A French castle that once belonged to the king of Morocco has been put up for sale for a whopping £363 million, a price that would make it one of the most expensive private residences in the world.
The sprawling Château d’Armainvilliers, located in Seine-et-Marne on the outskirts of Paris, is truly a sight to behold.
Built in the late 19th century on the foundations of a 12th-century castle, it was owned by the Rothschild banking empire before being acquired by King Hassan II of Morocco in the 1980s.
Since then, the Moroccan monarch is believed to have made a series of renovations and improvements to the massive mansion, which has more than 100 rooms, 2,500 square meters of living space, 1,000 hectares of land and a private lake, among many other features. decadent. .
Hassan II’s son sold the property following his father’s death to an undisclosed buyer in the Middle East in 2008, and it has now returned to the market for a staggering €425 million.
Ignace Meuwissen, a self-described “true advisor to the global elite” who is handling the sale, said the property embodies “opulence and grandeur.”
But it remains to be seen whether potential buyers will meet the astronomical asking price after French property experts described it as “absurd” and drastically inflated.
The sprawling Armainvilliers Castle, located in Seine-et-Marne on the outskirts of Paris, is truly a sight to behold.
Built in the late 19th century on the foundations of a 12th-century castle, it was owned by the Rothschild banking empire before being acquired by King Hassan II of Morocco in the 1980s.
The castle, located in the countryside less than 20 miles from the heart of the French capital, is certainly fit for royalty.
In addition to the enormous living space, the enormous property is packed with luxurious improvements made by the Moroccan monarch.
It is said to include a hammam spa, a hair and beauty salon, and a fully equipped medical and dental center so that the King and his family can receive top quality care in the comfort of their own home.
The interior has been lovingly decorated with classic Moroccan mosaics and tiles, and there is also a set of stables large enough to house 50 horses, more than adequate for any equine enthusiast.
But perhaps the most decadent addition made by the King is found underground.
Beneath the property is a huge network of tunnels, kitchens, cold rooms, storage spaces and staff quarters called “the subway.”
This not only houses large quantities of food and goods, but also allows residents and guests to enjoy their stay without having to come into contact with staff.
Meuwissen said of the property: ‘It is the most expensive castle in France and perhaps in the world. The price of 425 million euros is justified by the property itself, but also by the 1,000 hectare land that offers numerous possibilities.
“An investor could build thousands of apartments there if he wanted to,” he told Paris Match magazine.
But French real estate sources cast doubt on what they said was a grossly inflated price.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to a French real estate publication Le Figaro ImmobilierThree luxury property agents said the nine-figure asking price “makes no sense, it’s absurd.”
They also expressed concern about the secrecy of the current owner, who bought the property for €200 million in 2008 and whose identity remains a mystery.
“If a transaction were to be closed at these price levels, I would even imagine that Safer (Land and Rural Establishment Development Society) would closely examine the transaction, estimating that this would overvalue the land,” said one source.
Château d’Armainvilliers hits the market weeks after what is believed to be the most expensive property in the United States was listed in February for $295 million.
A stunning shot shows part of the nine-acre compound listed for $295 million in Naples, Florida, which will be the most expensive home ever sold in the United States if it reaches the asking price.
The Donahue family is selling the crown jewel of their property, a complex in the Port Royal neighborhood of Naples, for a potentially record $295 million.
The beachfront resort in Naples, Florida, was built by financier John Donahue for his family of 13 children and 84 grandchildren in the 1980s, after he spotted undeveloped land during a plane trip and paid $1 million. of dollars for him.
The Donahue family enjoyed decades of gatherings and celebrations at the Naples property, hosting notable figures such as former President George HW Bush and Arnold Palmer, son Bill Donahue said in a Wall Street Journal exclusive.
The property features three homes and a private yacht harbor and represents the most expensive real estate in the US.
It could set a record as the country’s most expensive residential sale if it reaches the asking price, and real estate agents say its potential buyers are so wealthy they could end up tearing down existing mansions and then rebuilding them.
The main residence, which encompasses approximately 11,500 square feet, was built around 1989.
Two additional houses were later added, one around 1990 and the other in 2013.
The resort also includes a portion of Keewaydin Island, where the family built a 16,000-square-foot home around 2005 for additional accommodations.