Castles, donjons, and manors are much sought after. In France, uncertainties led by the Covid-19 pandemic have boosted sales by 15% vs 2020 and are attracting a new generation of entrepreneurs seeking to transform their business into greener pastures.
€ 1,5 to 3 Mio
Average price for a castle of 1000m2 and 50 hectares of land in France
€ 500 000
Average annual maintenance costs for a large castle
CHF 80 Mio
The highest selling price for a castle in Switzerland
Patrice Besse is smiling. This year, his Parisian agency (Patrice Besse), which offers 75 great castles for sale, including ten of the most iconic classified French heritage, recorded a growth of 100% in his revenue vs 2020, already increasing by 40% vs 2019. A one-of-a-kind situation for the company created 1924.
Many shows and coverage about French “art de vivre” as well as an active support of the State, including the Loto du Patrimoine, have also put the castle and its new lords back in style
Patrice Besse, founder of the parisian real estate agency Patrice Besse
Last summer, the realter closed in only a few months the deal of the prestigious Château de Verteuil, a jewel of Charente built in 1080. In the hands of the La Rochefoucault family for over 1000 years, the property hosted Charles Quint and counts 19 rooms, including 14 bedrooms, 1 library, 1 chapel, surrounded by a 38-hectare garden. Its new owner, Georg Thaler, is an entrepreneur living in Berlin. The valued price of the transaction: about 2.6 million euros. While we still don’t know whether the use will be private, public visits are on hold for the time being, while over 3,500 guests would go there every year. The French market has always attracted foreign buyers seeking exceptional homes, but during the last “three years, the French are coming back”, notices Patrice Besse, as does his competitor David Mercier, manager of the castle department at the Féau group.
“The attacks of 2015, the “yellow jackets” crisis in 2019 and multiple lockdowns since the Covid-19 pandemic have undeniably changed our citizens’ look on old stones. They have become aware of the importance and quality of our country’s architectural heritage. Many shows and coverage about French “art de vivre” as well as an active support of the State, including the Loto du Patrimoine, have also put the castle and its new lords back in style” says Patrice Besse.
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