The dream of owning a castle.

For under €1 million, you can make your childhood dream come true.

In Romania, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, there are castles available that can be repurposed into permanent residences at a relatively affordable price.

Finding the home you want is not always easy, and if your dream is to live in a castle, we have identified across Europe seven of the most “affordable” castles available for under €200,000 up to half a million euros—an attractive price range considering today’s real estate market.

Below, we detail properties in the form of castles or two-century-old villas that can be transformed into the home of your dreams. We begin with a manor-style property in Gipuzkoa, located in the town of Ataun.

The price is €190,000—an authentic bargain for nearly 600 square meters spread across three floors, including a distinctive tower. Even more remarkable is the 11,000 square meters of land, offering endless possibilities for development.

The most affordable castles in Europe

In Ireland, a stone castle in Galway is available for €225,000. This coastal city, one of the most sought-after during summer, offers a 15th-century castle that was renovated a few years ago, reducing the need for additional investment. The main limitation: it has only three bedrooms.

In Romania, we find the Zlatna Palace, featured in this report, priced at €295,000. When calculating cost per square meter, it represents an exceptional opportunity, with 1,380 square meters, 19 bedrooms, and 8,000 square meters of mountain land.

In Italy, the Umbria Castle is listed at €360,000. Built in the 11th century, it preserves Renaissance artistic heritage with frescoes on its ceilings and walls. It includes a chapel and an ancient surrounding wall. In reality, however, only a 160-square-meter apartment within the castle is for sale. It is located 25 minutes by car from Perugia.

In France, there are three castles available. The first, a palace-style property in the Comté region, is priced at €423,000. Dating back to the 17th century, it sits on 65,000 square meters of land. Historically significant, it even hosted General Charles de Gaulle in 1947.

The Château de Coulonges-sur-l’Autize is priced at €445,000. It is a well-preserved medieval and Renaissance manor featuring five bedrooms, multiple living rooms, and five hectares of forests and meadows. It is one of the most impressive and comfortable properties, including orange trees, a swimming pool, hunting areas, a wine cellar, and an attic.

The final property, located in the Haute-Garonne region in southern France, is listed at €450,000. The price has recently been reduced, offering an additional negotiation opportunity. Its key advantage is its location in the Pyrenees, with 10 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, slate roofing, iron architectural details, and abundant snowfall during winter.

The ROIC team can source this type of property, negotiate its price, secure bank financing, and assist in renovating and designing your new home… a full team working for you.