French Chateaux 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 chat ... More
French Chateaux For Sale
30 Minutes from Geneva French Chateau For Sale - POA
10 bedrooms
8 bathrooms
1,000 sqm (10760 sq ft) floor size
Swimming Pool
60,000 sqm of land
(6.0 hectares / 14.4 acres)
Gite
Description
Magnificent 13th Century castle in the countryside, with 1,000m2 of living area and a 6 hectare park with swimming pool, sculptured fountains, French garden and a natural water source.
The cast...
Jura 39 French Chateau For Sale - 53,000,000 EUR
34 bedrooms
bathrooms
7,000 sqm (75320 sq ft) floor size
800,000 sqm of land
(80.0 hectares / 192.0 acres)
Equestrian Facilities
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...
Offmarket Property - 45,000,000 EUR
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
12 bathrooms
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Versailles French Chateau For Sale - 34,000,000 EUR
40 bedrooms
bathrooms
Swimming Pool
Lake, Pond or River
Description
Located right in heart of the Versailles, close to the Palace and only 20 km from Paris, easily accessible from the A13 motorway.
Exceptional historic estate of about 32 hectares : Napoléo...
Offmarket Property - 25,000,000 EUR
We have an exclusive off market property for sale at this price which we are marketing with discretion. Please contact us to enquire.
16 bedrooms
bathrooms
3,000 sqm (32280 sq ft) floor size
Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
Golf Facilities
Dordogne 24 French Chateau For Sale - 21,000,000 EUR
30 bedrooms
bathrooms
1,500 sqm (16140 sq ft) floor size
1,980,000 sqm of land
(198.0 hectares / 475.2 acres)
Lake, Pond or River
Description
Unique and superb French castle of the XIIe and XVe centuries, classified an historic monument. Surrounded by 198 hectares of grounds, it has been renovated carefully during the last 10 years and is s...
French Chateau in Verteillac, Dordogne 24 for sale with 1,650,000m2 of land - 21,000,000 EUR
16 bedrooms
bathrooms
3,500 sqm (37660 sq ft) floor size
1,650,000 sqm of land
(165.0 hectares / 396.0 acres)
Gite
Lake, Pond or River
Description
From the tops of its crenelated towers to the base of its fortified walls, this property has history, tradition and romance cemented into every stone. Inside it has been lovingly and lavishly brought ...
Lac du Bourget French Chateau For Sale - POA
11 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
2,000 sqm (21520 sq ft) floor size
Swimming Pool
30,000 sqm of land
(3.0 hectares / 7.2 acres)
Description
Set in a peaceful residential area, a magnificent 19th Century chateau, with around 2,000m2 of living space.
Outstanding views overlooking the lake and mountains, on enclosed grounds of 3 hecta...
Offmarket Property - 16,000,000 EUR
We have an exclusive off market property for sale at this price which we are marketing with discretion. Please contact us to enquire.
28 bedrooms
26 bathrooms
Swimming Pool
Gite
Equestrian Facilities
Lake, Pond or River
French Chateau For Sale Jura 39 - 16,000,000 EUR
18 bedrooms
bathrooms
Swimming Pool
Description
In the Franche-Comté region of France, an exceptional French chateau for sale with about 3500m2 of living space set within a 27 hectare / 67 acre walled park with a river and overlooking a vast panora...
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