Bargain Chateau: A French Castle for sale with a reserve of €100,000

This 19th-century chateau has 12 bedrooms, a four-bed gatehouse, a swimming pool, tennis court, outbuildings and land – and it’s going to auction with a reserve of just €100,000…

Located in the village of Meillard which is in the centre of the department of Allier, a 40 minute drive north of the spa town of Vichy and just over an hour north of Clermont-Ferrand, this château dates back to the 19th-century.

Château de Meillard is a characterful property that enjoys wonderful views over the rolling countryside – it’s expansive but not too large, meaning it could be a comfortable family home or possibly used as a gite business. Its vast double-height entrance hall has large windows and a beamed ceiling, welcoming you into the generous home which has a total of 12 bedrooms, three of which are in the grand turrets. Multiple French doors lead out from the château to the grounds from some of the bedrooms and shared spaces, while the circular œil de bœuf windows are a reminder of the property’s history.

In addition to the main château, there is a four-bedroom gatehouse and numerous buildings including stables, barns and a three-berth garage arranged around a courtyard that may be suitable for conversion with the correct permissions. There is also a tennis court, swimming pool and pool house plus a hectare of chateau gardens and a separate paddock of over an acre that is also suitable for building further accommodation subject to permissions.

The property is to be sold via auction held in the Tribunal de Grande Instance, the Judicial Court, on the 23rd February 2023, where the public can only bid through the use of a lawyer who is registered with the bar in the jurisdiction the property its offered for sale, acting as an intermediary. The reserve price is set at €100,000 for the entire property.

The time limit within which lawyers must make a bid is 90 seconds, this period is counted down using a timer, which is reset to zero with each new bid. If no bid is made at the end of the 90 seconds, the last lawyer who spoke wins the sale for their client. In the absence of a higher bid within ten days, the sale is final and the buyer will then have to pay various sums, the amounts of which will be indicated by the lawyer. There are no notary fees but it is worth noting that the costs  incurred to achieve the sale are the responsibility of the purchaser. Click here for more information.