10 grand homes for sale in France, including a spectacular 17th century chateau
We round up some of finest French properties to be seen in Country Life in recent weeks.


Provence — €12,500,000
The glorious sight of the Château des Valettes — situated between the well known charming hilltop villages of Bar-Sur-Loup and Tourettes-Sur-Loup — is exactly the sort of thing people have in mind when thinking of breathtaking properties in Provence.
This castle has a rich history: it was the birthplace and childhood home of Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse, a French naval officer who played a key part in America's battle for independence from Britain. De Grasse commanded French ships at the Battle of Chesapeake, which in precipitated the British surrender at Yorktown that marked the effective end of the American Revolutionary War.
The 8,600 sq ft castle has nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, staggering views across the local countryside and an outdoor pool area that is the very stuff of Cote d'Azur fantasies.
There's also a wonderful wine cellar with a stone barrelled roof, ideal for storing all the bottles you pick up as you trawl the local vineyards.
For sale via Knight Frank — see more details.
Charente — €636,000
Elegant XVIII Century Maison Bourgeoise, with 3-4 bedrooms and grounds of 1 hectare, on the edge of a village with many amenities, in an area of rolling hills and woodlands.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Dordogne — €650,000
Picturesque property set in 4 acres of lovley gardens, with a mill stream and heated pool. There are two individual self-contained apartments, the owner's apartment, with a superb 60 m² private terrace, and an independent guest house.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Var — €795,000
Top ranking, eco-friendly, energy efficient B&B ! 3 bedroom, 150m2 Villa with 5 separate guest bedrooms all with en-suite facilities. Set in grounds of 7008m2. Just outside the village of Seillans - one of the most picturesque villages in France.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Var — €1,197,000
Old stone Mas surrounded by 11 acres, with independent gȋtes, olive and fruit trees, along with box for horses. Beautiful tranquil location. Close to the famous Gorges du Verdun. 1hr 15 from the beaches on the Riviera. 1hr 30 from Nice airport.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Haute Savoie — €1,650,000
Stunning 6-suite Belle Epoque Villa in the very heart of Samoëns, Haute Savoie. Currently a boutique hotel, it would equally make a very comfortable family home or just somewhere to retreat to at weekends.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Gironde — €2,625,000
Beautiful XVIII century Château with an 8 hectare vineyard (Appellation Bordeaux) and fully equipped winery, outbuildings and 2 further houses with separate swimming pool. A superb turnkey property, not far from Saint-Émilion.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Charente — €1,308,000
Stunning, renovated XVI century Château, nestled in the South Charente. Set in an enclosed park of 1.28 hectares with a renovated, independent 2 bedroom Priory. Just 20 minutes from Angouleme and the LGV train to Paris, Bordeaux .....
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Herault — €2,756,000
Beautiful, 42 acre organic wine domaine (AOP Languedoc) with a well established brand and modern winery. Includes a six bedroom home, pool and gardens. Opportunity for a lover of wine to combine a business investment with fabulous lifestyle.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Calvados — €899,000
A fairytale XVI century, 11 bedroom Château, superbly renoved with two functioning gȋtes. Close to the D-Day Landing beaches, offering beautiful views of the Marais and surrounding countryside. 20 minutes from Bayeux, Caen ferry port within 1 hr drive.
For sale with Leggett Prestige. See more pictures and details about this property.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'We started thinking: if we were going to design a bike for Aston Martin, what would it look like? And then we simply couldn’t stop': Aston's new bike has everything you could ever dream of — except a price tag
The new Aston Martin .1R bicycle, a collaboration with manufacturer J.Laverack, leaves Paul Henderson stirred rather than shaken.
By Paul Henderson Published
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
By James Fisher Published
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mould
A new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
By James Fisher Published
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham Estate
With 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back home
At first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificence
Womersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigree
The Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
By James Fisher Published
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central London
Felmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
By James Fisher Last updated