Former French Castle of King of Morocco Mohammed VI Hits Market at Astronomical Price
BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Could France’s most expensive real estate be on the verge of being sold? The former castle of Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, is currently up for sale in the town of Gretz-Armainvilliers, in the Seine-et-Marne region. Acquiring the mansion with its 109 rooms will require spending several hundred million euros.
Originally built in 1884 by the Rothschild family, the Anglo-Norman-style manor located in the town of Gretz-Armainvilliers, in the Seine-et-Marne region, was once owned by the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI. It was acquired by his father, Hassan II, before undergoing what our colleagues at Paris Match described as “a pharaonic transformation in the 1990s.” From a simple manor, the residence was transformed into a sumptuous Moroccan palace where nothing was left to chance. “Under the direction of architect Michel Pinseau, the estate underwent a remarkable transformation, reaching heights of grandeur and opulence,” commented Ignace Meuwissen, the real estate agent handling the sale. Indeed, according to our colleagues, “France’s most expensive real estate” is now seeking a buyer.
Who will benefit from the oriental decors enhanced by the countless tiles from Fez in this mansion with no less than 100 rooms? The Moroccan palace, spanning 2,500 square meters of living space, featuring, among other amenities, a hair salon, three elevators, five lounges, a hammam, a dental office, a pharmacy, and an analysis laboratory, has not been owned by the King of Morocco since 2008. Indeed, Lalla Salma’s husband parted ways with it for the modest sum of 200 million euros at the time. And it was a discreet owner “originating from the Middle East” who acquired the estate, according to Paris Match.
The most expensive castle in France
“It is the most expensive castle in France and perhaps in the world. The price of 425 million euros is justified not only by the property itself but also by the 1,000 hectares of land that offer numerous possibilities. An investor could build thousands of apartments there if desired,” detailed the luxury real estate agent. For this staggering amount in the eyes of the common mortals, the future owners will also enjoy the traditional dining rooms, reception rooms, and hunting rooms, as well as 17 bedrooms with, on the upper floors, winter gardens.”
Outside, the stables can accommodate up to 50 horses, while in the basement, there is a delivery tunnel nicknamed the “metro,” where you can find European and Moroccan kitchens, vegetable rooms, grocery stores, and cold rooms. “This entire network has been specially designed so that the staff do not cross paths with the residents and guests,” Paris Match specified. So, who will follow in the footsteps of Mohammed VI? A deal not yet finalized…
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