Friday morning trip to market!

Oooopps, little late in for work this morning.....  How can I help that when the gorgeous smells from the market hit me as soon as I open my front door (I live in town),  I just had to do a 'tour'!

What a commune it is!  Everyone knows everyone, which is quite incredible as this is a reasonable size market.  You can be sure you will bump into several people you know.  I caught up with a couple who I had sold a property to about four years ago.  Retired couple who moved here with daughter and grandson.  The daughter is now getting married to a local French guy.  Happy stories - sets you up in a good mood for the day!

My flower guy was a charming as ever....  Every week I buy my flowers from him which, price and quality wise, top the bigger shops.  I like to support the local guys to.  Mr flower man asked me if I was Dutch or American this morning.  I can't ever lose my accent no matter how much I try to roll those 'r's !!    He even gave me a free plant - I like Mr flower man!

I bought some of my favourite 'saucisson' too.  Duck with walnuts in.  Ummm, yummy, yummy. 

Mr cheese man tried his hardest to get me to try some of his home-made sheep cheese, however, I didn't fancy it this morning, too early.  Although normally delicious, some of it can be very strong and the taste lingers for hours.  I knew I had a client coming in too so didn't want to breathe cheese breath all over them!

Kim

My partner in crime - Jane Parris!!

Just wanted to give you a quick intro to my partner in crime!  Jane Parris works in our sister office in Gourdon.  An English gal, like me, she takes care of the English speaking clients in the Gourdon area.  I may introduce you to her one day if your search for property goes into her area.

Our Jane is also a bit of a local celebrity - you may catch her giving a concert one day.  Oh yes...  We know her as Jane 'The Voice of Souillac' !!  (She will read this and kill me!!)

We need little reason to open a bottle of champagne..  Here is Jane with Marie and Florence.  Little sozzled Jane???!!!

Whinging - new word of the day for my French colleagues!

So every day I try to teach my French colleagues a new word.  Sometimes important words, sometimes not! 

Yesterday I taught them 'whinging'.  I always find it ueseful to have something that demonstrates the word to help them remember.  Yesterday I had a good example.  Oh, I was trying to be jovial really and it did lift the mood a little.  Céline is ill or "I'm hill" as she tells me (many many times!!)   It is true that lots of people are suffering at the moment from coughs and colds and in true paranoia style - everyone thinks they have Swine flu...  Célines complaining has now gone on for a week.  All credit to her though, she has continued to battle on with work - but don't we know about it!!  So yesterday I told her she was 'whinging' and to get to the Doctors.  In true French style she arrived back with a huge carrier bag full of medicine!  Ah bless her.

However, I was slightly concerned last night.  Three of my children, all arrived home with forms to fill in for us to give permission to give vaccination for 'Grippe A'.   I went into mild panic as the children themselves had heard lots of stories regarding the safety of it.  I did a little research on the web...  still not sure what to do....am I being an over worried mummy???

I did 'A place in the Sun' !!

Just thought I would share this with you.  But I'm slightly embarrassed!!  (I was blonde at the time!)

During the summer I was part of 'A place in the Sun'.  The Channel 4 programme about people searching for property.  It was a great day out for me and my 5 mins of fame!!

My boss parked the mini with the Century21 advertising plastered all over it in front of the camera and was promptly asked to move it!!

Oh it was fun!!

A fabulous Mill house in town!

Ref:  moulinS                                   UNDER OFFER!

Price: Reduced! 335.000€  Now 315.000€ !!! (agency fee included)

What a very nice property to visit!  This old mill has been recently fully restored to a high standard and with
quality materials.

Normally you would imagine a mill house in this region to be old, quaint and all exposed stone work.  However this one has the appearance of a glam town house, typical in Souillac.  I loved it!

Situated  on the edge of the river Borreze, on the outskirts of the town.  Only two minutes to the centre with all restaurants and commerce.

Initially driving into the property you notice how pretty impressive the property is.  Large swirly steps going up to the balcony and main entrance door.    In fact there are several entrances!  The balcony continues around two sides of the property with French doors leading onto it.

The interior is spacious and modern.  Kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), lounge/dinig room.  Large garage and workshop. 

Ummm, very nice marble floor throughout on the first floor.  The kitchen/breakfast room is very modern and well fitted with black units and granite worktop.  There is a nice hallway through to the lounge (41m2) which has exposed beams, a very nice fireplace and the dining area is surrounded by a bay of tall windows over looking fields.  There is a large bedroom (24m2) on this floor with en-suite bathroom. 

 

Upstairs there are three further large bedrooms and a large family bathroom.  Once again this is all in perfect condition with cream coloured carpets in the bedrooms and the bathroom is fiteed with very stylish tiles and suite. 

There is stair access to the garage below the house (31m2) and to the large workshop.  Another stairway down takes you to the old mill part where you can see the water rushing through.  Just fab! 

The exterior of the property is in need of a little TLC... but only a little tender loving care. No great problems, just in need of a lick of paint, particularly with the shutters.   The garden measures 1990m2 and has mature trees and shrubs.  The property is surrounded by a large hedge giving complete privacy and the driveway winds into the front of the house.  Very charming!

The best bit of all is of course the little river.  This is not huge like the River Dordogne for example, it is small but continuously flows.  We could see the trout from the banks!  The Borreze breaks off into two just as it arrives at the property, one part flows through the house for the mill and the other to the outside wall.   Really is very beautiful down on the banks. 

All in all I loved this property.  Fully restored to a high standard, modern but with that twist of having such history and not lost in the back of beyond!    Perfect!

Please e-mail me for further info. 

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Turenne in the Corrèze

In total contrast with nearby Collonges-la-Rouge, Turenne is not at all red! It's amazing what a difference a few kilometres can make!

A pretty village, dating largely from the 13th - 16th centuries, Turenne sits on the edges of a small hill, with some lovely views from the top of the village across the Limousin countryside and forests to the mountains beyond. You might not find the hill so small if you climb to the top with small children - it is steep!

Apart from the pretty 13th century village itself, it is the towers that will grab your interest. The 12th century César Tower is the older of the two  and the clock tower was constructed some 200 years later. The towers are pretty much all that remains of the fortress that once stood on the hill.

There are a couple of bars and restaurants in the village, and a bicycle hire shop (in the tourist office) if you feel like exploring the surrounding area.  Well worth a visit and only 27km's from Souillac.

Thank you Mr Lenihan and family!

Hi Kim

Just a quicky to say thanks for all your help with the purchase of our plot of land in paradise.  We would never have done it without you, your understanding of our requirements was spot on, we are over the moon with our plot in a perfect area, 2 minutes away from golf!

 The architect you put us onto, has done a marvelous job with the design of the house, which is under way ( there are photos attached).   We hope to be over again soon to carry on with the work. Many thanks again,

Kind regards

 

Sean

How to get to us in Souillac!

Souillac is situated in the heart of South West France, yet easily accessible from the UK by air, road or rail. Weekend visits are a reality at any time of the year.

Travel Directions to Souillac

BY AIR
Toulouse, Limoges and Bergerac airports are all within 1½ hours drive, Rodez 2 hours, whilst Carcassonne and Bordeaux airports are 3 hours distant. All airports are served by low cost airlines (see below). Car hire is easily available from major rental companies at all airports.

Air France flies from Heathrow to Toulouse and from Manchester to Toulouse
British European flies from Birmingham to Toulouse
RyanAir flies from Stanstead to Carcassonne, Bergerac, Rodez & Limoges and from Liverpool to Limoges
Aer Lingus flies from Dublin to Toulouse
Bmibaby flies from Manchester to Bordeaux
British Airways flies from Gatwick to Toulouse
Easyjet flies from Gatwick to Toulouse
Flybe flies from Birmingham to Toulouse and from Southampton to Limoges, Toulouse and Bergerac
KLM flies from Manchester to Toulouse

What is so important is that the new Brive - Souillac airport is under construction and should be open June 2010!  Situated just 20 mins from Souillac!

BY ROAD

The N20 from Paris passes right by Souillac (Exit no 55). The journey takes approximately 4 hours. Calais can be reached in approximately 7-8 hours via autoroute.

BY RAIL

From Gare Austerlitz in Paris to Souillac takes approximately 4 hours. (8 hours from Waterloo, changing at Paris). A TGV service runs from Lille to Brive which is a 20 minute drive from Souillac.

Céline Rey-Courtet

Céline has been with the agency about three years now.

The office door bursts open and Céline enters like a whirlwind!!  She may be little but she makes up for her size with her presence!  She loves her job and is so enthusiastic it can't help but rub off on you. 

Céline spent a year working in Brighton in the UK so her English is pretty good.    If you are dealing with Céline you will assured of 110% attention!

Oooh, doesn't she look serious whilst working!

Not so now Céline!!

The Amazing Gouffre de Padirac

My little piece of advice - take a jumper as the temperature stays at about 12° even in the height of summer!

Oh and watch out - the guys will rock the boat!

On descending 103 metres to reach the underground river, by taking either the lift or the stairs, you are at the start of a mystery voyage 500 metres long.

After disembarking in the Rain Lake chamber, the visit continues on foot to La Salle des Grands Gours, La Salle du Grand Dôme whose vaulted ceiling rises up 94 metres high with its own Lake Superior at 27 metres above the river bed.

The visit lasts about 1½ hours with a total tour

of 2,000 metres.

History

The abyss was formed when the vault collapsed; the date this happened has not been established. We do know that it existed in the third century AD.

It was inhabited at the end of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, at a time when the local people dug out the saltpetre.

Since time immemorial it has been known as the Devil's Doorway.

Discovery

The famous speleologist, Édouard Alfred Martel was the "discoverer" of the Padirac pothole and its underground river. He explored the river for the first time on 8th 9th and 10th July 1889 over a distance of 2400 metres (one and a half miles), accompanied by Louis Aramand, Emile Foulquier and Gabriel Gaulpillat. The discovery of the Great Dome chamber dates from 9th Sept. 1890.

Inauguration

The first formal visit took place on 1st November 1898.

The official inauguration ceremony was held on 10th April 1899 by the Minister of Public Instruction, Mr Leygues, in the presence of the Minister of Fine Arts and eminent personalities from the region.

The "New PADIRAC"

On 7th May 1939, the Padirac visit was extended by a further 300 metres

with visitors returning to the Rain Lake along a ledge 47 metres above the level of the river.

Tales and Legends!

On a very dark night, Saint Martin, with his mule at his side, was walking over the Causse (the limestone plateau). He was feeling discouraged at finding not a single soul deserving to go directly to Heaven.

Suddenly, Satan appeared before him, his haversack full of the damned from the Causse. Seeing the sad face of Saint Martin, Satan suggested he could win a batch of the damned. Saint Martin

armed with all his courage, spurred his mount and with a single stupendous bound, leapt to other side of the abyss, leaving

behind a hoof print in the rock that is still visible today.Satan, overcome by panic, disappeared into the depths of the chasm.

Close to the Gouffre you will find :

- A large free parking area for coaches and cars. - Shady park. - A games area. -A picnic spot. -Several restaurants.

•Rates :

Adults - 9,00 €

Children (4-12 year)- 5,70 €

The visit lasts about 1½ hours with a total tour of 2,000 metres.

•Availability : Open from 4 april to 8 november.

Something for the kids - Quercyland!!

Here is a fun day out for the children!  Situated in Souillac itself, you can take a sun bed and watch the children have fun!   6 Swimming pools for all swimmers, water slides, a six track water shoot, trampoline, bouncy, sand pits, inflatable chateau, soccer, spring games etc…

There is free parking, snack, restaurant, pizzeria, bar and area of picnic, you can rent VTT, VTC, canoe- kayak

So, if you would like the chilldren to have some fun - Quercyland is a must!

Yes! A fully restored property!!!!

Ref:  5294                                   

Price:  387.000 € Price reduced to 365.000€ (agency fee included)

Oh how nice to see a fully restored property and   one that has been done with taste!!  This old barn has been transformed into a lovely 5 bed house with swimming pool.

Quality materials have been used and the finishings are superb.  The old barn still retains of lot of the old features which have been very well incorported into the decor.  Exposed beams and stone walls....  but what I like about it is that it was so nice, light and bright.   Sometimes these barn renovation can leave a house very dark and they can end up with a corri-door effect on the first floor.  However, this one has been well planned through out.

The kitchen!

The spacious bathroom with walk in shower.

One of the bedrooms

The fireplace

In total there is 188m2 of habitable living space.  5 bedrooms, one with dressing room, large kitchen 18m2, large lounge of 60m2.  W.C, 2 bathrooms.

The garden is large for a village property, 2700m2 which is mostly laid to lawn.  It's nice and private and the pool is positioned to get maximum sun throughout the day.

All in all this is a very nice property.  One that you could move the furniture into directly!  You will enjoy the location, the village....

This property is situated in a superb little but very active village 12 km's from Souillac.  There are restaurants, bar, little local shop, hairdressers etc.  It's a very busy little village and has one of the best annual fetes of the region!

The river Dordogne flows through the village and there is access or you can hire a canoe... 

You can contact me if you require further information, either by e-mail cabinet.theron@century21france.fr (FAO Kim), or call me on 0033 6 20 82 42 34

Don't forget to add me to your favourites or you can click on 'follow this blog'. That way you can be updated with all the new properties as and when they come on the market and learn a little about the region!