Personal Palaces: 4 Homes Fit For Royalty

From a palace in Portugal to a chateau in the wilds of France, these fine homes are fit for royalty (HILTON & HYLAND | WILLIS ALLEN REAL ESTATE).

After a year-plus of staying at home, it’s natural for people to want more space. This collection of properties, from Gothic European chateaus to a Portuguese palace, have precisely that.

Fairytale French chateau

Location: Vitre, Brittany, France

Price: $1.9 million 

Magnificent Restored Chateau on 14-acre plot in vitre brittany france

The gothic-style chateau was originally built 1860 and superbly restored in 2004 and 2016 (GROUPE MERCURE).

This more than 8,000-square-foot, 12-room Gothic-style chateau was built in 1860 and restored in 2004 and 2016. It features moldings, wainscoting, parquet flooring and an original fireplace, with modern amenities such as central heating and an elevator.

royal dining room in a france chateau castle fairytale estate

Voluminous rooms with intricately paneled ceilings give the more than 8,000 square feet of interiors a baronial atmosphere (GROUPE MERCURE).

Set on 12 acres, the estate features an English-style park and French garden with ponds, secular trees and an orchard near Vitre, known for its medieval town center.

bedrooms in french castle

The bedrooms, bathrooms, facade, part of the roof, the park and a pond were tackled in the first round of renovations (GROUPE MERCURE).

Represented by: Anne-Marie Nordvik of Groupe Mercure


39-acre ‘expressionist’ estate in Southern California

Location: Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, California

Price: $35 million

park grounds villa nafissa monet gardens giverny rancho santa fe

Villa Nafissa in Rancho Santa Fe sits on 38.98 acres of park-like grounds fashioned after Monet’s gardens in Giverny (HILTON & HYLAND | WILLIS ALLEN REAL ESTATE).

Called Villa Nafissa, this custom-built home sits on nearly 39 acres in Rancho Santa Fe with paths, a lake and waterfalls that take inspiration from Monet’s Garden in Giverny. The property has an approximately 16,000-square-foot main residence, and a separate clubhouse with a double-sided fireplace, commercial kitchen and an upstairs office.

living room inside villa nafissa 5992 Calle Camposeco Rancho Santa Fe, CA, USA

The custom residence was designed to be timeless and features an atrium-like living room with walls of glass that take in the grounds (HILTON & HYLAND | WILLIS ALLEN REAL ESTATE).

Amenities include a gym, tennis and basketball courts, a children’s play area, a vegetable garden and yoga and meditation gardens.

blooming gardens giverny monet villa nafissa rancho santa fe san diego

It’s easy to get lost on the grounds of Villa Nafissa, which features impressive gardens and intimate living spaces throughout the sprawling property (HILTON & HYLAND | WILLIS ALLEN REAL ESTATE).

Represented by: Jerome Kerr-Jarrett and Jeff Hyland of Hilton & Hyland and Monica Sylvester of Willis Allen Real Estate.


Portugal palace with a vineyard 

Location: Monção, Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Price: $29.9 million 

privately-owned Brejoeira Palace, just south of Monção, Portugal

The privately-owned Brejoeira Palace, a national monument just south of Monção, Portugal, is for sale at $29.9 million (IMMOBILIARIA RIMONTGO).

Brejoeira Estate, built by Portuguese nobleman Luis Pereira Velho de Moscoso in the early 19th century, sits on 74 acres of land in Monção, a town located in the norther border of Portugal with Spain. The property includes 44 acres of vineyards and its own winery, which produces around 75,000 bottles under the Palácio da Brejoeira brand.

aerial view of Portuguese palace

The 74-acre estate has 44 acres of vineyards, 20 acres of woods, 7.5 acres of gardens and private lake (IMMOBILIARIA RIMONTGO).

The granite building was designed by architect Carlos Amarante in the neoclassical style and incorporates Baroque influences. It includes a chapel, theater and winter garden. There’s also a lake with an island and artificial caves.

inside portugal palace designed by carlos amarante

The Portugal palace’s grand design is credited to Portuguese architect Carlos Amarante, who was influenced by English architecture (IMMOBILIARIA RIMONTGO).

Represented by: Puri Mancebo of Immobiliaria Rimontgo.


‘Copper King’s’ Montana log cabin

Location: Bigfork, Montana

Price: $2 million

cornelius kelley copper king lodge montana swan lake

Cornelius Kelley, who grew Anaconda Copper Mining Co. to become a global powerhouse, was instrumental in developing the Swan Lake area (NATIONAL PARKS REALTY).

The Kootenai Lodge, which overlooks Swan Lake in Bigfork, Montana, was built in the early 1900s as a summer retreat for the daughters of Cornelius Kelley, president of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. The two-bedroom home was completely remodeled between 2018 and 2020 but retains three original stone fireplaces and features a wraparound deck.

living room inside copper king log cabin lodge 13592 River Run Loop Bigfork, Montana, USA

The log cabin-style home features three original stone fireplaces (NATIONAL PARKS REALTY).

The property comes with a swimming pool, gym and yoga rooms, as well as dock with a pontoon boat that the property’s owners can use. The garage was built in 2019 to match the home and contains epoxy flooring & built-in cabinets.

kitchen and living room inside log cabin cornelius kelley swan lake copper king 13592

Cobalt blue-hued cabinetry draws the eyes in the kitchen area (NATIONAL PARKS REALTY).

Represented by: Susan Kratt of National Parks Realty.

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Author

I’ve been working as a journalist in the New York metro area for more than a decade and have developed a specialization in luxury real estate, writing about everything from the post-recession housing market in Fairfield County, Connecticut, to the third-home market in the Hamptons. I’m currently also a regular contributor to Newsday and Hamptons Cottages & Gardens. If you spot me in my Brooklyn neighborhood and I’m not knitting, I’m probably admiring the beautiful Victorians that surround my apartment building (and trying to figure out what they would sell for).

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