The pandemic boosts castle sales

Patrice Besse is smiling. This year, his Parisian agency (Patrice Besse), which offers 75 great castles for sale, including ten of the most iconic classified French heritage, recorded a growth of 100% in his revenue vs 2020, already increasing by 40% vs 2019. A one-of-a-kind situation for the company created 1924.

Last summer, the realter closed in only a few months the deal of the prestigious Château de Verteuil, a jewel of Charente built in 1080. In the hands of the La Rochefoucault family for over 1000 years, the property hosted Charles Quint and counts 19 rooms, including 14 bedrooms, 1 library, 1 chapel, surrounded by a 38-hectare garden. Its new owner, Georg Thaler, is an entrepreneur living in Berlin. The valued price of the transaction: about 2.6 million euros. While we still don’t know whether the use will be private, public visits are on hold for the time being, while over 3,500 guests would go there every year. The French market has always attracted foreign buyers seeking exceptional homes, but during the last “three years, the French are coming back”, notices Patrice Besse, as does his competitor David Mercier, manager of the castle department at the Féau group.

“The attacks of 2015, the “yellow jackets” crisis in 2019 and multiple lockdowns since the Covid-19 pandemic have undeniably changed our citizens’ look on old stones. They have become aware of the importance and quality of our country’s architectural heritage. Many shows and coverage about French “art de vivre” as well as an active support of the State, including the Loto du Patrimoine, have also put the castle and its new lords back in style” says Patrice Besse.