French Chateau For Sale

Living the dream of owning a large, spectacular and historic building in many countries can often be somewhat difficult to realise. Not so, France. Almost every department has its share of imposing tower-topped chateaux dominating the landscape, if no longer the people. From long-forgotten manorial houses to the very largest monastic and secular palaces, French chateaux offer a vision of mystique and romance that perhaps the more solidly defensive English castles cannot touch.

Why buy French Chateaux?

At present, large estates are offering superb value for money compared to other prestige property around the world. Boasting acres of land, lakes, outbuildings and their own capacious floor spaces, chateaux give one the opportunity and space to choose how to live and work. Taking the figure of 1 Million Euros as an example, chateaux costing this will far outweigh, in real terms, the real estate offered by other luxury and prestige property of the same price. In many locations, you are paying for exactly that - location - and will no doubt be jostling with other similar properties for the best view. French chateaux offer the rare ability to look out from your window and survey no land but your own.

The rise in disposable income and the freedom to travel between countries ensures that there is strong interest in buying such property for a family home or a tourism business - perhaps for fishing, an equestrian school, hunting, outdoor sports, walking or wildlife watching. The fairytale bulk of French chateaux is also one of its main attractions, particularly for weddings or hotel accommodation. What bride would not wish to be married within an ancient chapel bathed by soft light streaming through its stained glass windows, then withdraw across the lawn to the main building with its ornate decoration a background to the big day and the sounds of history echoing from its walls?

Many such properties also have existing income from timber or wine production.

French chateaux types

If you are looking for French chateaux for sale, be it for pleasure or business, we have many beautiful properties to choose from with prices of approximately 300,000 EUR to over 20 Million EUR. These properties take many forms, from smaller Logis and manor houses to fortified farmsteads and enormous stately homes encompassing many hectares of land with woods, lakes, guest houses and outbuildings.

A chateau, because of its size and history, usually has over 1 hectare of land - usually this is much more, even with lower budget examples. While there is a limited supply of French chateaux that are up for sale at any given time, there is likely to be a great variety. You may wish to buy a large building with little land to make your money go further. Or you may wish to buy a smaller Logis-style property, but utilise the land for horses, hunting or wildlife. However, there are many examples of chateaux for sale on the market with a large floor space and several dozen hectares, but they are understandably more expensive but not overly so. 1 million EUR can easily buy you 500m2 of floor space on several levels plus 20 hectares of land.

Whether a chateau dates from the 10th or 20th century, it will have its own style and history of decoration. Some can be a mix of styles from different periods as fashion and the owner's availability of funds changed. Other chateaux appear not to have changed since they were built. Many were built in the early 19th century as France became more dominant and wealthy. There are similarities between properties in that you are likely to find original features such as stone fireplace, parquet flooring, mouldings and carvings dotted around the rooms.

Where to buy French chateaux for sale

French chateaux for sale encompass all states of preservation. From windowless shells requiring total renovation, to those requiring part-decoration, to immaculate 19th century bourgeois stately homes, the amount you will need to spend will depend on how much work you are willing to undertake. Being large properties, renovations can be very costly and time-consuming but need not be outside the budget of most serious buyers if planned correctly. Typically, to arrive at a habitable building you will need to spend around a total of around 500,000 Euros, whether you opt to renovate or buy an already renovated example.

Obviously, the more you spend to begin with, the larger the chateau, outbuildings and land you will acquire. While not always true, like most things it is usually sound advice to spend more at the outset to buy a good example than spend money creating one. In other words, it is better to let the previous owner use their money and time!

Our portfolio includes a great selection of French chateaux for sale in many areas of France. The Loire valley and the nearby departments offer particularly good investment opportunities for the chateau property buyer and we have over 30 examples in the Indre-et-Loire, Loir et Cher, Indre, Maine et Loire and Seine et Marne alone. Other good 'populations' exist in the Parisian departments and the south east, south west and north east areas of France. The market is remarkably fluid below 1.5 Million euros, with highly desirable properties changing hands within weeks of being offered for sale. This compares favourably with other prestige markets with regards to 'on-market' times.

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French Chateau For Sale

Why buy French Chateaux?

Many such properties also have existing income from timber or wine production.

French chateaux types

Where to buy French chateaux for sale

Obviously, the more you spend to begin with, the larger the chat ... More

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French Chateau For Sale

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10 bedroom French Chateau in Nice, Cote d'Azur French Riviera for sale with 10000m2 of land - 20,000,000 EUR

Reference 140012
French Chateau in Nice
10 bathrooms

1,200 sqm (12912 sq ft) floor size
Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Skiing
Golf Facilities
Vineyard

Description
Situated in La Colle sur Loup, this is a magnificent and unique historical property that was completely renovated in 1997. There is around 1500m2 of living space and it is built on a raised plot of...

Delightful Louis XV Chateau - 18,000,000 EUR

Reference 159425
French Chateau in 50 minutes from Paris
10 bathrooms

800 sqm (8608 sq ft) floor size
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River

Description
The beauty and lifestyle of a Louis XV chateau listed historical monument Located just 50 minutes from Paris, in a rural and attractive location, nestled between parkland and woodland, this "foll...

9 bedroom French Chateau in 120km North East of Paris, Picardy for sale with 100000m2 of land - 6,900,000 EUR

Reference 151254
French Chateau in 120km North East of Paris
4 bathrooms

Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River

Description
Imposing historic chateau, located 120km north east of Paris and only 45 minutes from CDG Airport. Very elegant chateau dating from the 16th & 18th Centuries (Louis XVI), recently extensively renovat...

98 bedroom French Chateau in Creuse Area, Limousin for sale with 120000m2 of land - 6,450,000 EUR

Reference 134498
French Chateau in Creuse Area

1,200 sqm (12912 sq ft) floor size
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Skiing
Golf Facilities
Vineyard

Description
PRICED REDUCED - In Central France, exceptional Renaissance chateau of about 1200 sqm of living space, listed as Historic Monument (Grade 1) surrounded by water, moats and 12 hectares (30 acres) of gr...

French Chateau in The Dordogne Valley, Aquitaine for sale with 200000m2 of land - 4,500,000 EUR

Reference 145863
French Chateau in The Dordogne Valley

1,000 sqm (10760 sq ft) floor size
Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Skiing
Golf Facilities
Vineyard

Description
PRICE REDUCED - Dordogne Valley, spectacular medieval castle in very good condition. Formal terraces with statues and topiaries overlooking a superb landscape, charming guests house and outbuildings...

French Chateau in 80km from Paris, Upper Normandy for sale with 170000m2 of land - 2,700,000 EUR

Reference 151279
French Chateau in 80km from Paris

500 sqm (5380 sq ft) floor size
Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River

Description
Set in a beautiful landscape this is rare 17th century property developed around a spacious courtyard composed of a main house of 500m2, 2 guests houses, guardians house, garages and stables. The wh...

8 bedroom French Chateau in 50km west of Paris, Centre for sale with 40000m2 of land - 1,600,000 EUR

Reference 130464
French Chateau in 50km west of Paris
6 bathrooms

Swimming Pool
Gite

Description
PRICE REDUCED - Fully renovated chateau, situated just 50km west of Paris, near a village, close to Houdan and with Porte d'Auteuil by motorway A12. Ground floor: Hall 23m2 Great drawing room 46m2 ...

12 bedroom French Chateau in Neufchatel en Bray, Upper Normandy for sale with 26500m2 of land - 1,280,000 EUR

Reference 134852
French Chateau in Neufchatel en Bray

Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Skiing
Golf Facilities
Vineyard

Description
In Normandy, Pays de Bray, a rare 16th c manor in excellent condition with numerous outbuildings comprising secondary accommodations, barns, chapel…etc set in landscaped gardens on a 2.65 hectares (6...

Offmarket Property - POA

Reference 138351

We have an exclusive off market property for sale at this price which we are marketing with discretion. Please contact us to enquire.

12 bedrooms
7 bathrooms
Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Skiing
Golf Facilities
Vineyard

34 bedroom French Chateau in Location Withheld, Franche-Comte for sale with 800000m2 of land - 53,000,000 EUR

Reference 120200
French Chateau in Location Withheld

7,000 sqm (75320 sq ft) floor size
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Skiing
Golf Facilities
Vineyard

Description
Only a 45 min drive from Geneva (90 km) or 10 mins by helicopter, circled by a mountain chain allowing the sun to shine over the property, an exceptional and historic chateau and its 6 outbuildings si...

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