Le Pigeonnier - LAYS-SUR-LE-DOUBS

A very elegant and characterful late 19th-century bourgeois residence, meticulously restored, nestled within a residential rural hamlet on the edge of a typical small village. Peace and tranquility reign in a magnificent, unspoiled natural setting, bordering gentle meadows where peaceful Charolais and Limousin cows graze in season, and a branch of the Doubs River (a paradise for kayakers and anglers, renowned for its catfish, zander, and carp, boasting natural beaches and a remarkable protected ecosystem within a Natura 2000 zone, home to an exceptional ornithological reserve with 160 species of birds and very rare plant varieties). A true haven of peace offering the rare opportunity to observe wildlife (including numerous birds) as well as a beautiful, unobstructed view of the surrounding countryside. A spacious and very comfortable gîte. A warm, rustic charm blending tradition and modernity in a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Full of character. A large, sunny terrace, shaded by a centuries-old sycamore tree (and complemented by a second panoramic terrace with an outdoor relaxation area), opens onto a lovely, secluded, and meticulously maintained 2500m² lawned garden. The garden features a beautiful swimming pool, a natural pétanque court in the courtyard, a ping-pong table, and a children's play area. Composition: Detached house on two levels. Wi-Fi (fiber optic). Electric heating and a wood-burning stove. Ground floor: kitchen, living/dining room, three bedrooms (one with a 160x200cm double bed and a 140x190cm sofa bed / one with a 140x190cm double bed / one with two 90x190cm single beds), two of which are adjoining (but have independent access from the outside), a shower room (shower/toilet), and a separate toilet. First floor: 2 bedrooms, one with a balcony (double bed 180x200cm / double bed 160x200cm), mezzanine/living room/playroom, shower room (shower/WC). Double terrace + enclosed 2500m² garden (table tennis & swing) + swimming pool (5x12m with shower / open from May 1st to October 31st, weather permitting) + pétanque court (courtyard) + private parking. Supermarket & shops 6 km away. A literal haven of peace and rest "on the border" of the Côte d'Or and the Jura! A very elegant, characterful bourgeois residence from the late 19th century, perfectly restored - nestled in peace and quiet on an intimate, soothing, enclosed property of 2500m² adorned with a beautiful 12x5m swimming pool & a "natural pétanque court" - tucked away on the edge of a peaceful, typical little village on the border of a "branch" of the Doubs, in the heart of a magnificent preserved natural setting in a protected area in a Natura 2000 & ZNIEFF zone (for its very rich ecosystems), 5.5 km from the typical & commercial town of Saint-Pierre-de-Bresse (supermarket on site) labeled "Cité de Caractère de Bourgogne Franche Comté" (rich in a renowned ecomuseum nestled in a sumptuous 17th century castle) & 15 km from the charming town of Seurre ("spa town" nestled on the banks of the Saône with a very rich heritage). Total tranquility in the heart of the preserved Bresse countryside, mixing agriculture & total nature, in the heart of the green lower Doubs valley (paradise for fishermen and nature lovers alike), gentle plain of fields & meadows dotted with bucolic rivers & ponds, not far from vast wild forest areas (including the very close Pourlans state forest, a true "green lung" of 660 ha), as well as the first wooded foothills of the Jura massif (superb GRP of the Bresse Comtoise accessible 22 km away), bordering various protected natural areas (including the great Pontoux Pond located 12 km away, an exceptional sensitive natural area unique in Burgundy, nesting & ornithological reserve rich in more than 130 recorded species). Ideally located on the "Cycloroute71" (Tour of the Saône-et-Loire by bike) and various footpaths (including a rich network of "green walks" crisscrossing the territory, to be explored on foot or by mountain bike / first accessible 5 km away), 13 km from the Voie Bleue along the Saône (adjacent to the EuroVelo 6 cycle route), 17 km from the Voie Verte de la Bresse Jurasienne, 25 km from the "Voie du Tacot" greenway (serving Beaune), about thirty km from the vineyards of the Jura, about forty km from the famous Côtes de Beaune & Hautes Côtes de Beaune and about fifty km from the Côtes Chalonnaises (various wine routes to discover including the "Route des Grands Vins" & the prestigious "Route des Grands Crus" crossing the mythical wine villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, Meursault…). On the borders of the Bresse Bourguignonne - cradle of the famous AOC of Bresse poultry - not far from the Chalonnais, the Tournugeois-Clunisois (labeled "Pays d'Art et d'Histoire") & the Pays Beaunois. Ideal for exploring 3 departments: 22 km from Verdun-sur-le-Doubs (river marina nestled at the confluence of the Saône & the Doubs), 32 km from Dole (labeled "City of Art and History"), 37 km from Louhans (capital of Bresse & its famous "Rue aux 157 arcades", iconic medieval shopping street), 40 km from Chalon-sur-Saône (labeled "City of Art and History"), 41 km from Lons-le-Saunier, 42 km from the illustrious fortified city of Beaune ("capital of Burgundy Wines"), 48 km from Chagny (renowned for its Sunday morning gourmet market) & 50 km from the medieval & wine-growing town of Givry. A delightful "refuge" for a relaxing "timeless break" with a small group, with "lounging" by the pool and lively games of pétanque or ping-pong as a bonus!