Charente, South West France - A Place in the Sun

2024 / Charente, South West France, Jean Johansson on 5 November 2024

Charente, South West France, Jean Johansson

Dance teacher Karen is searching for a property in the region of Charente in southwest France and she’s bringing along her big sister Sheila to help. Karen has already sold her house in the Cotswolds and has a budget of £210,000 to buy a permanent home which she can also run as a yoga and gîte business. Jean Johansson shows them five impressive properties, but will any of them be the perfect place for Karen?

About the area

If you’re flying into Charente in the south west of France, the airports in La Rochelle, Limoges and Bordeaux take around 2 hours to get to from the UK. Or if you’re driving the whole way it’s about 7 hours – traffic permitting - from Calais. The regions of Charente and the coastal Charente Maritime where we’ll be doing our search are named after the river that runs through them – and are largely agricultural areas, most famously known for growing the grapes used to make Cognac. It’s one of the most popular parts of France for Brits to relocate to, and more recently they’ve been joined by Parisians looking for a more peaceful and rural life away from the big city.

Property 1

2 Bedroom Converted Barn in Ruffec

This converted barn sits on around an acre and a half of land and has a number of outbuildings including a large barn with potential to be converted into a gite. Inside there’s a lovely large open plan living dining and kitchen space, two bedrooms, both of which have en suites, a mezzanine living space which could be a third bedroom, plus a utility room currently used as a home gym.

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Valued at £217,948 at the time of filming.

Property 2

Village House with Gite near Ruffec in Montjean Courtyard

This house has a garden with a terrace and a large barn with potential to be converted. Inside in the main house there’s a living room with a fireplace, a kitchen with adjoining dining room, along with two bedrooms that come with dressing rooms and showers. The separate gite has an open plan living dining and kitchen space and one bedroom with an en suite shower room.

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Valued at £239,316 at the time of filming.

Property 3

Detached Family Home with Swimming Pool in La Villedieu

This property sits on more than half an acre of land and has a lovely pool and two outbuildings which could be converted into accommodation and a yoga studio. The main house has a small conservatory, a light and bright open plan living dining and kitchen area, three good sized bedrooms, another room which could be a fourth bedroom and a stylish shower room.

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Valued at £196,625 at the time of filming.

Property 4

7 Bedroom House in Fontaine-Chalendray

This huge property sits on more than two acres of land and is made up of the main house and 2 separate gites, plus there’s an unconverted barn and a garage. The main house has 2 living rooms, one cream and one green, a dining room and a kitchen, along with the main bedroom with en suite bathroom, three more bedrooms of varying shapes and sizes and a shower room. The bigger of the two gites has an open plan living and dining and kitchen area, two bedrooms and a shower room, and the other has a living dining and kitchen space and one bedroom with an en suite shower room.

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Valued at £251,496 at the time of filming.

Property 5

5 Bedroom Chateau in Haimps

This property is surrounded by stone walls for privacy – there’s a courtyard at the front, a walled garden and a number of outbuildings. The main house has a large living and dining room another smaller living room, a lovely light high-ceilinged kitchen, a stunning hallway come office space, a mezzanine bedroom and a shower room plus the main bedroom which has a freestanding bath. The guest annexe has a living room, a kitchen diner, plus a bedroom with en suite shower room downstairs. On the first floor there’s the main bedroom with en suite bathroom, a second bedroom a bathroom and a shower room, plus there’s also a large attic space.

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Valued at £256,367 at the time of filming.

Hot Property

3 Bedroom Chateau with Glorious Riverside Setting in Prinçais

This lovely Chateau is located close to the picturesque town of Niort. Set in nearly five acres of land, the chateau has been beautifully restored by its current owners, and delivers everything you’d expect in a classic country home.

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Valued at £1,234,005 at the time of filming.