The Courtyard


The Courtyard and the Chateau de Saint Marc were built by a family originally from Servies, who made their fortune from the manufacture of tiles and bricks.  They owned 200 hectare of land, including farms and vineyards, and china tops have been found marked LAITERIE DE St MARC : P.LOUPIAC : DAMIATE (note the older spelling of what is now Damiatte), so clearly the dairy produced more than the estate needed. The wine container  tops with the Chateau's name and the name LOUPIAC have been found here too. The remains of the old winery is still here; the places where the grapes were crushed, storage rooms and a vat, some of the barrels, and the huge arched building with the groove along the ground where the barrels would have been rolled. An old photograph in a book shows  how the Gatehouse once looked,  and an old postcard showing oxen ploughing circa 1910 shows the box hedges only a few inches high,  when they were first planted.
 
SIZES QUOTED BELOW ARE GROSS. INTERNAL SURFACE HABITABLE  WILL BE CONFIRMED BY THE GEOMETRE.
 
 
Right hand side:
 
Apartment 9   The Boulangerie   2 Bedrooms
First on right as you face the Chateau. The huge old oven extends from floor to ceiling. Terrace overlooks Park and Drive.
92 square metres.  
 
Apartment 10   3 Bedrooms
Internal walls indicate this building would have been used maybe for puppies, certainly rabbits. Terrace overlooks Park and Drive.
256 square metres.
 
Apartment 11   4 Bedrooms 
Huge open front to Courtyard, spectacular when glazed. Terrace overlooks Park and Drive.
224 square metres.
 
Apartment 12   The Pigeonnier   3 Bedrooms
One third floor room still has the pigeon entries. Terrace overlooks Park and Drive.
216 square metres including cellar of 32 square metres.
Cellar above ground though below house, originally barrel store perhaps.
 
Apartment 14  The Arches   3 Bedrooms
Has a huge winevat built into one wall, as well as the soaring arches. Terrace overlooks Park and Drive.
266 square metres.
 
Apartment 15   3 Bedrooms
Corner apartment. Terrace overlooks Park, Drive, and open fields at the back.
108 square metres.
 
Apartment 16   3 Bedrooms
Terrace overlooks open fields at the back.
108 square metres.
 
Apartment 17
Reserved
 
Apartment 18   The Winepress   1 Bedroom   due to configuration
Two large stone pans where grapes would have been pressed. May be a cellar.  Adjoins Clocktower. Terrace overlooks open fields at the back.
98 square metres.
 
 
Left hand side:
 
Apartment 19   The Orangerie   3 Bedrooms
Ground Floor only. Large terrace with a view to lake at front, and Park at side.
150 square metres.
 
Apartment 20   The Orangerie   3 Bedrooms
First Floor only, with wonderful view of distant lake. Separate terrace.
160 square metres.
 
Apartment 21   3 Bedrooms
Terrace overlooks park
160 square metres.
 
Apartment 22   The White Fireplace   1 Bedroom
Beautiful old stone kitchen fireplace tapering to curved hood. Terrace overlooks Park.
80 square metres.
 
Apartment 23   The Carriage Stables   3 Bedrooms
Mangers and stalls still exist. Separate terrace.
176 square metres.
 
Apartment 24  The Carriage Yard   5 Bedrooms
Unique corner building with 2 arched facade. Terrace overlooks Park to side and open fields at back.
336 square metres + adjoining sloping loft which could be further rooms.
 
Apartment 25   Vat Two   4 Bedrooms
Circular vats in floor for wine? grain? Corner house whose Terrace overlooks Park and distant lake.
168 square metres.
 
Apartment 26   Vat One   4 Bedrooms
Circular vats in floor for wine? grain?  Corner house whose terrace overlooks Park and open fields at back.
168 square metres.
 
Apartment 27   The Carriage Workshop   3 Bedrooms
Where the carriages were once repaired.  Terrace overlooks open fields at back.
104 square metres +  adjoining sloping loft which could be a further room.
 
Apartment 28  The Stables   2 Bedrooms
Adjoins the Clocktower. Mangers and stalls still exist. Terrace overlooks open fields at back.
110 square metres.
 
Apartment 29   The Hayloft   1 Bedroom
Outside access from Clocktower stairs.  Separate terrace.
61 square metres + adjoining sloping loft which could be a further room.
 
 
This would be co-ordinated with a well-respected and highly qualified Buildings Engineer who works locally in both residential and commercial projects large and small. This is a huge advantage as he knows the local artisans with whom he works on a daily basis, and therefore he also knows which are reliable, and what is a reasonable cost for work, and he can manage the project. He is French and speaks good English and amongst his other projects is the beautifully completed renovation of a  large manor for English people. The Notaire is French and also speaks good English.
 
 
Some local information:
  • Nearest Golf Course, Fiac, 5 kilometres (8 more within 50 kilometres).
  • Nearest village Servies, with bar/restaurant, less than 1 kilometre.
  • Nearest shops Damiatte, less than 4 kilometres.
  • Nearest market, doctor, pharmacy, dentist, hairdresser, bakers, butchers, florist, bars/restaurants, etc, Saint Paul Cap de Joux, 4 kilometres. 
  • Nearest garages 4 kilometres, L'Albarede and Saint Paul Cap de Joux.
  • Nearest towns Castres (population 47,000), 20 kilometres, 
    Lavaur 20 kilometres,  Puylaurens 15 kilometres.
  
Some Activities:
  • Golf at Fiac, 5 kilometres.
  • Kayaking at Vielmur, 7 kilometres.
  • Fishing, closest river the Agout at Servies, 0.5 kilometres.
  • Swimming pool complexes indoor and out at Castres, 20 kilometres,
    and outdoor at Lautrec, 10 kilometres.
  • Ice skating at Castres 20 kilometres.
  • Horse riding 10 kilometres.
  • Paintball at the Chateau de Belcastel.
  • Le Cri de Tarzan at Puylaurens (above ground adventure in the trees).
  • Etc.
  
Access:
  • Toulouse International Airport   45 minutes.
  • Carcassonne Airport                 80 minutes.
  • Eurostar                                    Change platforms at Lille direct to Toulouse.
  • Autoroutes to Toulouse, with link to Castres being finalised just outsidePuylaurens,                   15 kilometres.
  • Train station Damiatte                4 kilometres.
  • Buses Saint Paul Cap de Joux   4 kilometres.
  • We are on the D49 just outside the village of Servies,
    (postcode 81220) almost opposite the lake.
  
Google:
To find the Chateau de Saint Marc on Google Earth, search for the village of Servies, Midi Pyrenees, postcode 81220 (it's just by a huge loop in the river Agout; the restaurant in Servies overlooks the river). Just past Servies you come to the lake, although it's considerably bigger now than when the Google picture was taken. On the other side of the road you will see the Chateau's Park shaped like a horseshoe, adjoining the road, outlined in white, with the Chateau and Courtyard in the centre.
 
 
Some towns/cities:
  
You are welcome to visit at any pre-arranged time. There are many hotels in Lavaur and Castres, and www.bosclebat.com a beautiful manoir with rooms and apartments to let just 15 minutes away across the Golf Course.