Picture living in a home with 10 or more bedrooms, a garage large enough to fit all of your cars and toys, a freshwater swimming pool next to a pristine pool house, tennis courts and a golf course to while away a free afternoon.
Owning your own chateau is the epitome of creating a brand new, luxury lifestyle in France. Though French chateaux are most certainly exclusive, they’re not a fantasy. There are all types of chateaux available depending on your personal taste. Read on to learn what you need to know about how to buy a chateau in France.
Table of Contents
Do you want a move-in ready home or do you want to renovate an older property?
Some buyers want to purchase a home, move in and have it set up within days. Others would love a renovation project that they can work on over the course of a few months or years, designing the home of their dreams to meet their every whim. Keep in mind that taking on a property that doubles as a project is exciting, but it requires a lot of time and dedication. You’ll likely need to find and hire professionals to handle the technicalities and construction aspects you’re unable to do on your own. There are also different legal requirements to follow when it comes to French property.
If you want the best of both worlds, consider purchasing a turnkey property and then making small changes to it when you have the free time. For example, you may be able to find a chateau that has finished or unfinished attic space that you can eventually turn into extra rooms. You can also look for property with outbuildings, like stables and barns, that you can convert into additional living or work space. Some homes will even have already-approved zoning, so you can start expanding as soon as you like.
How do you plan on using your new chateau?
While many buyers dream of moving their family into a chateau, you may want your home to double as a commercial property. Combining your new home with a fulfilling career is what some people consider to be the peak of happiness. You can set up your chateau as a tourism business, like a B&B, hotel or wedding venue, for example. If you want to do this, make sure you choose to live in an area that has a lot of tourism. Your chateau property may also include things like apartments or additional independent houses that you can rent short-term; shops for selling all sorts of items; catering facilities; or licensed taverns for a nightlife business.
If you have a lot of land surrounding your chateau, consider turning it into a retreat for people on holiday. You can create a fishing area, campsite or a golf course if you wish. Another option is to buy a vineyard estate where you can make and sell wine, hold tours and tastings, and maybe even accommodate small groups overnight. Or, if you live in an area that gets a lot of business tourism, consider renting out space to traveling professionals. You can find property that has conference rooms or even offices with kitchenettes and reception areas, all of which can be rented to companies or professionals who need a temporary place to meet or work. You can also use that business space to run your own business. Combined with on-premises staff apartments, you can have everything for your job located right on your property.
What part of France would you like to live in?
One of the hardest parts about choosing a chateau in France is deciding where you want to live, because huge luxury properties are available in so many of France’s top destinations. For example, chateaux in Poitou Charentes look like they’ve jumped right out of a fairytale or a romantic novel; the area’s castles have a combination of antique features and contemporary amenities. You may be able to find a chateau built in the 1800s that has retained its original fireplaces or stone work, for example. One of the best things about considering homes that were built hundreds of years ago is that they often have interesting historical stories that go along with the property.
In Dordogne, many chateaux are set in quiet, peaceful areas, surrounded by gorgeous landscaping and scenic views. Keep in mind that a natural setting doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be far from a city; you can live in a quiet area and still drive just 30 minutes to a more lively setting when you’re in the mood. To narrow down your options, consider how large of a chateau you want and how much land you need; the type of lifestyle you’re after (an energetic city versus a quiet suburb or countryside, for example); and how close you need to be to certain amenities. Then work with an estate agent to explore your options in those areas.
HOMEHUNTS estate agents are able to select beautiful, high-end, luxury chateaux based on your specific search criteria. Whether you want to live in a lively location or in a more tranquil setting, there is luxury property that meets your needs. Use the search bar located above to browse our selection of luxury homes. You can also speak directly to one of our consultants by calling +33 (0)970 44 66 43.
