Le Bruel

Welcome to le Bruel, a hamlet of two properties located at the end of a kilometer-long country lane surrounded by pastures dotted with Salers cattle and stands of trees.

We are John and Susanna, Anglo-Italian artists, writers, retired academics and renovators with over 30 years experience in France transforming old, decrepit stone properties into stunning, comfortable, and characterful homes. (To discover our life here in Le Bruel, read this article: https://susannalongoblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/our-life-in-le-bruel/ )

Built in 1769, our magnificent home and land was originally a chestnut farm. When we purchased the property in 2014 it was unlivable and the land was impassable. Over the course of nine years, John, a two times winner of the prestigious French award: ‘Maison de France’ for renovation of historic homes, transformed the original farm house and barn into two elegant, airy and luminous living spaces. His work has also been featured in Living France magazine.

These welcoming homes fuse modern ecological building materials and techniques (insulation, wall treatments, double-glazed windows, etc.) with traditional building practices and materials. With its chestnut-wood floors, thick stone walls and original 14-foot, solid oak barn door, le Bruel has all the charm of the old with the efficiency of the modern.

Along with restoring the two houses and creating a workshop, tack shop, artist studio and courtyard, we have worked hard over these years hardscaping the land, building a greenhouse, wooden fencing, a chicken coop, dry-stacked stone walls, horse boxes, a hay shed, wood storage and ponds. We’ve also cleared land, created gardens, and managed the forest, creating paths through the woods and down to the river below..

The two houses are linked by a serene courtyard and a shared entryway but are designed to be private from one another. Beautifully renovated, the original farmhouse has an entrance hall, three bedrooms (all ensuite), a kitchen with a wall of windows overlooking the courtyard, two sitting rooms, a library and two separate bathrooms. With its original hearth, cozy nooks and sunny rooms, this two-level house is intimate and warm.

The former barn has been transformed into a vast open living space with an enormous kitchen, sitting room and dining room, a summer salon with French doors out to the courtyard, a restroom/laundry room, entryway, bathroom and a wisteria-draped deck. The mezzanine master bedroom (ensuite) overlooks the living area from one side and looks out over the forest treetops from the other.

Within the ‘complex’ of the two living spaces there is also a studio, a tack room and a cellar. Below the former barn, now main house, there is a 123 m2/1325 ft2 workshop/studio where John creates his metal sculptures. If so desired, this space could easily be converted into further living space or used for storage or a garage.

We have 5 hectares/12.5 acres of land. Approximately 2.5 hectares/6.25 acres are meadow, 2.5 hectares/6.25 acres are forested (chestnuts, oak, beech and birch primarily), while the mature garden measures around 2500 m2. Harvesting our firewood from the forest means winter heating costs are negligible; chestnuts, walnuts and wild mushrooms abound and provide delicious abundance throughout the year. We have two horses, a dog and cat and a family of chickens. This verdant part of the Lot is home to a vast and varied bird population as well as many wild creatures.

Le Bruel is its own world, a sanctuary of quiet, endless beauty, clean air, and wide open spaces.

Words and pictures don’t really suffice in capturing the essence, the beauty and the energy of this move-in ready property. Please contact us for more information or to arrange a visit. We look forward to sharing what we’ve created with you. Serious enquiries only please. Price available upon request.

susannalongo@orange.fr

Possibilities:

This property is perfect for artists and artisans, an extended family, or for starting a home-based business. Guest rooms, b & b, glamping, a web-based business (we have fiber optic/high speed internet) or farming are all possibilities. With its meadows, tack room and stalls, le Bruel is perfect for horse-lovers.

Located less than 20 kilometers from Figeac and the Célé River, we are also close to the Lot valley, Rocamadour, the Causse, the Pech Merle Cave and the Padirac Chasm. Figeac, the closest large town is an active, thriving city with the Champollion Museum, a theater festival and many cultural events. There are a plentitude of restaurants and shops, a weekly market and all services. Closer to us is the town of Lacapelle Marival which also has all amenities as well as hosting the annual Motocross World Championship.

This area, rich in geological wonders and a history that goes back to the prehistoric, boasts endless activities from wine tasting in Cahors, to Cajarc’s jazz and African music festival, to summer and winter sports, to long walks across the countryside. It goes without saying that cafés and restaurants abound for gastronomic delight and people-watching.

Continue reading this article to see more photos and get more details about the property.

Property Details:

Main residence: renovated barn with a vast living area, a mezzanine master bedroom (ensuite, built-in closets) and a deck overlooking the forest.

Entrance hallway	9 m2 ; 97 sqf
Restroom / laundry room	3 m2 ; 32 sqf
Kitchen, sitting room, dining room	123 m2 ; 1324 sqf
Mezzanine with master bedroom	33 m2 ; 355 sqf
Bathroom	6 m2 ; 65 sqf
Dressing room	7 m2 ; 75 sqf
Summer salon	15 m2 ; 162 sqf
Terrace	30 m2 ; 323 sqf

Studio: 15 m2/160 ft2

Tack room & Cellar:  37 m2/400 ft2

Workshop:  123 m2/1324 ft2 (fully equipped with power and lighting)

Renovated Farm House:  the original house, fully renovated, could be used separately for long or short-term rentals, or could be combined with the main house as a family dwelling especially for an extended family.

Entrance	14 m2 ; 151 sqf
Bedroom and bathroom	14 m2 ; 151 sqf
Garage for one car	8 m2 ; 86 sqf
Kitchen	10 m2 ; 108 sqf
Sitting room with souillarde	47 m2 ; 506 sqf
Bathroom	4 m2 ; 43 sqf
Upstairs bedroom	35 m2 ; 377 sqf
Library room, sitting room	20 m2 ; 215 sqf
Bathroom	3 m2 ; 32 sqf
Bedroom	20 m2 ; 215 sqf

Other buildings:  greenhouse, wood shed, hay shed, chicken coop, four horse boxes

The land:  2.5 hectares/6.25 acres of meadows; 2.5 hectares/6.25 acres of forest (chestnuts, beech, oaks, birches); 2500 m2 of mature gardens including ponds.

Car park:  easily accommodates up to five cars.

Let the journey continue — uncover the magic of the four seasons in this enchanting region.

Les quatre saisons: The four seasons

Winter

In winter, occasional snowfall covers the forest and garden with a white blanket. Birds (great tits, blue tits, robins, etc.) flock to the terrace to peck at seeds while inside the stoves hum, providing a gentle warmth. The generous forest provides you with all the wood needed to keep warm, letting one use a renewable energy source for heating.

Spring

A profusion of flowers and blossoms perfume every hour of the day and night as nature awakens. Birds build their nests and the animal world comes alive. At dusk, in the warming temperatures, you can admire the starry skies; the envelopment of the natural world is palpable.

Summer

The garden becomes adorned with brilliant flowers as the quince and plum trees begin to ripen. Hay can be harvested and stored in the shed, a space under the terrace. Or, with planning permission another barn can be erected. In the greenhouse, tomatoes and all manner of other vegetables and herbs grow and ripen in raised beds in this organic garden.

Autumn

This lavish, generous season calls us to spend our days in the woods, harvesting an abundance of wild mushrooms, chestnuts, walnuts and serenity. As the light begins to lessen and the days cool, we start to turn inwards, in preparation for the winter ahead.

For further information, please contact susannalongo@orange.fr

Below the living space of the main house/former barn is a large space currently used as a workshop and metal sculpture studio. If so desired, this space has wiring, plumbing and insulation allowing for an easy conversion into further living space.

Access to the main house and the guest house is through a corridor that separates the two dwellings.

Continuing down the corridor, on the left, you’ll find a welcoming artist’s studio, offering a serene space where you can unleash your creativity.

The courtyard will enchant you throughout all the seasons.

On the left side of the courtyard, the tack room offers a unique space for your equestrian equipment. This room also opens up to a small cellar.

Come and see what makes this place so special — your dream home might be just a few steps away.

The Barn

To access the barn, which is actually the main house/former house, a door opens to your right. An entrance hall welcomes you inside.

Going up two short flights of stairs from the entrance hall, you enter our spacious main house. The enormous space you enter includes the kitchen, dining room, living room and a sitting room/summer lounge which has French doors leading out to the courtyard. An upper level, about half as large as the space below, is our master bedroom with a full bath and built-in closets.

The open kitchen and dining area create a warm and inviting space, perfect for gathering with family and friends. It seamlessly blends functionality with a cozy atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for shared meals and memorable moments.

The living room has two sets of French doors which lead out to a large terrace that overlooks the garden and forest below. An aerie for watching the passing of birds and the seasons, this room is cooled by summer breezes and warmed by a HearthStone wood-burning stove (‘Heritage’ – Soapstone + Cast Iron Construction) during the winter. This is a warm family space, a perfect setting to relax and enjoy cozy moments with loved ones.

The terrace, along with being a prime wildlife viewing platform, is also spectacular for summer dining. Draped with and perfumed by wisteria and star jasmine, it is an ideal place to share food and wine, unwind and create memories.

When the days get warm, the vibrant summer lounge provides a refreshing escape, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the season while staying cool and comfortable inside. Cool and open, it’s a relaxing room full of summer delights! 

The mezzanine features the master bedroom, complete with an en-suite bathroom and built-in closets.

This private retreat offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience, providing a serene space to relax and unwind after a long day. The thoughtful design ensures that everything you need is just a step away, creating a sense of sanctuary.

Follow us and let the charm of the house continue to unfold.

The original house

The original house is entered from the courtyard through sliding glass doors. The entry room, which can be used as an informal sitting room, leads to both the kitchen and an upstairs bedroom. There is also access to the garage.

This upstairs bedroom/mezzanine has its own bathroom and is perfect for a child or teenager.

To the left of the entry room, a charming fitted kitchen provides access to two other spaces: the original house and a combined bookshelf-lined bedroom and sitting room with a pellet stove. There is a full bathroom off of the sitting room.

Finally, back in the kitchen, you can access the original house, which features a living room with the old scullery, a shower room, and a charming romantic bedroom on the upper level.

The Land

Our land is comprised of 2.5 hectares of meadow and 2.5 hectares of forest. While we use the meadow for our two horses, it could easily be used for other animals (goats, sheep, donkeys) or for an organic farming business. The woods that end in a valley crossed by two small streams is full of natural beauty and ideal for a camping/glamping/yurt project. Whether you envision a peaceful retreat just for you and your family, or a vibrant business, this versatile property offers endless possibilities!

Curious about what life is like here in Le Bruel? Come discover it in my latest article:

Our life in Le Bruel