Services etc.

• Mains electricity:
• Mains water, (but water for garden and fountain taken from the river).
• Warm water through solar panels.
• Drains lead to two Septic tanks.
• Several telephone connection sockets
• Broadband Internet

The Farm Buildings

Some old farm buildings (about 40 m², 15 m² and an old bread oven) are located close to the Farmhouse.

Higher up the gentle slope rising from the river, is a traditional barn, about 120 m² in floor area. This could provide a shell inside which other developments, on two floors, might proceed.

A more modern shed (30 m², and constructed of corrugated galvanised steel sheeting) is tucked away in woodland in a corner of the property.

The Visitor Centre

In conjunction with the opening of the Gardens to the Public, the owners have extended another farm building to form a Visitor Centre. This includes an office (9 m²), three toilets (one for the disabled) (together 21 m²), and a large Exhibition/Sales area (about 115 m²). Overall, the Visitor centre has been constructed to a high standard. It is prepared for floor heating.

A small Nursery Area adjoins the Visitor Centre.

A large number of picnic sites have been established throughout the gardens, for the benefit of visitors.

Development Potential

The parc is very well suited to be used as a spiritual centre, as a luxurious camping or resort or just for private use.
Some potential buyers interested in the Gardens might find the Farmhouse too modest. This might be solved by development of the Utilities Room, or the adjacent Ruins.

Some might consider redeveloping the Visitor Centre or the Barn as a residence, leaving the old Farmhouse to provide gîtes.

Disclaimer

The above description is given in good faith, but is sometimes based on impressions, or on information provided by the seller. Prospective buyers should verify all information they require themselves.

Note that all dimensions have been estimated visually, and remain to be verified.

Price

EUR 490.000

For further information:

telephone: 00 33 6 42 41 78 93


see also: www.parcauxbambous.com