Fit for a King
LIFE AS THE SOVEREIGN OF YOUR OWN CASTLE HOLDS PLENTY OF ROMANTIC APPEAL, WRITES Annabel Nourse, BUT BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO
The romantic notion of living in a turreted castle, king or queen of all you survey, is simply a dream for most people. But for some it can transform into reality—and even a business opportunity. Castles and other historic houses always present a fantastic chance for investment, according to Prestige Property Group CEO Mike Braunholtz, and usually retain their value.
“Only a limited number of such properties have ever been built and each one is so unique,” says Braunholtz, who has a range of castles on his books. “You are buying so much more than a home, of course. With your castle comes a whole new lifestyle. They usually have hectares of land, often complete with beautiful gardens, woods and lakes. There may also be some guest houses and useful outbuildings on your estate.”
The perfect castle could be converted into a hotel or guest house, or become a sumptuous wedding location. Outbuildings can be converted and rented out. “Such buildings will always attract tourists, and some may even come complete with timber or wine production facilities,” adds Braunholtz.
France is probably the best known and most popular location for those seeking their dream castle. The Loire Valley, in particular, has become almost synonymous with châteaux, though there are also fine examples near Paris and in other areas of the country. Locations in Spain, Italy and the