House in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Aquitaine (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

3 rooms - 2 Beds - 2 Baths | Floor 109m² | Ext 725m²

Ref. : A31774CEL64

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SOLD - Located on the outskirts of a pretty village in the Vallée d'Aspe, this delightful tower of 109m² is thought to date from the 11th century.

Renovated by the previous owner in 2019, the tower is currently a cosy permanent home and is ideal for a couple, a small family or for first-time-buyers. Alternatively, it could be rented out as a gîte to holidaymakers, a "Gîte d'Étape" for pilgrims walking the Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle or for Bed & Breakfast guests.

The top floor of the tower is completely ready to move into as a studio apartment, but you will probably want to modernise and redecorate the rooms on the ground floor, the first floor and the garden-level facilities. You could also change the layout of the tower to create more living space, bedrooms and shower rooms.

The tower is located at the far end of a lane, which passes through a small development of bungalows. The tower has its own private parking area, which is large enough for two or three cars.

The front door of the tower opens into an open-plan kitchen/dining room with a wooden balcony overlooking the garden. To one side of the room, there is access to a shower room, which is equipped with a vanity unit and two showers. There is also a separate WC.

The first floor is currently used as a sitting room, but has previously been used as a bedroom for B&B guests. This floor also has a wooden balcony overlooking the garden.

The second floor is a delightful open-plan studio apartment with a sitting area, a dining area, a kitchen area, a bedroom area and a shower room area with a WC. Sliding doors open onto a wooden balcony with splendid views of the foothills of the Pyrénées and the surrounding countryside.

Next to the entrance of the tower is an open-sided shelter, which was previously used as a reception area for B&B guests and pilgrims. It might be possible to use this shelter as a covered terrace or even as a carport for a small car.

Behind the tower is a pretty terraced garden. Several garden-level rooms are accessible from the garden, including a shower and a WC. There is also a room with a hot tub, which will need rehabilitating before it can be used. You will also need to install a water heater.

The potential for this amazing tower is huge!

This delightful property is located in a pretty village in the picturesque Vallée d’Aspe, not far from the riverside town of Oloron-Ste-Marie. There is a primary school in the village and there are shops selling local farm produce about 5 minutes away. Oloron-Ste-Marie (about 10 minutes) has an excellent choice of secondary schools, shops and hypermarkets, along with a theatre, a cinema, a swimming pool and a hospital.

There are several Pyrenean ski resorts, as well as the Spanish border, about 45 - 60 minutes to the south... and numerous beach resorts just over 90 minutes away to the west on the beautiful Atlantic coast.

THE TOWER

Ground-floor (49m²):
- a wooden balcony
- a kitchen/dining room
- a shower room with two showers
- a WC

First floor (30m²):
- a balcony
- a sitting room/bedroom

Second floor (30m²):
- a balcony
- an open-plan studio apartment with a sitting area, dining area, kitchen area, bedroom area and a shower room area with a WC

Garden level:
- a spa room with a hot tub (in need of rehabilitating + installation of a water heater)
- a shower + handbasins
- a WC


THE EXTERIOR

- a parking area
- a terraced garden
- a small pond
- an open-sided shelter, previously used as a reception area for pilgrims/guests, but which could be used as a covered terrace or even a carport for a small car


THE POTENTIAL!

This adorable tower comprises 109m² of living space and would be perfect for a couple, a small family and first-time-buyers to use as a permanent home, a holiday home or a weekend pied-à-terre. You will probably want to renovate and modernise part or all of the property in the future, but it is habitable straight away. If you work from home, one of the floors would be ideal as an office - and the top floor with its panoramic views would be perfect for an art studio, since it is flooded with sunlight all day long!

If you prefer to rent out the property, you will probably need to renovate and modernise it immediately. You could rent it out on a long-term basis or as a gîte for holidaymakers, especially during the summer months, the skiing season and for Christmas and New Year. Additional accommodation - either for private use or for paying guests - could be created by transforming the ground floor and first floor into more living space, bedrooms, shower rooms...

You could also offer B&B to people exploring the Pyrénées during the low season. The property has also been used as "Gîte d'Étape" in the past, offering good-value overnight accommodation to walkers following the Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrim route towards the Spanish border.

This unique tower is bound to attract lots of bookings... but you may find that guests are reluctant to leave your little corner of paradise when their stay comes to an end!


SERVICES & TECHNICAL

Double glazing
Telephone
ADSL (cable internet connection possible)
Heating: reversible air-conditioning + chimney for a wood-burning stove
Mains water
Mains drainage
Small pond


THE LOCAL AREA

Situated on the outskirts in a lovely village in the beautiful Béarn, this super tower is about a 10-minute drive from the Medieval market town of Oloron-Ste-Marie and 45 minutes from the historic city of Pau. Oloron-Ste-Marie and Pau are both accessible by train and bus from nearby villages in the Vallée d'Aspe.

The closest French ski resorts are at Braca, La-Pierre-St-Martin, Issarbe and Eaux-Bonnes (all about 45 - 50 minutes); the closest ski resort in Spain is at Candanchú (50 minutes). Biarritz and other Atlantic beach resorts are just over 90 minutes away.

The Béarn is extremely popular with tourists all year round, with many visitors coming to walk, cycle, ski and explore the mountains. The area is also excellent for fishing, especially in the nearby rivers (Gaves), including the Gave d’Oloron, which is famous for its salmon.

Airports: Pau, Tarbes-Lourdes, Biarritz,
Train: villages in the Valley d'Aspe, Oloron-Ste-Marie, Pau (TGV)
Long-distance coach: Pau, Orthez
Ferry: Bilbao, Santander

Ski: Braca, La-Pierre-St-Martin, Issarbe, Eaux-Bonnes, Gourette, Somport, Candanchú (Spain)...
Beaches: Biarritz, St-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, Hossegor...

Attractions: Aqua Béarn, Parc’Ours, Parc de Loisirs: Espace Ludopia, Le Petit Train d’Artouste, Aventure Parc Aramits, Grotte de la Verna, Grottes de Bétharram, Gorges de Kakuetta, Passerelle d’Holzarte, Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle…
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Information about risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website : https://www.georisques.gouv.fr

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