G169 – Posada La Colonia, large country house, Fornes, Granada

8 bedrooms – 2 bathrooms – separate WC – original features – courtyard patio – 24m2 pool – house divided into two separate living units – original bar (no longer open) – strip of irrigated, flat land (1128m2).

A fascinating old house on two floors, in very good condition and requiring a few improvements, but fully habitable, plus a second house to let or convert into guest rooms, or to let, with a garden, pool and plot of land for planting – just 800m to the village of Fornes and close to Lake Bermejales.

This is one of few buildings in such good condition that still exist as they were the day they were built!  Located in a unique setting, consisting of this property, (formerly the landlord’s property), and a series of workers’ cottages forming a pretty street, with an ancient ‘acequia’ or water channel with a plentiful supply of irrigation water.  It has excellent potential as a tourist complex and home.

A short road, close to Fornes village, leads to the ‘Colonia’, consisting  of a single street of terraced houses, of which this one is the corner property.  In front are the flat, fertile, irrigated fields in strips of land (one allocated to each worker’s cottage) where the best vegetables and fruit can be grown, fed by the plentiful supply of natural spring water from the nearby mountains of the nearby Resinera natural park with its rivers and rock pools.  This property owns the second strip of land, consisting of a total of 1128m2 with free access to the natural water supply and a covered parking area.

The house has an ancient bar in the corner, which once provided rest and refreshments to the locals and workers from the cottages. This bar could be reopened or converted perhaps into a reception room or dining room for guests, should anyone be looking to convert this cortijo into a tourist complex or retreat.

The main house is accessed from the street via huge, original wooden double doors, which open onto a large hallway, with high ceiling and beams.  To the left, original double doors with glass panels lead into the bar area, and to the right, a door leads into the winter living room, a lovely room with a window to the front, original fireplace and a woodburner.  To the left, from within the living room, are two downstairs bedrooms, the larger of which (4 x 3m) has a window to the hallway, and the smaller room (4 x 2m) has no window.  There is a partition wall between these two rooms, meaning that it would be easy to join these two rooms together.

The long hallway leads to glass-panelled double doors, that lead into an inner hallway, (4 x 3m) where further magnificent double wooden doors lead out onto the courtyard.  To  the right of the inner hallway is a door to the large, original kitchen.  This wonderful room (9 x 3m) typical of the early 20th century country kitchens, is spacious, with large windows over the courtyard bringing shards of light into the kitchen, and high ceilings with beams.  At the far end of the kitchen is the bathroom (4 x 1.5m) with a walk in shower area and window to the patio.

Returning to the outer hallway, a door to the left, upon entering, leads up stairs through a high stairwell with beams. At the top of the stairwell is a door that leads into the second house.  Ahead, are doors to the upper landing/living room (5 x 3.5m), with beautiful beams, as in the entire house. A balcony overlooks the views across the street, the countryside and fields.

To the right is a bedroom (3.5 x 2m), as well as a door to an upper hallway which leads out onto a terrace (5 x 3.5m) overlooking the courtyard and pool garden below.  From the upper hallway is access to the second upstairs bedroom (6 x 3m) which currently has no windows but high windows could be added to bring natural light into this lovely room.  Also accesssed from the hallway is a third upstairs bedroom (7 x 4m).

The second house is on an upstairs level, joined to the main house via the glass door on the stairwell landing and from an outside staircase from the garden.  This consisits of a kitchen, dining and living room, three bedrooms, one bathroom and a separate WC, joined by a corridor, and has been modernised.

The courtyard is traditional and beautiful.  Accessed from the street via a garden gate in the wall, as well as from the double doors from within the main house, it consists of two parts.  The patio area has a lovely seating and outdoor dining area with a mature grapevine, loaded with grapes in the Summer.  This area, partly shaded and partly open, covers around 15 x 3m.  To the left is a laundry area and a chicken house and store room (6 x 3.5m), and to the right a large barn (7 x 3.5m).  This could also be converted, or used as an outside kitchen/dining room.

The second area is the pool garden, again  with a lovely area covered by a mature natural vine, and a pool of 7 x 3m.

Some of the workers cottages next door have been converted into a riding stables and school, with well cared horses (no flies!).  For anyone looking to attract tourism, it may be a good opportunity to offer accommodation to their equestrian clients.  But the area is a natural attraction to many people seeking out the real, untouched Spain, in true nature and plenty of walking trails.

This beautiful, unique property is for sale at a very good price for adventurous souls with vision and enthusiasm to seek a new lifestyle in the heart of inland Granada.

Fornes: 800m (has shops, bars, doctors, and good facilities)
Jayena village: 10 minutes
Natural park: just a few minutes
Granada: 45 minutes
Coast; 1 hour

Property Summary
– Strip of irrigated land: 1128m2
– Cortijo total build size: 681m2
– Pool: 21m2
– Patio and house footprint: 701m2
– Original features throughout
– Excellent condition
– Potential tourist complex
– Mains water and irrigation water
– Mains electricity
– Council tax /IBI: 270 Euros p.a.
– Energy rating: processing

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Tags: Cortijo, country house, Granada, rustic style, traditional