Châteaux For Sale in France

Like water mills, there is something almost unfathomably romantic about châteaux. House hunters arrive in France every year from all over the world looking for châteaux for sale. The areas of south-west France covered by Papillon are not renowned for châteaux in the same way as the Loire valley or the vineyards of Bordeaux. However, we do have a range of them on our books. In order to understand and evaluate the attractions of these luxury properties, we need to discuss a number of related questions.

· Why exactly is a château?
· Why are they perceived as desirable places to live in?
· What are their unique features?
· What sort of people do they appeal to?
· How much do they cost to purchase?
· How practical are they as restoration projects?
· What are the potential drawbacks and pitfalls involved in buying one?

The word château invariably conjures up images of spectacular, grand buildings once owned by members of the royal family or aristocracy. However, the term itself is quite vague. It can refer to a wide range of properties: castles, palaces, and manor houses are all types of châteaux. In fact, any imposing building can be termed a château, as in château d’eau (a water tower!)

Part of the desirability of a château is the sense of owning a piece of aristocratic history, particularly in a country where the Revolution is such a powerful, resonating cultural event. Many châteaux have medieval origins, either as (fortified) castles or manor houses owned by a chatelain (lord of the manor). Their sheer scale, elegance and secluded settings add to their desirability. Part of their romantic attraction can be related back to fairy tales, knights’ tales and stories of chivalry.

In terms of their unique features, while none for private sale can match the scale and elegance of Chenanceau, nevertheless towers, spectacular flagstone hallways, elegant reception rooms, pre-revolutionary fireplaces and formal, landscaped gardens are often on offer.

Châteaux often appeal to people looking to run a business such as a hotel, up-market bed and breakfast, or as a spectacular venue for weddings, wine tasting or culinary holidays. The fact that they often come with acres of land (and river settings) makes them ideal for riding schools or other outdoor sports businesses. In many cases, income potential has already been established by the previous owners, an added bonus as long as it was well run and successful!

Occasionally we take on a château in need of complete restoration, more often with a wing already renovated and the remainder left unconverted, or sometimes – particularly in the case of manor houses – entirely converted…with a price to match. For a fully renovated maison de maitre, the prices tend to start at around 300,000 euros. Large chateaux in need of restoration start at a similar price, while ones luxuriously converted into family homes with guest wings can be for sale from around 800,000 euros. There really is no maximum price for this type of property.

How practical they are as renovation/restoration projects depends largely on how practical the purchaser is and/or how deep his pockets are! Some are designated historical buildings with strict guide lines to be followed both in terms of plans and materials. In these cases one will not only be dealing with the local planning authorities but also the Batiments de France. The hand-holding and after-care offered by Papillon Properties will be an invaluable lifeline.

Among the potential pitfalls and drawbacks is the sheer size and scale of the buildings, both in terms of building costs and heating bills. The types of homes constructed for aristocracy drew on the finest materials. To restore or replace these will involve time and money, as well as highly skilled artisans. Prestige properties come at a price, as aristocratic families discovered both before and after 1789!

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