Chateaux and Wine Estates of France

We have just returned from France having visited a number of Chateaux and wine estates.

A Château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility, with or without fortifications, a substantial property with grounds or estate.

At first, château meant a fortress It was totally equivalent to the English word ‘castle’. During the Renaissance, it took on the additional meanings of ‘royal palace’ and ‘mansion’ or ‘stately home’. By the 17th century the château no longer resembled the medieval castle as the need for fortified châteaux had virtually vanished. In their place, elegant palaces and mansions appeared, having extensive formal gardens.

The Loire Valley is home to more than 300 châteaux, built between the 10th and 20th centuries. The Loire Valley is well known for its Châteaux Its' fairytale castles are fine examples of the renaissance architecture that was in vogue during the period that saw the castles renovated and expanded.

Today, the word château can also refer to a wine producing estate. There are many true Chateaux in the Loire Valley, Dordogne and Bordeaux Regions, but it is customary for any wine-producing estate, even with only a normal house, to prefix its name with "Château".


Bordeaux, in the South West of France, is the most famous French wine producing area including famous names such as Petrus, Margaux, and Mouton Rothschild, with well known place names such as Margaux, Saint Emilion, and Sauternes. The Bordeaux wine region has about 120, 000 hectares of vines, and more than 200 wine Chateaux.

In the International Luxury Property market, a French Chateau offers excellent value for money, privacy and prestige. Many have estates some with established wine producing businesses, which may date back to Roman times. As a private home, hotel, tourism or conference location they offer space, in both rooms and land, in what is usually an idyllic setting.



Further information

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Email:- info@melnickhouserealty.com

Buying a Castle

An Englishman’s home is his castle, but very few of us actually live in or consider buying a castle.
As an alternative investment, quality real estate and unique properties are a sound choice. Castles, Chateaux and historic mansions have for some time been favoured by European investors and the current economic climate has highlighted their long term potential.
You can commission and build a new castle today, but buying an original historic castle is not only owning a piece of history, but a prestigious and valuable long term investment. Many of the European castles also come with a title, such as Lord of the Manor, Scottish Laird, or even Count.

A castle may be defined as a “private fortified residence" initially being the home of a lord or noble, in contrast to a fortress, which was not a home. Developed during the Middle Ages they are mainly located in Europe and the Middle East. A château is a French manor house or residence of a lord or noble with or without fortifications.
On wine-producing estates, Chateau has a somewhat different meaning. Although there are estates with true châteaux on them, it is customary for any wine-producing estate, to prefix its name with "Château".

A castle may be used as a private residence or company headquarters, sometimes both, but it may also be a source of revenue, as a tourist attraction, hotel, conference centre or film location.

The restoration of a castle requires specialist builders and restoration experts. If recent restoration work has not been done then it is important to seek specialist advice, not only on the work required but also the availability of materials.

If you want to buy a castle, we can help you.

www.melnickhouserealty.com
Email:- info@melnickhouserealty.com