Cinnamon Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 I have mentioned this a few times & my Facebook friends will already be aware...... We are moving to France at the end of next month. We exchanged on the sale of our home here & on our new French house on Monday, so I now feel 'safe' enough to share We have bought a big old farm on a hill in the Dordogne, very near to the Medieval town of Sarlat, in a town called Le Bugue. It was a farm a long time ago, & was bought by a Dutch chap a while ago who replaced the roof & did some more alterations before running out of money. At £160,000 it is a real bargain, we think! Its a big L shaped building, of which the short half of the L will be our home. Thats the part with the arched window & blue shutters on the front. The big part of the L we will convert into Gites ....thats the part with the big blue doors & lovely beams inside.....my Husband is a builder. It has another huge barn too, plus 17 acres of meadows, woodlands complete with truffles & boar, & even a vineyard hidden somewhere! Its away from civilisatin, but only a few minutes drives from the markets & amenities of Le Bugue. Its in a bit of a state - we have bought a caravan to live in for the time being...but it could be gorgeous when its all done up. Here are a few photos. I think I may start a Blog as we convert it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Oh WOW! That looks absolutely stunning - just look at that framework. It's absolutely beautiful Yes, a huge amount to do, but so fabulous - and it'll keep both you and hubby well and truly out of mischief for a while. 17 acres for chickens, truffles, vineyard (not for chickens) ... You will let us know when those gites are ready, won't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Looks fabulous, wishing you well in your new venture. Please keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 WOW That looks amazing - have your chucks been brushing up on their French language?! Think how many chucks you'll be able to have with all that land ... ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Many congratulations - it looks lovely and I'm sure you will be very happy there Now, what are you going to do with all that land? You could do anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Not feeling envious at all.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Many, many congrats Sarah and Mr Sarah! I know that this has been your dream for a while and am happy that you have finally realised it! It looks like an amazing property - do you think you can train the chickens to peck for truffles As others have said, let us know when those gites are ready...just post under the Get Together section Wishing you both every success and happiness in your new home (you will sill post on the forum, won't you ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 So glad you have exchanged Sarah and it is all systems go. We are hoping to exchange in the next couple of weeks so I can then start looking seriously for our new French house, hopefully I can find a beautiful house like yours and such a bargain price, very jealous of the stunning roof. I noticed on another thread you were suffering today with the heat, I was struggling yesterday and OH asked how I was going to cope in France as it will be hotter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Congratulations! What a great adventure - I wish you lots of luck. I hope you'll keep us updated on progress. It looks like a fabulous place to keep chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Looks like heaven, congratulations! Book me in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Sarah That's an incredible place. You should definitely blog - let us know the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Absolutely fab,Wishing you every happiness in your venture.Are touring caravans welcome? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 I noticed on another thread you were suffering today with the heat, I was struggling yesterday and OH asked how I was going to cope in France as it will be hotter. I am hoping that as it is high up & on flat ground, there will be a nice breeze! If not at least I have plenty of woodland t go & hide in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Sarah that's amazing! What a gorgeous property, well done you! Please do start a blog, I'd love to read about your journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 That's wonderful news S&B, do keep us posted - we'd love to rent out one of your gites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Oh how exciting! What a stunning place and all that land too. Do you have a plan of how you intend it to look or is it organic and open to change? Please do start a blog, it is a great way of keeping a diary too Seconding the gite rental! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 That looks stunning You will have so much sky to look at which I think is what I envy the most. I can't wait to see how the transformation goes and to book a gite in the future Do your current chickens need to have a pet passport ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Looks gorgeous! Very jealous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Do you parlez Francais? more to the point are your ladies going with you? Looks lovely - please let us know when you start blogging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 No, the chickens have been rehomed. I couldn't bear the thought f a 10 hour car trip with them as well as the cat & dog, plus we won't be replacing them for a while - until the main works are done anyhow. They would just be in the way. So......plans! The long low roof is going to be shortened slightly & opened up to make a covered porch area for the Gites. This porch will be extended around the elbow of the L which will be our covered porch area. We want to have ur own private spaces on the property so we don't constantly feel like we are living on a holiday site. We think we can do 3 or 4 Gites in the big beamed barn. Eventually a pool is going somewhere...... Our living space will be open plan, and we will have 2 bedrooms upstairs. Upstairs above the current living area has also never been touched and is heavily beamed....we hope to pt a gallery area up there somewhere. The entire roof will have Dormer windows in to give light to the bedrooms. Our room will also have some sort of floor to ceiling glass, possibly French doors & a balcony. Where the arch window is there will be another identical one on the wall (this will be our living area inside) A lot of the walls are plastered or rendered inside & out, covering the gorgeous stonework underneath So that is all coming off. Also we have the worlds ugliest fireplace inside, & are looking forward to seeing if that is stone under the plaster too. Apart from that we are going to see what happens! Basically we can do whatever we like internally, but need planning permission for any external alterations, so we have to go through French planning which will be interesting! And no, we don't speak much French really, but we met a Lady who we are going to get lessons from We also have a fabulous Dutch estate agent who speaks perfect English & knows everyone in the area, & has put us in touch with architects etc. There is an English couple living just over from us....we can just about see their house, so we are hoping they are nice & friendly too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Very jealous, I've been there camping a couple of years ago at the camp site there. It is gorgeous and we had a fabulous pitch with wonderful views of the fields around. I spent ages watching the birds, some of them quite large I remember over the field. The local town is great too, and yes you have a wonderful wonderful position where you are. Let us know when you open up for business?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Get going on those gites, Cinnamon....you certainly won't need to advertise!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 This is a really bad thread!!!! I've begun planning next years holiday now, back to Le Bugue, in a motorhome or camper van this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 This is a really bad thread!!!! I've begun planning next years holiday now, back to Le Bugue, in a motorhome or camper van this time. Do you know the Bara Bahau caves & grotto? Our house is on that road, straight up, 5 mins from the entrance .......It is in a fab position, & we know we also have caves on our land, so who knows what we might find there once we have a proper explore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Ooh la la! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
