subject: A Few Perks of Chateaux Ownership [print this page] A Few Perks of Chateaux Ownership A Few Perks of Chateaux Ownership
Owning a French chateau might seem like a fairytale, but it can become a reality for you. If you've always dreamed of living in a Medieval castle or mansion, you can make your dreams come true. Today, these chateaux are more accessible and attainable than at any other point in history. Here are a few perks that come along with chateau ownership.
The view from the windows of your chateau will consist of some of the most breathtaking scenes of the French countryside. Because chateaux were usually built upon the most enviable of locations, you will certainly not be lacking beautiful sites. Furthermore, much of that beautiful scenery will be owned by you.
Chateaux were typically built by the best and brightest architects within Europe. This makes their look and design not only gorgeous, but important pieces of architectural history. This even goes for the smallest of chateaux. These buildings might not classify as castles, but they are still incredible works of art.
The size of these estates will be the envy of everyone residing within kilometers of your property. Chateaux, by definition, are huge properties, usually over a hectare in size. With so much land, there will be plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Some chateaux have ponds or lakes; others have immense forests within their borders. Most chateaux have vineyards as well.
I mentioned earlier that these properties are valued at the most attainable prices within history. While certainly not cheap, there are many chateaux out on the market for under 1 million Euros. Many countries now have larger percentages of wealthy individuals than ever before. This is true across the globe. At the same time, there are an abundance of chateaux that have gone up for sale. This is due to a large number of reasons, the foremost being that these estates are difficult to keep in pristine condition. Many of these properties are over five or six hundred years old and as such have been listed as historical landmarks. Work on these buildings is expensive, mainly because the French government has decided that any renovation work must be done by a government appointed architectural firm in order to maintain these buildings' historical importance.
This last point should not scare you off. Many of these properties are eligible for renovation grants. If your chateau is registered as a landmark, you may be eligible for a full or partial grant. While these grants do take some time to process, they can be a big help in covering the expenses associated with fixing these properties. Many chateau owners are not patient enough to go through this process, prompting some to sell their properties at a discount rather than paying for the renovations.
