Luxury Properties: Splendid Castles

As the market availability of palatial properties these days goes to show, castle living isn't just reserved for royalty anymore. Live like a king or queen in these six magnificent castles around the world, where life is anything but medieval.

Le Petit Trianon, Belgium
This impeccably restored 18th-century estate, located just 30 minutes from Brussels in the Flemish region of East Flanders, has 32,300sq ft of living area surrounded by five hectares of parkland. Le Petit Trianon's interior and furnishings are classic and grand in the Louis XVI style and its 10 bedrooms have central heating and every modern convenience imaginable. And over the past 10 years, the extensive gardens have been ripped up and returned to the original layout of German landscape architect Hirtzfeld. An indoor swimming pool adds another thoroughly modern touch of luxury. Priced at US$19.9 million.

Engel & Völkers, Tel: +32 92 23 28 23
www.engelvoelkers.be

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Dordogne Valley, France
Horse lovers will fall head over heels for this fine French chateau set on 20 hectares of prime open woodland overlooking the glorious Dordogne Valley. Apart from its extensive stables and equestrian facilities, the property has 11,000sq ft of indoor living space with 15 bedrooms and five bathrooms - all fully furnished and in excellent condition. The terraced gardens and topiaries lead to a self-contained five-bedroom guesthouse. There is also a caretaker's cottage, three garages, a swimming pool with pool house, and an artist's workshop. It also generates regular income as a prestigious holiday residence. Priced at US$7.4 million.

Prestige Property Group, Tel: +44 19 3581 7188
www.prestigeproperty.co.uk

Quinta da Torre de Santo António, Portugal
Located just 50 minutes from the capital, Lisbon, this 17th-century property sits on 60 hectares of prime farmland and forest. Quinta da Torre de Santo António has 40 rooms, its own chapel, stables, garage, warehouse, vineyard and water mill. Its raised position affords panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and its beautifully kept French-style gardens and swimming pool. Priced at US$14.3 million

Sotheby's International Realty Portugal, Tel: +351 911 870 217
www.sothebysrealtypt.com

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Dole Castle, Latvia
Built for the bishop of Piltene between 1264 and 1267, Dole Castle has a rich and complicated construction history. A courtyard and tower were added in the 16th century and major extensions were undertaken in 1835. When the work was complete in 1841 it was one of the first examples of neo-gothic architecture in Latvia's scenic Kurzeme region. It was renovated again after fire ripped through sections of the main building in the 1905 revolution. Set on extensive landscaped grounds, this preserved medieval monument is a rare find indeed. Priced at US$5 million.

Baltic Sotheby's International Realty, Tel: +371 29 129 810
www.balticsothebysrealty.com

Castello Baronale, Italy
Built in 1350, with a fort dating back to the 10th century, this impressive castle has served as residence for a long line of Italian nobility, such as Cardinal Barberini, nephew of Pope Urban VIII, in the mid-17th century. Castello Baronale is located in a picturesque medieval village just 50km east of Rome. Perched 1,000m above sea level with a dominating view, the main structure contains nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three drawing rooms, a grand ballroom, study, library and theatre. Its V-shaped design means all rooms enjoy both hillside and internal courtyard views. Accessible by a drawbridge that winds through landscaped gardens, the property also boasts a heated pool and tennis court. Priced at US$16.5 million.

Knight Frank, Tel: +44 20 7629 8171
www.knightfrank.com

Castello di Scerpena, Italy
Extensive and sympathetic renovations have transformed this magnificent property into a comfortable five-bedroom family home with a quirky interior. Castello di Scerpena in Tuscany is a restored medieval castle set on a fully fenced estate covering 190 hectares. Part of the property which dates back to the 12th century, is dedicated to a deer park, and another part to an olive grove with 7,000 mature trees. It also has a two-bedroom guardian cottage and a pair of recently renovated villas, one of which has an infinity swimming pool and the other, its own spa, Finnish sauna and Turkish bath. And all this just an hour's drive from Rome's international airport and 30 minutes from the sea at Capalbio. Priced at US$23.7 million.

Savills International, Tel: +44 20 7016 3754
www.savills.com/international

This story is adapted from Singapore Tatler's October 2011 issue. All information is supplied by the agents listed, and Edipresse and Asia Tatler take no responsibility for its accuracy or current validity.