The online magazine Luxury Defined from Christie’s International Real Estate presents a collection of castles and châteaux with timeless charm and contemporary comforts. According to the article castles began as fortresses to guard trade routes, river crossings, and other strategic waypoints. Towns sprung up around them, and the nobility built castles to protect their own domains from contentious rivals.
Today’s castles bear little resemblance to their cramped and draughty ancestors. Lavish amenities like spas, elevators, underfloor heating, and chef’s kitchens are designed to satisfy modern tastes, especially when they’re set against the medieval grandeur of a castle with centuries-old mosaic floors, stone fireplaces, and stained-glass windows.
Whether the castle of your dreams is Gothic, Baroque, or Neoclassical, these residences exemplify master craftsmanship on a grand scale with timeless order and contemporary appeal. And for those whose bank balance is high enough, these castles can be bought.
Château Žinkovy in Plzen mesto, Czech Republic
This Neo-Renaissance castle in the Pilsen region of the Czech Republic, dates from the 12th century.
Schaloen Castle in Geul, Limburg, Netherlands
Schaloen Castle is a magnificent, moated castle built on the site of a medieval fortress. The property is surrounded by formal gardens bordered by a nature reserve in the Dutch province of Limburg.
12th-Century Castle in Bucine, Tuscany
This 12th-century castle in the Chianti hills was one of several defensive fortresses built by the First Florentine Republic during the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Blackwater Castle in Castletownroche, County Cork, Ireland
One of the finest Norman castles in Ireland, Blackwater Castle in County Cork was built in the 12th century for the lords of the Barony of Fermoy. The medieval castle and its ancient fortifications are set within 60-acre demesne built on a promontory fort dating to the Bronze Age.
Château Borelli in Saint-Tropez, France
This apartment has a fairy-tale setting in Château Borelli, an enchanting 19th-century castle in the exclusive private community of Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez.
Medieval Fortress in Savoie, France
This 11th-century fortress in the foothills of the Arclusaz Mountains in southeastern France is listed as a French historical monument.
Sultan’s Palace in Tangier, Morocco
This enchanting white palace overlooking the Bay of Tangier was built in the 17th century for Moulay Ismail, Sultan of Morocco.
Château in Brittany, France
The ancient embraces the ultramodern at this restored medieval castle close to Brittany’s historic ports and Atlantic Ocean beaches.
You can find out more about these eccentric properties via the links in the respective headlines or in the full article in Luxury Defined.
