I keep thinking that someday I will buy a vacation home somewhere in France or Italy. Nothing fancy or big, just something to settle into to really experience the people and culture of that area. I know when you travel, the time flies so fast, you really don’t get to appreciate the surroundings and absorb everything with all the senses.
So, what would be better than to have a little place of your own in some medieval village, or just on the outskirts? When I have the time, I like to browse foreign Real Estate sites, kind of like window shopping…..just looking to see what is available. Recently I ran across these posts that…..well you have to read them (and see the pictures), to believe them. It was just too funny and bizarre to me that there are actually homes available….with attached caves….should you need them.
The area I was looking at is called Poitou-Charentes, mid-western France.
Please read for yourself, and I hope you get as much laughs as I did.
Property type: House
Location: 8 km Aubeterre
Region: Poitou-Charentes
Habitable Space: Not Known
Summary: Nice old stone house, renovated. Plus little cottage to be restored
Property description
Nice old stone house, renovated.
Entrance, kitchen, dining room, sitting room with fireplace, bathroom, toilet, two bedrooms.
Possibility to make more rooms on first floor.
Barn attached to the main house, cave and garage.
Very nice garden of 5800 M2, fantastic views, very quiet location.
Near a little cottage to be restored.
Nice views, very quietly situated.
Price= 212,000 euros, or about $288,500.00…….wow, that’s kind of pricey…..do you suppose it is because of the attached cave? It has to be.
Well…..just what I was looking for…..a house with its own attached cave! Just the place to keep all my bats!!! (I’m not talking baseball….I’m talking about the flying and hang upside-down kind of bats).
Note that the habitable space is listed as unknown.….hmmmmmm.
Talk about getting a chuckle out of me after reading that, but to top things off, while searching further, I ran across this lovely home for sale:
Property type: Restoration project
Location: Nr Montrueil Bellay
Region: Poitou-Charentes
Département: Vienne 86
Habitable Space: 1 m2
Property description
A RESTORATION PROJECT WITH A DIFFERENCE….A SMALL COTTAGE WITH ITS OWN GALLERIED CAVE SYSTEM PLUS A FURTHER RUIN WHICH WOULD MAKE A LARGE HOUSE. All located in an attractive wine growing village, just south of the famous and ancient château-town of Montreuil-Bellay.
The ruin, dating back to 16th Century, is located near to the entrance of the plot and its footprint would allow for a large two bedroom property. The existing cottage, located next to the escarpment, has already been partly refurbished and comprises a large room (sejour) on the ground floor and a good size room (mezzanine bedroom) and bathroom on the 1st Floor. This property has a new room and has already been insulated and dry-lined on the 1st Floor. Mains water and electricity are already available in this property.
The cave system is linked to the wine growing industry and also an old escape route for the local château. It has a large number of rooms and galleries, which not only provide for great storage space but also the opportunity to create some unusual accommodation.
The whole village is steeped in history and no more so than this property where relics of the past continue to this day, including stone carvings dating back to the mid 1700s.
Wow…..and all this is available for only €92,020 or just over $125,000!
This is an even better deal…..with all those caves and ruins….just the place to keep all my vampire friends! Hahahahaha!
Talk about die laughing…..this just about did it for me. Oh, I think I will just keep browsing.
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