Divine property

THE British used to dream of owning a home in France, perhaps in the hills of Provence or on the coast at Biarritz, but the more adventurous are opting for an entire change of lifestyle and buying businesses such as hotels, restaurants and bars.

One such business which has just come on the market is a restaurant and vineyard in the St Emilion wine region, well-known to tourists visiting the south west of France.

The property, Auberge de la Vielle Chapelle at Lugon et l'isle du Carney, near Bordeaux, includes a former 12th century Roman chapel, which now houses a restaurant, and is surrounded by gardens with views over the river Dordogne. Its 21-hectare parkland includes nine hectares of vineyard, consisting of 70 per cent Merlot vines and 30 per cent Cabernet vines.

The chapel has been renovated and now has three dining rooms with views of the river. Next to the chapel is a spacious house, built with the intention of turning it into a hotel. The village of Lugon et l'isle du Carney lies on the banks of the Dordogne between the towns of Saint-Andre de Cubzac and Libourne and is on the route which runs through some of the region's best vineyards.

The asking price for Auberge de la Vielle Chapelle is FFr 14,800,000 (1,361,000) for the freehold.

For more information, contact Christelle Rousseau at Christie and Co, 39 Rue Marbeuf, 75008, Paris, France (tel: 00 33 1 53 96 72 72, fax: 00 33 1 53 96 72 82 or visit www.christie.com)

Copyright 2001
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