La Verdière Provence’s largest French chateau listed for sale for €18 million

Schenelle Dsouza 

The largest private château in Provence, La Verdière has just been listed for sale for a hefty price tag of €18 million.

The chateau sits in the heart of Verdon, a beautiful 16-hectare park in Côte d’Azur. The stunning property was originally built in AD 980 and has been undergoing a tremendous 15-year restoration using traditional building methods to ensure the regal beauty of the chateau remains intact. The actual living space covers as much as 5000 m2 which is divided into a total of 120 rooms, which include 25 bedrooms, each having its own independent bathroom, 3 kitchens, boudoirs, reception rooms, multiple libraries, a handful of lounges, and a massive guardian’s lodge. There are also a number of outbuildings comprising a spa, laundry rooms, janitor’s lodge and service apartments, an orangery, garages and sheds for agricultural machinery, etc.

While the indoors is as grand as it gets, the outdoor area is just as impressive with abundant natural landscapes to compliment the medieval building. The park area comprises gardens, ponds, two swimming pools, an Olympic dimensions horse riding arena, a helipad, as well as many outbuildings.

The property is currently listed on Home Hunts and Engel & Volkers for €18 million. Speaking about the grandeur of the property, Marie-Claire Sangouard, Managing Director of Engel & Volkers added, “The imposing walls of the Chateau de la Verdiere can be seen from afar. It is an architectural and historical jewel that is one of the absolute rarities even among enthusiasts.”

Agreeably, Tim Swannie, Director at Home Hunts added, “It is not often a home of this size and historical importance comes up for sale. The area it is in is a quieter part of Provence which is off the tourist trail; this certainly adds to its appeal for many. This lesser-known area has attracted many high-profile celebrities over the years such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt and George Lucas, who all own estates nearby, we also recently sold the former home of Eric Clapton which was just down the road.”

The location of the chateau provides an exceptional 360° view of the Sainte Victoire, the Sainte Baume and the Mont Faron, all of which are queerly breathtaking, and often described as a place where people come to relax and unwind. “This is an area where people come to relax and enjoy the real South of France,” adds Swannie. “There are lots of charming villages and places of interest to visit nearby such as the Gorges de Verdon which is described as Europe’s Grand Canyon. For culture vultures, you are only around 45 minutes away from Aix en Provence which is one of the most popular cities in Provence.”

The chateau has been through many hands and has even undergone multiple renovations over the years. “Back then, the noble family of Castellane built a medieval fortress on the top of the small town. The first expansion work took place in the 13th century and it was finally expanded into a magnificent castle in the 17th century by the famous French family Forbin,” Sangouard said. According to reports, the current owner has had the property for over 20 years, 15 of which were spent renovating the place.

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