麻豆传媒映画

The trend for barn conversions has taken a dip in some areas of France recently, as the best properties have been snapped up and some planning authorities have started worrying about a loss of agricultural heritage. Not so in the Alps.

Part of the attraction here is that the barns often look like traditional alpine houses to begin with.

They are often isolated from farms (unlike in other regions of France, such as the south-west) and generally have spectacular views of pastures, hills and mountains.

A case in point is this 120m虏 barn in the countryside not far from Beaufort (Savoie), in the mid-Alps, east of Lyon. It is on the market for 鈧�278,000.

鈥淭he price is perhaps a little high, but not outrageously so,鈥� says Amelie Rouault of Agence de Beaufortain, who is handling the sale.

鈥淲hat people get for their money is a building with a good structure to begin with, isolation (the nearest neighbours 500 metres away), and some truly spectacular scenery.鈥�

Ms Rouault says the barn had received approval for conversion, with a condition that the exterior dimensions and look do not change much.

鈥淵ou can put in some openings for windows and doors, but you will not be allowed to extend the building,鈥� she says.

鈥淵ou will also have to keep the structure 鈥� a stone base for an oak framework and then timber planks.鈥�

The barn currently has a corrugated iron roof, which is in good condition.

It is divided into two parts, with one side recently used for animals and the other for general storage.

Ms Rouault said that the buyer would probably want to put new, closer-fitting planks on the wooden structure, then a layer of insulation and a new interior wall.

Before that, however, they would probably either pay for an electricity and water connection, or for solar panels and battery electrics, with a drinking water supply from the spring found on the 2,000m虏 of land which comes with the barn.

鈥淢y very rough estimate is that a good conversion will cost in the region of 鈧�300,000 on top of the price of the barn and land,鈥� she says.

鈥淭his will bring the property to over 鈧�500,000, which is in line with some other isolated, well equipped houses in the area with spectacular views.鈥�

The photos in the listing show cows in the summer pasture, which give milk for the famous Beaufort cheese.

According to tradition and for practical reasons, the cows almost always wear bells while outside, meaning that the peace and quiet of summer days is likely to be punctuated by their ringing.

鈥淪ome people like the bells and some people hate them,鈥� says Ms Rouault, 鈥渂ut I am sure that if people are prepared to invest in a barn like this they don鈥檛 mind them.鈥�

Not all barns for sale in the Alps are at similar prices. A quick internet search showed one, forming a farm courtyard with a small 210m虏 garden, on sale for just 鈧�35,000.