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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Hana Carter

Sprawling Escape To The Chateau mansion hits market for price of Edinburgh four bed

The sprawling mansion on Escape To The Chateau DIY is up for sale and it costs the same as a four bed house in an upmarket part of Edinburgh.

The stunning property boasts nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms and is based in Saint-Maixent-l'École, western France.

Despite spanning 15,000 sq metres, and having its own fully licensed vintage tea room, bed and breakfast suite and even its own British food store, the property is on the market for just £724,916 – equal to the price of a four bed in areas including Morningside and The Grange - if you are lucky!

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Escape To The Chateau DIY follows Dick Strawbridge and his wife Angel as they help other British families realise their dreams of owning a French chateau.

The charming home retains original features including exposed stone walls and stone staircases, beams, mouldings, tower and two large vaulted cellars, reports the Mirror.

Outside is a small lake with water-side wooden pavilion, a self-contained apartment, stables, cowshed, a large barn, a hunting lodge and more.

Just 30 minutes from the main town of the Deux Sèvres region, Niort, the chateau is ideally located for exploring the region – with plenty to see locally including the Marais Poitevin, Futuroscope and the beaches at the coast.

The listing reads: “Recently restored, this beautiful residence is a magnificent family home while offering a wealth of options for a special events/accommodation activity.

“The Château is already well-known locally and further afield due to its starring role on Ch4’s Escape to the Chateau DIY.

“It has been renovated to a very high standard by the current owners, who have also worked hard to restore it to its rightful place in the hearts and life of the local community.

“Whilst preserving the original features, renovation work has included insulation, the creation of a self-contained apartment and studio/gîte.

"Together with its much-loved stylish Vintage Tea Room (fully licensed), Bed and Breakfast Suites and v popular British Food Store! Architectural plans, and permissions to create a further 6 gîtes, a restaurant and a large reception room have already been obtained.”

In France, there are thousands of huge chateaus collecting dust and falling into disarray in he sweeping countryside as many French families chose sell.

Olivier de Lorgeril, chairman of La Demeure historique, says the soar in sales of the chateaus is down to the expensive upkeep as well as there being more desire to live in cities.

He told Tatler: "The younger generations are urban. They often want to have international careers and to live in towns and cities".

Dick and Angel initally paid £280,000 when they first bought their castle in Frnace - which has 45 bedrooms and is surrounded by a moat.

They spoke about their decision to step away from the cameras in an interview with Radio Times' View from my Sofa Podcast.

"The children are turning nine and 10. They’ve had an innocence and joy in what we’ve done,"

"We’ve got lots of things we still intend to do, but we want to protect the family part of it," he added.

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