A unique lakeside property with endless opportunities

Situated in the heart of the Vienne countryside is this amazing French waterside property, being sold with a main house, its own 84 acre river fed lake, rental accommodation and a bar/restaurant. There are endless opportunities with this property. It has been operated as a commercial fishing business for many years. There is also the possibility of expanding the rental business or developing a leisure business such as water sports (subject to permissions). 

Paul, the current owner, has owned the property for over 22 years. He tells us about his experience of living there with his wife and daughter and why now the time has come to sell this amazing waterside property.

How did you end up at this beautiful waterside property in the Vienne countryside?

Before living here, I lived in Holland where I had an IT business. The revenues were good but the traffic jams, business meetings and the always hasty environment made me decide I wanted something else from life. Nature bound as I was as a kid, always to be found in the forest or on the waterside, I felt pulled back to my roots and decided to turn one of my hobbies into my profession, sold my assets in Holland to buy this property and turn it into a carp fishing venue. There I was, 35 years old, feeling myself the proud king of a small paradise to develop for many to enjoy. 

What are your favourite aspects of living next to the lake?

The property has a magical influence on people. Clients, friends, family who come to visit are all surprised by the lake’s serenity, calm and largeness. Anglers do not only come for the big fish, but many come rather for the natural surroundings and silence, just to enjoy being away from their hasty lives, whether they stay in their bivvy tents or in one of the apartments. They feel part of the nature around them. That is how the property makes me feel too, especially when I relax on one of the terraces or when I open my curtains in the morning. The villa is too big for the 3 of us, but it is a status symbol as well. In this region one will not find many houses, built under Italian architecture and offering a high terrace view over their own lake with rooms to spare for guests who are happy to enjoy the indoor swimming pool and sauna as well.

The old watermill behind the dam wall of the lake that serves as apartments for guests and staff, has 200 year old walls of granite that measure almost 80 cm thick and bring history to the property. The view from the restaurant terrace and the watermill over our little rolling “valley parc” behind the dam wall, with its river and fish farm basins always make me silent when I sit down and watch it after having mowed those fields. I can’t help but see it as a little paradise on earth and those views I will probably miss very much once it will be sold to a new lover.  The meadow next to the villa with an open barn and 3 horse stables (not in use) serves as our wood stock and parking of large maintenance tools.

The artificial lake was established around 1818 and categorised ”eau close” meaning the continence is yours even though a river runs through it. It has always had enough water to renew many times throughout the year producing large amounts of fish due to its average depth of around 1m and sandy / silty bottom. Its shape makes it suitable for even windsurfing and wakeboarding which I gladly did in the beginning of my adventure here when I still had weeks with the lake to myself whilst building up my clientele. Its beauty speaks for itself and is by far not to be grabbed from a picture or video. It needs many more of our senses to be really appreciated in all its dimensions.

What other business and leisure opportunities are there with the property?

Apart from fishing / fish farming, opportunities that have spontaneously and logically come to my mind are water sports (water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing), camping / glamping, expanding / upgrading the restaurant / bar, hosting events, floating chalets, bed and breakfast, trout fishing (we did before Covid), hosting hunting and fishing trips.

Tell us more about the local area and what attractions there are nearby

The property is situated close to the borders of the Vienne, Haute Vienne and Charente, picturesque small towns like L’isle Jourdain and Confolens are close by. We do our grocery shopping in Bellac which is like L’isle Jourdain and Confolens, about 25 km from the property. Closer by, one can find some bars, mini markets and bar-tabacs. The main cities of Poitiers, Limoges and Angouleme are within an hour’s drive. The area, especially the Vienne, has been working hard for the last decade to grow its tourist attractions, led by the fast expanding Futuroscope in Poitiers. Hunting and fishing as well as horseback riding are very popular amongst tourists in the nearby area. On the river Vienne canoeing and kayaking are very popular and absolutely worth spending a day on.

Close by there is a racetrack where several international and national events happen. There is a small private ultra-light planes airport, a shooting range and the villages surrounding the property organise many social events yearly, such as the Festival International in Confolens. Private and public schools are relatively close by and offer a wide choice. The University of Poitiers is very well known and highly ranked. 

Why have you now decided to sell the property? 

My wife has supported and helped me in my work for many years while I realised my goals on this property and fully enjoyed its nature and calm. I have worked long days, weeks, months and years with her support. However neither she, nor our daughter share my passion for carp angling, nature and countryside. Also I do not get physically younger by the day and neither does my back. My wife is still very young though and dreams to move back to the close proximity of the city to realise her professional goals. Taking all this into consideration we have decided to sell and find new challenges in a more urban environment. For me I have peace in this decision knowing that my dream has come true here and I can close this phase in my life while looking for a new opportunity.

You can view the full details of this amazing waterside property here. It is being marketed exclusively through Beaux Villages Immobilier. Whether you’re looking for a private countryside retreat, a fishing business or opportunity for a watersports business, viewing this property is highly recommended. Properties with lakes of this size are rare and it provides a unique opportunity. If you’d like to talk to us about the property please contact us for more details.