Château d'Armainvilliers in Seine-et-Marne is thought to be the world's most expensive home. It was built on the ruins of a 12th-century castle. This huge palace was purchased by the Rothschild banking empire in the late 19th century, and it underwent extensive renovations when King Hassan II of Morocco bought it in the 1980s.
The Morrocan royals made a raft of changes including adding a hammam spa, a beauty and hairdressing salon, and a fully-equipped medical and dental facility. They also added a basement level with a huge network of tunnels, kitchens, cold rooms, storage spaces and staff quarters. There is also a stable on site big enough to home 50 horses.
They sold the property in 2008 to an undisclosed buyer from the Middle East when it boasted at £170m price tag. There are some estate agents and property experts questioning the new - more than double - asking price. Ignace
It is the most expensive castle in France and perhaps in the world. The price of €425million is justified by the property itself but also by the 1,000-hectare land which offers numerous possibilities. An investor could build thousands of apartments there if he wanted.
Luxury property agents said they’re not sure if the nine-figure will attract a buyer. One said it was an ‘unrealistic’, they said: "It doesn’t make sense, it’s absurd Properties of this type could sell for 20-25 million, or even 30 million if we really fall in love with them. I’m not even sure that Vaux-le-Vicomte (a Baroque French château), which has no marketing plans, would sell at this price."
