A French Castle With Its Own Chapel and Moat Is for Sale

A 16th-century French castle is for sale not far from Mont Saint-Michel, to the south of the English Channel in France’s Cotentin Peninsula, which is home to a wealth of other historic properties. This offering is even more sprawling than just a castle, however, and includes many outbuildings for its sum total asking less than $1.1 million ($1,057,207 to be exact). These include a chapel dating from 1712, an old bread oven in a separate bakehouse, and barns currently being used to store agricultural equipment. The property is surrounded by its own moat and pond, which the driveway (that stretches for just over a half mile) crosses as it makes its way from the entrance gate to the main house, passing a former barn and hayloft. If you’re not yet sold, wait until you hear about the property’s history.

The main building was constructed as a maison forte, the term used in this part of Normandy to describe fortified manor houses. Its fortifications reflect the period of its construction, during France’s religious wars in the 16th century. The listed façade includes two round towers and one square, all topped by eight-sided roofs. The slate roof is punctuated by round dormer windows. The home’s interior includes terra-cotta, stone, and oak floors, a monumental fireplace, large windows, beamed ceilings, wood paneled walls, and glass doors that add to the old-world charm of the manor. Each of the two turrets houses an en-suite bathroom connected to an adjoining bedroom.