7 half-timbered houses you will love

From modest to magnificent, take a look at these charming half-timbered properties for sale around France

Half timbering or colombage is where a framework of wooden beams is visible on the façade of a property and the gaps are filled either with brick or a lighter material such as torchis (a clay-based mixture) or plaster. The beams and fill are usually contrasting colours with one or the other often painted. Half-timbering is particularly frequently found on houses in Normandy but is also featured on properties across France. Here are some examples we love.

Eure, Normandy

Surrounded by hundred-year-old trees, this beautifully traditional Norman home also has modern comforts with a new slate roof added in 2020 and a heated floor downstairs. Inside you will find a bright living room with open fireplace and a fitted kitchen. Upstairs there are three bedrooms a bathroom and separate WC. The stunning sandy beaches of Deauville and the colourful harbour town of Honfleur are 45 minutes away.

On the market for €299,000

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Ariège, Occitanie

In the heart of the dreamy French village of Daumazan sur Arize this incredible four-bedroom home has been respectfully renovated to preserve all of its charming timbering inside and out. Surprisingly spacious, the living areas are open plan and outdoor space is offered in the form of terraces. A room with an independent entrance could be used as a guest room or independent studio while on the top floor a room with a hot tub leads onto a terrace with a view of the nearby hills.

On the market for €159,000

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Morbihan, Brittany

This level of cuteness is hard to get over. In the medieval town of Guémené-sur-Scorff you will find historic architecture and charming pubs where you can taste the region’s gastronomical specialities. There are a number of delightful half-timbered properties around the village and this particularly eye-catching three-bedroom home has been tastefully renovated for comfortable modern living inside and features a fitted kitchen/diner with a wood-burner in a stone fireplace.

On the market for €84,860

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Hautes-Pyrénées, Occitanie

Wysteria, blue shutters and half-timbering, what an absolute stunner of a property. This four-bedroom 16th-century converted farmhouse enjoys beautiful views over the views over the Gascony countryside. A large swimming pool is set amid the landscaped garden and a terrace off the upstairs lounge offers a great vantage point to take in the surroundings. An outbuilding currently used as an artist’s studio presents an opportunity for a number of endeavours including conversion into further living space.

On the market for €465,000

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Calvados, Normandy

Looking for a holiday home or a gîte business? In Hermival-les-Vaux, this authentic slice of Normandy could be a fantastic base from which to explore the region. Exposed wooden beams run throughout the cosy property, with a living room, simple kitchen, bathroom and office on the ground floor, and three bedrooms (one ensuite) on the first-floor. A second partially renovated two-bedroom house is currently being rented out.

On the market for €278,500

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Lot-et-Garonne, Nouvelle Aquitaine

Exquisitely renovated this unique barn conversion exudes character inside and out. Inside is a large open plan kitchen, dining and living area, while a second, more enclosed sitting room is great place to relax or have a cosy catch up with friends. Each of the three double bedrooms has an ensuite bathroom so there is potential to run the property as a bed and breakfast, and there is a small independent gite also on the property. Outside is a covered dining area overlooking a heated swimming pool which has a salt filtration system.

On the market for €399,950

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Yvelines, Île-de-France

Close to Paris and ten minutes from the town of Houdan this renovated property dating from 1823 comes complete with a woodshed, bread oven and billiards room. The main longère has five bedrooms and there is a partially renovated three rooms guest house. The estate also encompasses a separate heated indoor swimming pool with WC, shower and sauna.

On the market for £778,500

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