Rare opportunity to acquire a "real" French castle dating back to 1133: a gift to the Knights Templar! Since the days of the Crusades, it has seen prosperous times, peasant revolts, revolutions, occupation by the Wehrmacht and much more, before (and after) it was structurally modified in the 19th century.
Today it is a fully renovated property with everything: double glazing, heating, insulation, pool and outbuildings. This beautiful 9-bedroom chateau is being sold along with an independent 2-bedroom guest house and spacious outbuildings that could be converted into additional accommodation if needed. The property dominates a small wine village in the Corbières wine region, about 20 km east of Carcassonne. It is also located on the main transport axis, the Aude Valley, which connects Toulouse with the Mediterranean Sea. Nearby is the 17th-century Canal du Midi (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
The main house has been completely rewired, re-piped and remodeled in the last 10 years. It is now set up as a luxurious guest house or for summer rentals. Or simply as a magnificent family home.
First floor:
Large and spacious entrance hall with bay window overlooking the vineyards. Fitted kitchen with stone countertops, stove, marble fireplace, oak floors and plenty of space. Pantry and larder provide additional space. Three large reception rooms occupy most of this floor: a fine dining room, also with wood paneling, oak floors and an ornate green marble fireplace; a bright but cozy living room with decorative oak fireplace; and a more intimate "study" with a bar and comfortable seating that was once the original kitchen. From this last room, a tiny passageway leads to the spa room - a total surprise - at the base of one of the four corner towers. All of these rooms - including the kitchen - open onto the walled garden and pool area on the south façade of the castle.
Second floor:
Six double bedrooms, four of which have private bathrooms. Again, the floors are oak and the bathrooms are larger than many people's kitchens. We are on the level of a classic guest house here.
Third floor:
On this level, which used to be a servants' quarters, there are three more bedrooms, a small gym, an office, and two other rooms currently used for storage. One of the bedrooms has its own bathroom, while the others are served by a large family bathroom. On the other side of the courtyard is the guest house: a simple but recently renovated two-bedroom apartment in one of the outbuildings. It has its own courtyard and a separate entrance.
There is another outbuilding that offers over 400 square feet of potential for additional accommodations or some sort of event space. The private garden of the castle, which is not visible to the public, has lush, buten colorful oleander beds and a pool. From the garden, there are great views of the village rooftops and the Corbières. We haven't even talked about the hidden passages, the ghosts of the Templars, the secret rooms and a special artist's hideaway facing north. Nor of the imposing stone staircase, the ceiling frieze, the fireplace made of the same marble as Napoleon's tomb....
Sales offer includes 3% buyer's commission!
Castles and palaces almost always create a certain shyness and distance on the "regular real estate market": bottomless pits, money pits, endless costs, problems with monument protection.
This is very often the case, but here everything has already been renovated down to the smallest detail. The owner has brought this unique property into the 21st century with a lot of effort and revitalized the property according to the highest standards.
The exceptional energy values speak for themselves: energy class A and B for a 900 year old building! Buyers can rest assured that they will receive a level of comfort that few modern buildings can match.
What do we recommend to potential buyers? There are two options: Either an upscale guest house (with 5 guest rooms on the second floor - the owners live on the spacious second floor) or a 'very large vacation home'. In Languedoc, 8- or 9-bedroom gites with private pools are currently in demand (the owners can live in the gite during the rental period). These are rented out in high season for €6000 to €7000 per week.
A third option would be to create more accommodation in the outbuildings.
It is not every day that a Templar castle comes on the market: contact us!
