At Country Life, we bow to nobody in our love of castles — and not just because we have one of the world’s foremost castle experts on our team, in the form of our architectural editor John Goodall.
And while we love the castles of Britain most of all, that doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate the continental take on what is without question the most dramatic, romantic type of building on the planet.
Today, we’re looking at some wonders that we’ve come across for sale on the continent. And once you’ve finished enjoying these, don’t miss our look at the best castles for sale in Scotland.
Italy — £2.5 million
(Image credit: Knight Frank)
A glorious Italian castle — also pictured at the top of this page — has come up for sale in the medieval borgo of Sant’Apollinare, close to the charming village of Spina, in the hills roughly half-way between Rome and Florence, not far from Perugia.
(Image credit: Knight Frank)(Image credit: Knight Frank)(Image credit: Knight Frank)(Image credit: Knight Frank)The building is over 1,000 years old, and was originally built as a defensive castle though it went on to become a monastery, and eventually a nobleman’s home.
This is a huge property, which comes with around 180 acres of land stretching down into the valley below. The main castle alone is some 16,500 sq ft, a fair amount of which is built below ground level and into the hill itself. Eight bedrooms, a string of reception rooms, kitchens and more are here, and with this much space the agents suggest it could be converted into a wonderful boutique hotel. We can’t wait to see what happens next.
For sale via Knight Frank — see more details.
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France — £22.5 million
(Image credit: Espaces Atypiques)
A neo-Gothic castle built at the end of the 19th century, set close to Blois, Bourges, and Orleans — and therefore near some of the greatest chateaux in France — this is a magnificent creation offering over 32,000 sq ft of space.
(Image credit: Espaces Atypiques)(Image credit: Espaces Atypiques)(Image credit: Espaces Atypiques)(Image credit: Espaces Atypiques)’A rare place, designed to transcend eras without sacrificing authenticity,’ say the agents, ‘destined for those seeking an extraordinary property ready to write a new chapter in history.’ Nicely put.
For sale via Espaces Atypiques — see more details.
Germany — £4.5 million
(Image credit: Riedel Immobilien / Christie”s International Real Estate)
What could be better than living in a castle? Living in a castle beside a spectacular, unspoilt lake. And that’s what is on offer in the penthouse of Schloss Possenhofen, near the German town of Pocking, just south of Munich.
(Image credit: Riedel Immobilien / Christie”s International Real Estate)
The lake — or the Starnberger See, as it’s called — is a fittingly beautiful setting for this old palace, built for Elisabeth, the daughter of Duke Max Joseph, who went on to become Empress of Austria.
(Image credit: Riedel Immobilien / Christie”s International Real Estate)
The sale isn’t for the entire castle, though it does include the entire second floor and the (as yet undeveloped) attic space above. There are three bedrooms, magnificent communal gardens reserved solely for the castle residents, and panoramic views which reach as far as the Bavarian Alps.
For sale via Christie’s International Real Estate — see more details.