Chez Louainet is a detached character Charentais farmhouse built in stone around 1900 with a presently habitable area of about 160m². It has both a small and a very large barn, further outbuildings in around two acres of grass, orchard and woods, surrounded by fields set in rolling Charente countryside. A drive curves up to the house and there is plenty of parking. 300m to the rear of the house and hidden by rising ground is a new builders merchant and two areas of land which have been for sale for some years. About a third of a mile, 500m, down the valley is the new TGV line and the trains can be heard from the garden. They are infrequent and the property is quiet with birdsong and the bell of Brossac church ringing the hour. The views from the garden are spectacular and far-reaching. Put Chez Louainet into Google maps and it will go straight there. It is a suitable property for family life, writing, painting with also the potential for business use.

The house is largely renovated and fully habitable. It presently has three bedrooms, a family bathroom/WC and an en-suite shower room/WC. There is a large entrance hall, a very large and fully fitted kitchen with range cooker, dishwasher and ample cupboard space, a large dining table and chairs. There is a wood-floored, double-height sitting room and large utility room with washing machine and tumble drier, a cellar and further shower/store room. The internal features (doors and windows) are original. There is also a first floor loft, head height throughout, which could be converted into three or four further bedrooms and bathrooms.

Although the house has panel radiators in all rooms, it also has a full central heating system with new underfloor heating in the sitting room, yet to be connected, but the boiler needs to be replaced. A small second septic tank would also be beneficial.

There are several outbuildings, an attached small barn with access to the loft and also a huge 18th century barn whose roof has partly fallen in, which could be repaired or dismantled, plus a few others.

The interior has been partitioned to improve living space, the ceilings have been replaced, the north side has been insulated, panel radiators fitted throughout, the sitting room ceiling removed to create height and light, the electrical system replaced, a tous eaux septic tank installed, a bathroom, shower room and large fitted kitchen also installed. Underfloor heating has been fitted in the sitting room. The roof timbers have been sprayed and both they and the roof are in excellent condition.

The shutters have been neglected in recent years so further minor work would include painting and replacing the shutters as required. Some render on the house needs to be repaired and painted. A wood stove in the sitting room would need a chimney liner and the bathroom wall could be replastered and tiled to advantage. The floors are the original concrete and painted apart from the hall (tiled) and sitting room (wood) and there are no skirtings. There used to be a phone line so application to France Telecom should reinstate this for phone, broadband etc.

The more major task is to replace the existing ancient boiler with a modern one and connect up the existing central heating system (radiators in all rooms except the utility and the sitting room which has underfloor heating). There is the option of oil, gas or biomass as fuel. The property is also large enough for significant solar and/or wind power to be generated.

Because the house is quite long, it could do with a smaller septic tank in addition to the existing one. This would allow better drainage from kitchen, utility room and would be useful were any further bathrooms to be built in the loft.

The loft (originally the grain store grenier) is large and in good condition and the beams are more than head-high. It would be quite easy to build more bedrooms, studies, bathrooms, particularly if a second septic tank had been installed. The entrance hall is more than large enough for a staircase.

The large barn has suffered partial roof collapse. Repair would be expensive, however desirable. Alternatively, it could be dismantled and the tiles and oak sold or reused, or partly repaired to enclose a pool.

The south Charente borders Dordogne to the south and west. The countryside is rolling hills with some deep valleys, mostly fields of vines, fruit and sunflowers. Grapes provide cognac, pineau as well as wine and the countryside views tend to be huge and far-reaching - a very paintable landscape. The towns of Barbezieuz (15min) and Chalais (5 min) both have hill-top castles, markets, restaurants - all the usual facilities and parking is free. Brossac is a 1 min drive, 10-15min walk or a bike ride. It has a fine mediaeval church, post office, bank, supermarket, market, restaurant, bakery etc. and the views from the garden towards Brossac are beautiful. In the summer, night markets, often with entertainment, are held. On the far side of the town is a lake with sandy beaches, mini golf, BBQ area, restaurant, cafe and swings.

The beaches of the Atlantic coast are about an hour west and the Perigord-Limousin National Park (hills and lakes) about an hour east. Access is readily available by air to Bordeaux (1 hour), Bergerac (11⁄2 hours) and several others. Angouleme and Chalais have TGV stations. There is a bus route between Chalais and Barbezieux which passes the house. It is a 5 hour drive from Caen in Normandy.