Country houses for sale

Europe’s most expensive real estate

Million pound properties for sale in France, Spain and Italy

France, €95 million
Palais Venitien, Cannes
12 bedrooms, indoor and outdoor pool, tennis court, five-bedroom staff villa
Knight Frank (020–7629 8171)
Million pound properties Cannes
This palatial villa, whose architecture was inspired by the palazzi of Venice, has views both up to the Alps and down to the Mediterranean. By any standards, this house is vast (more than 23,000sq ft) and it’s been finished with all the state-of-the-art trimmings, including a fully equipped La Cornue kitchen.

Is it worth it?
You could host quite the party during the Cannes Film Festival

Italy, €42 million
Villa Norella, Lake Como
9 bedrooms, guest villa, gym, private boathouse, 2ó acres
Savills (020–7016 3842)
Million pound property Italy
With a 100% organic vegetable garden, olive grove and orchard, as well as a mountain stream, this estate is almost self-sufficient. It offers spectacular views of Bellagio directly across the lake.

Is it worth it?

Villa Norella is one of Mantegazza’s late-19th-century grand villas on this most exclusive lakeside stretch

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Spain, €32 million
La Favorita, Marbella
6 bedrooms, staff house, pool, Jacuzzi, cinema, spa

Aylesford International (020–7349 9772)

Million pound property Marbella
This immaculate villa in the hills above Marbella has a dramatic backdrop of mountains and looks out over the Mediterranean. It has been designed for entertaining in grand style, with two dining rooms, four reception rooms and a vast entrance hall.

Is it worth it?

If size matters, yes—the pool alone is 292sq m (3,143sq ft)

Mallorca, €38 million
Castillo Mallorca, Puerto Andratx
Three-bedroom main house, four-bedroom guest house, pool, megayacht dock, 1.85 acres
Engel & Völkers (00 34 971 67 47 80)
Million pound property Mallorca
Sitting on its own peninsula at the mouth of the harbour entrance to one of the island’s most fashionable resorts is this expansive villa, which played host to Diana, Princess of Wales, in the 1980s. The house was built in 1965 by an Englishman, but is now in the hands of a German businessman. A boat of up to 30m (100ft) can dock just below the house.

Is it worth it?
Although the setting is unique for the island and it comes with three private access points to the sea and a spectacular west-facing cave (complete with music system) for sunset cocktails, the interiors require some updating

France, €75 million
Château Mallet, Cap d’Ail
8 bedrooms, 2 caretaker’s cottages,
14 acres
Emile Garcin (00 33 4 97 97 32 10)
Million pound property France
Just over half a mile from Monaco lies this substantial château, which is  believed to have played host to Queen Victoria. The house was built in 1896 by a British diplomat and has been with the current owners for more than 30 years.

Is it worth it?

Gardens of such a substantial size in this heavily populated part of the Riviera are few and far between

Spain, €40 million
Monte del Duque, Casares
Main house, second house, guest houses, helipad, 5,247 acres
Aylesford International (020–7351 2383)
Million pound property Spain
This superb hunting estate is in pristine condition. The Majada de Madrid is at its heart and it’s been designed along the lines of a traditional Spanish village, with a pebbled courtyard at the centre.

Is it worth it?
Yes, for anyone looking for seclusion: the main house is a 15-minute drive from the gatehouse

France, €20 million
Château de Montbrun, Limoges
17 bedrooms, 6 houses, tennis court,
400 acres
Leggett Prestige (00 33 5 53 56 62 54)
Million pound property France
This 12th-century château is rumoured to be where Richard the Lionheart died after receiving a fatal injury from an arrow during battle. It’s been meticulously and sympathetically restored and has a cinema room, two lifts, a helipad and a golf course.

Is it worth it?
If you’ve yearned to be a landlord, this estate comes with its own licensed pub

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