"But it really is one," the developer protests. "We've got the turrets and all. I'm a stickler for detail, and I don't like doing things in half measure."
Castle ownership isn't for everyone, what with the heating costs, potential for plumbing problems and general conspicuousness of the structures. Gaylord's home isn't an ancient stronghold--he only recently put the finishing touches on his Elizabethan-style castle, which occupies a couple of the 170 acres at Camelot, a themed development he created in Durban, South Africa.
There is a surprising range of castle options to choose from these days. They can be age-old or spanking-new, in New Jersey or South Africa, and have turret-high or relatively affordable prices.
In fact, depending on the exact location, the size and the level of restoration, smaller castles can be purchased for as little as $1 million--easily the cost of a two-bedroom condo in Manhattan. Slightly grander castles will fetch somewhere between $2.5 and $5 million, says castle expert Alexander V.G. Kraft, chief executive of Sotheby's International Realty France.
He teases his American friends: "Why don't you sell your garage in London or New York and buy a castle in France instead?"
Of course, the price tags can be much bigger for historically significant, fully restored properties, particularly if they come with vast amounts of land. Consider the 10,000-plus square foot Villa Castiglione in Capri, Italy. Resting on nearly seven acres perched on a cliff above the sea, the seven-bedroom Camelot is currently on the market for $38 million.
Kraft estimates that a few hundred castles are up for sale around the world--often quietly, to protect owners' privacy.
And what qualifies as a castle has altered over time. During the Middle Ages, a castle was specifically a fortified structure, largely built to defend nobles against hostile intrusions. Today, the term encompasses a broader range of ornamental homes, from manors to mansions to chateaux.
According to Kraft, France, England, Italy and Germany have the hottest castle markets. But the U.S. is home to a host of 19th and early 20th century homes inspired by the antique examples across the ocean. Take Singer Castle, aptly named for its original owner, Frederick G. Bourne, president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, in Alexandria, N.Y. The five-story, 28-room castle, now on the market for $22 million, was completed in 1905 and features secret passageways, hidden entrances and a dungeon.
And now, there is a modern castle industry. Roger DeClements says his Idaho-based firm, CastleMagic, has already constructed four castles and has two more in the pipeline. Though he has had some interest from overseas, his inquiries typically come from wealthy types looking for a unique place to call home--or members of the Society for Creative Anachronisms, a medieval reenactment group.
While the castles no longer need to serve their original purposes of keeping out marauding hordes or providing spots from which to pour boiling oil, his clients demand all of the stereotypical castle features. "You know, the secret passageways, the large towers, the drawbridges," DeClements says. "They're looking for everything that Hollywood has drummed up from them."
That is, everything except the old-world drawbacks--drafts, leaks and plumbing problems among them.
"It is not unusual to find a castle that offers 40 or more bedrooms, but only two bathrooms, and has central heating in only one inhabitable wing of the castle," says Sotheby's Kraft. "Most castles were built on a rather grand scale several hundreds of years ago when the lord of the manor had a staff of at least 20 people to run and maintain his property."
Rene Palsenbarg, president of commercial properties at Sotheby's International Realty Canada and broker for the Singer Castle, echoes, "Certainly the maintenance and the upkeep can be a downside. They're older, their systems are older." He adds, "It's like buying any old house--you have to go in with both eyes open."
But for some, the hankering for beauty and history outweigh the risks, says Thierry Journiac, founder of Switzerland-based TerraCognita Estate Solutions. "Due to their character, their uniqueness and their location--most of the time in the countryside--castles also represent a way of life."
While the real estate market seems to be slowing for luxury properties in general, brokers argue that the market for unique homes steeped in history--not to mention beauty-- functions independently.
"For many people, owning a real castle is a lifelong dream, and once that dream is eventually fulfilled, normal market considerations do not necessarily apply," explains Kraft.
Capri, Italy
$38 million
The panoramic view of the Faraglioni di Capri is the real selling point for the 10,000-plus square foot Villa Castiglione. Resting on some 300,000 square feet of Italian soil, the seven-bedroom, five-bathroom villa houses two kitchens, a sizable gallery and a swimming pool. The Capri getaway is accessible for jet-setting types, thanks to its helicopter access.
Listed with Raphael T. Harris Jr. at World Real Estate.
Dark Island, Alexandria, New York
$22 million
Secret passageways abound in this early 20th century castle near the Canadian border. It was originally built for the president of the Singer Sewing Machine Co., Frederick G. Bourne, by renowned architect Ernest Flagg. The five-story, 28-room castle, aptly named Singer Castle, has stone spiral staircases, copper gutters and a castle dungeon. Uniquely situated on one of the St. Lawrence Seaway's Thousand Islands, the property offers two boathouses, a beach and a sizable squash court.
Listed with Rene Palsenbarg at Sotheby's International Realty Canada.
Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy
$12.7 million
Despite a massive restoration, Italy's Castello Scotti maintains its original 12th century splendor. In addition to the castle's courtyard and outer façade, the inner rooms offer frescoes, paneled ceilings and hand-made terracotta and wooden floors. The 30-room castle totals more than 23,000 square feet; the property also includes two minor round towers, which house apartments, a swimming pool and manicured garden.
Listed with Casaitalia International - Luxury Italian Properties.
$11.6 million
Originally built some 500 years ago, the majestic castle was once home to the French royal family. Towers and turrets were added when the property was rebuilt in the early 19th century. Today, the fully furnished castle offers 17,000 square feet of living space, complete with a gothic chapel, grand reception hall and hallway of stained glass. The 100-plus acres of grounds includes several outbuildings, a 22-acre lake and an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.
Listed with Thierry Journiac of Terracognita Estate Solutions.
Longniddry, Scotland
$9.4 million
In the late 18th Century, an Edinburgh writer by the name of William Mackenzie acquired the Longniddry property, once home to the Earls of Winton, and commissioned distinguished architect Robert Adam to demolish what remained. In its place, Adam built a stone castle. Several centuries later, the castle, called Seton Castle, retains the period detail, with astragal windows, ceiling plasterwork and unique chimneypieces. The four-story principal house and the combined east and west wings total 9,000 square feet. The 14 acres of grounds includes wide lawns, stables and a helicopter pad.
Listed with Savills Edinburgh.
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Luxury real estate. CASTLES FOR SALE
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