Beautifully restored, private and tastefully furnished farmhouse with a pool
About
Combe Nègre is located in the department of the Tarn in Southwest France four kilometres from Cordes-sur-Ciel, an historic medieval 'bastide' village. The Gaillac appellation / vineyards, daily local markets, artisan cheesemakers, and local fresh produce suppliers are all within a 15 – 20 minute drive from the property. Set within 7 hectares of farmland and surrounded by fields and woodland, Combe Nègre is a collection of beautiful 18th and 19th century SW French buildings and the property is set in a completely private and quiet setting with unobstructed views of five valleys below in the distance. It provides self-contained entertainment with local amenities and services and assured peace and tranquillity to our guests. A housekeeper and grounds keeper maintain the property and pool to a high standard for us and we personally spend months prior to the summer letting season to assure that the property is presented in the best possible way year after year for our guests and obviously for our enjoyment. The sunsets at Combe Nègre are simply spectacular with west facing views for kilometres. As our family second home, the feeling at Combe Nègre is relaxed, comfortable, and functional and for meals seats 12 in the main house, 6 in a dependence / summer house overlooking the pool, and an additional 16 places on two separate terraces (morning and afternoon or evening dining). The property was purchased by the current owners in 2006 and over a two year period was completely renovated and restored to its full potential and beauty and was also completely re-landscaped during the same period of time. The water heater / solar panels, and huge water cylinder and central heating if needed assure comfort. The settling is beautiful and gentle breezes cool in the summer up the combe below the buildings. There is a “bastide” style courtyard in the rear of the house with both a well, fountain and water reservoir and a laundry room with new appliances, washing machine and dryer. All linen, towels, pool towels are top quality and in ample supply. The pool is heated and has been completely overhauled with a new liner, deck and pool tiles. The main house comprises three very large public rooms on the ground floor: a huge eat in kitchen with a wall length 18th century fireplace and farmhouse table and chairs, a lovely formal dining room with inlaid floor tiling and terrace doors to two terraces and a powder room, and a very large reception / sitting room seating 8 comfortably with a large screen television / movie library and an upright piano. On the top floor are five very large and light bedrooms all with oak floors with one king, two queen, and four single beds in five bedrooms sleeping comfortably a total of 10. All beds are cast iron beds imported from England and all with very comfortable mattresses. Three large bathrooms, two en-suite, are available to the top floor accommodation. Connecting from the top floor central hallway is a very large communal “grande salle” which serves as a games room, gym (with a multigym, free weights, rowing machine, and yoga pads), and houses a ping pong table / table tennis. Boule and croquet sets are also kept in this entertainment room for the enjoyment of our guests. The house is cool in the summer and warm in the winter given the meter-thick exterior stone walls. Adjacent to the main house is a dependence / 'salon d'été' (summer house) with three sets of large glass door openings to the front lawn and pool which functions as a summer sitting room, reading room, a place to nap and relax, an additional dining area and also as a guest house sleeping four with two sleeper sofas. There is also a bathroom with a wet room shower off the lobby entrance. Combe Nègre provides a wonderful environment to escape from the stresses of work and everyday life and to simply enjoy quiet and nature, the 'joie de vivre' of a lazy warm French summer, lounge by the heated pool, read in one of the many rooms, or for the more active to swim laps in our large pool (6x10 m), play ping pong or boule or a walk through our beautiful adjacent fields. The property is also large enough to ensure that no matter how many people are there you can always find a quiet space to simply contemplate life and take in the wonderful scenery. Additional amenities for the property include: Two barbeques, one built in the rear courtyard and one portable Weber grille for inclement weather High speed Wi-Fi throughout the main house and surrounding terraces. Satellite television in both the sitting room and the kitchen with hundreds of channels in every language. Three adult bicycles and two children bicycles for the wonderful cycle friendly local roads surrounding Combe Nègre A telescope for the amazing splash of stars above the property during the summer months with absolutely no ambient light interference/pollution. A shaded hammock by the pool with valley views; bliss! In