Fine Living Top 10: Private Castles

Burg Schwalenberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

While living in a castle is the stuff of fairy tales for most people,
some of us actually have the necessary means to turn fantasy into
reality and become kings of our very own castles. Take Nicolas Cage
for instance; he purchased a $2.3 million German castle in Bavaria.
Cage plans to renovate the dilapidated castle and use it as his own
private retreat where -- no doubt -- he’ll sit on a throne and start
dictating country policy.

Castles aren't only being used for
private residences; castles are tourist magnets, and -- if used wisely
-- can generate significant income when turned into a popular bed and
breakfast or hotel. Cage isn’t the only one getting in on the act
either; Jack Nicholson and Lisa Marie Presley have also shown interest in becoming lord and lady of their own regal estates.

Browse this list to see where you can get your very own manor.
Number 10

Ballyhealy Castle

Kilmore Quay, Ireland

Asking price: $15,000,000
Current owner: The Earl of Montalt


Usually rented as a self-catering holiday home, Ballyhealy Castle in
Southeast Ireland is now up for grabs by eager homeowners. While not
enormous -- with only three bedrooms and two bathrooms -- Ballyhealy
Castle makes up for what it lacks in size with its proximity to the
sandy beach in Kilmore Quay, its elaborate living, dining rooms and
kitchens, and its expansive roof terrace, which can be used to sunbathe
on during those long, humid summer months. What’s more, its compact
size means it’s easy to maintain between visits.
Number 9

Burg Schwalenberg

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Asking price: $2,200,000
Current owner: The Saul-Feuchter family, currently run as a hotel


This typical medieval castle is like something you’d expect Count
Dracula to live in; nevertheless, its creepy exterior belies its
sumptuous interior, which has been magnificently converted into a
modern hotel, encompassing modern amenities without sacrificing its
age-old authenticity. Founded by Count Volkwin III in the early 13th
century, Burg Schwalenberg features 15 bedrooms, and has wonderful
views of Lipperland and the Teutoburg Forest.
Number 8

Medieval castle

Messina, Sicily, Italy

Asking price: $1,600,000
Current owner: Previously owned by the Princes of Lancia


Set atop a hill, this impressive 12th-century castle features a
watchtower, a 700 square meter scented garden and residence quarters,
including 10 apartments, each with three to six bedrooms. Now running
as a hotel, every wall in this Italian beauty breathes history.

Number 7

Forter Castle

Glenisla, Scotland

Asking price: $2,950,000
Current owner: The Pooley family, currently run as a hotel


The perfect Highland retreat, Forter Castle sleeps 10 across five
luxury bedrooms (in four-poster beds, of course), and features a
vaulted ground floor, a great hall with a roaring open fireplace, a
stone spiral staircase, an expansive kitchen, and a wedding chapel, all
decked out with Katharine Pooley’s eclectic interior design style. The rolling heather-covered fields add to the romanticism of this Braveheart-style home.
Number 6

Medieval castle

Ukraine

Asking price: $1,800,000
Current owner: Not specified

Perfect as a luxury hotel
or a private mansion, this medieval castle in Ukraine is spread across
40 hectares of preened, manicured land, and is one of Europe’s boldest
historical legacies. Grand in every sense of the word, the meticulously
restored castle features everything you’d expect of a residence of this
scale, including a ballroom where you’ll be able to host some of
Europe’s most glamorous parties. Just think of the horse-drawn
carriages arriving outside.
Number 5

Killenure Castle

Golden Vale, Tipperary, Ireland

Asking price: Upon request
Current owner: The Cooper family


Set on 80 acres of wonderfully green organic land (how very Irish),
Killenure Castle is the ideal island abode. With 10 bedrooms, a grand
White Tara room, a meditation room, three art studios complete with
framing equipment, as well as stables, outhouses, a courtyard, a barn,
and the usual ominous “west wing” with separate living quarters,
Killenure Castle is grand… to say the very least. Set in mature
parklands, with a long-winding driveway guarded at the front by the
single-story Gate Lodge, you won’t be stuck for space with this
residence.
Number 4

Schloss Matzen

Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria

Asking price: $6,000,000
Current owner: Margaret Fox and Chris Kump, currently run as a hotel


Situated in the Tyrolean Alps in Western Austria, Schloss Matzen is one
of Europe’s most romantic medieval castles. The 20,000 square foot
marvel comprises 60 majestic rooms -- including 12 en suite guest rooms
-- appointed with antique furniture and is just a 90-minute drive from
the cosmopolitan cities of Munich
and Salzberg. As a national monument, adding Schloss Matzen to your
property portfolio could be the wisest move you’ve ever made.

Sao Bras de Alportel in Sao Bras de Alportel, Algarve, Portugal Number 3

Castello Carbonana

Umbria, Italy

Asking price: $4,900,000
Current owner: Unspecified private owner


Just two and a half hours from Rome and an hour from the Adriatic
seashore, Castello Carbonana is one of the most accessible private
castles in central Italy. Set on 50 acres, the Italian beauty comprises
five luxurious apartments perfect for elegant living, and comes
complete with an olive grove, a vineyard and a swimming pool. The cherry on top, however, is the Count of Carbonana title that is afforded to would-be owners -- an ego-boost if ever there was one.
Number 2

Medieval castle

Czechia, West Bohemia

Asking price: Between $11,000,000 and $30,000,000
Current owner: Not specified


Positioned next to a romantic lake in Czechia, West Bohemia, this
medieval castle is set on 140,000 square meters and features 50 rooms,
including 50 bedrooms, multiple libraries (why, we don’t know),
function rooms for all those late-night parties, and -- essential for a
castle this size -- servant
quarters. What’s more, you’ll be able to recruit low-cost labor from
the nearby towns should you require staff to help with the day-to-day
running of the place. And it’s located just 60 miles from Prague and 40
miles from the German border.
Number 1

Sao Bras de Alportel

Sao Bras de Alportel, Algarve, Portugal

Asking price: $15,000,000
Current owner: Not specified


A fusion of Portuguese and Italian style, Sao Bras de Alportel is a
35,000 square meter marvel that dates back to the 14th century. Just
minutes from the warm waters of the Mediterranean, the castle is in
lush parkland and comprises of a main house, six separate cottages, a
private chapel, a stable, orchards, and several outhouses. With 14
bedrooms and 13 rooms, you’ll never have an excuse for your in-laws not
to come and stay with you.
king of the castle

When it
comes to buying your very own castle, there’s no limit on its size or
price tag. So long as it’s not protected by a governmental or
environmental organization, everything is for sale too -- from small
strongholds and mansions to sprawling chateaus, palaces and castles. So
make like a movie mogul or Wall Street power player, raise the
portcullis and lower the drawbridge. Castles are no longer just for
kings; they’re for countrymen too.

Resources:
www.escapeartist.com
www.castles-for-sale.com
http://castello.50webs.com
www.fortercastle.com
http://property.timesonline.co.uk
www.findaproperty.com
www.viviun.com
www.killenurecastle.ie
www.the-ballyhealy-castle.com
www.castle-schwalenberg.com
www.alibaba.com