History
Ashley and Anne acquired the property in 2018, primarily to give Ashley more studio space, but also as a retreat. Alongside the two bedroom house are the studio, ‘hangar’ and large barn. The previous owners, a Dutch couple, both artists, had already refurbished the interior, creating a studio from the previous workshop (which used to house an old walnut press), and developed the garden to include a lovely range of herbs, shrubs and trees.
The House
The house itself is a traditional French property with tall ceilings and shuttered windows. The front door leads straight into a simple French style kitchen with a wood-burning stove. One of the delights is to sit on the steps in the morning sunshine with a coffee and croissant, watching the lizards around the hibiscus shrubs and taking in the view of the village in one direction and the countryside in the other. The sitting room is bijou and cosy – nice for a quiet moment, a nap or a read. It has a window onto the garden patio with its overhanging wisteria. There are two bedrooms, one with a double bed, the other with two single beds. The beds are traditional wrought iron. Throughout the house are a selection of Ashley’s abstract paintings and Persian rugs.
The Garden
Immediately outside the back door is a patio and gravelled area with wisteria, herb beds, bay, peach and pear tree. Adjacent to this is another enclosed garden with a vine, old hand pump, and a host of other shrubs. In another direction one can walk along secluded paths under mature trees, which has the atmosphere of a small woodland. Beyond this, the garden opens to an expanse of lawn interspersed with fruit trees and silver birch. At the bottom of the garden is a lovely old tree with overhanging branches – perfect for a quiet moment when the sun is going down.
The Village of Nouic
The house is just a few hundred yards from a spacious village square with its memorial, tree lined area for pétanque, Mairie’s Office, library (with wi-fi), chemist and grocery shop. There is a small market on Fridays for cheese, fish and meat. A short walk beyond the square is the church, patisserie/boulangerie, and an excellent restaurant with a bar. There are very pleasant walks around the village or one can walk out of the village in any direction to enjoy the hedgerows, pathways, brooks and woodlands.
Nearby Villages and Places of Interest
Just a few kilometres away are the villages of Mortemart and Montrol Senard which are extremely picturesque and well preserved. Beyond them is the upland area called Blond with its many woods, lakes and prehistoric standing stones. Between Nouic and Meziere-sur-Issoire can be found the Chateau du Fraisse, a Renaissance residence open to the public. A remarkable and little-known place of special environmental interest yet only a few kilometres from the Sol Space is La Butte de Frochet, a ridge with unusual outcrops of white granite, old gnarled Scot’s Pine, and Silver Birch. The area is associated with legends of the Mandrake and is a special habitat for rare species such as the Nightjar. The nearby town of Bellac, 10 miles away, is full of character with its 12th Century church overlooking a beautiful terraced valley with river walks, parks, a viaduct and the popular Café Pont de La Pierre. In another direction lies Saint Junien, situated on the banks of the River Vienne with its typically french Saturday market. Further afield are Rochechouart whose chateau houses an excellent museum of contemporary art, Oradour-sur-Glane, with its visitors centre documenting events that took place there during World War Two, Confolens, which hosts a festival of world rhythms and dance in August, and the lakes of Saint Pardoux which have beaches and areas for swimming.