Here’s an unusual real-estate opportunity: for €50 you can become part-owner of a 15th-century chateau, joining with others to raise €500,000 to buy the building and restore it.
Adopte un Chateau, a crowd-funding organization that’s working to save a number of properties around France, is offering shares in Chateau le Paluel in Perigord, in the Dordogne region. The chateau is in poor condition, never having been restored after being attacked by Nazis during World War II. The present owners have been given until September 21 to pledge restoration; otherwise authorities will auction it off.
The pledge campaign hopes to buy it for €250,000 and spend the rest on restoration. No definite plans for its future use; Adopte believes it is a monument in itself, but could serve as an artists’ residency, guesthouse, or other possibilities. It’s classified as a historical monument, and has eight bedrooms, stables, windmill, pool, dovecote and land.
It also has a history as a film site, appearing in the 1968 French film La Tatoue, starring Louis de Funès. In the film, one of the characters arrives at the chateau and proclaims “It’s a ruin.” And that was nearly 50 years ago.
