Have you ever asked yourselves “What I really need is a private island with a 19th-century neo-Gothic castle on it”? No? Well, now you will.
Because Château de Costaérès, perched rather smugly on its own island off the Pink Granite Coast of Brittany, France, is up for grabs at $9.8 million.
Now, $9.8 million might sound like a lot of money, but let’s face it—if you’re buying a private island with a castle, you’ve probably already abandoned the idea of financial restraint.
And good for you, because this place is what estate agents might euphemistically call “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The rest of us would just call it absurdly magnificent.
What’s the Big Deal with this Castle?
The Château de Costaérès sits just outside Trégastel, a small French town best described as “relentlessly picturesque”.
Think pink granite boulders, turquoise water, and sandy beaches, the sort of scenery that makes you feel inadequate when you look at your holiday snaps from Cornwall.
The private island itself covers a hectare, which, in practical terms, is about the size of a small kingdom—or a very large garden party, depending on your ambitions.
At the center of this rocky paradise sits the castle, built in 1895 by Bruno Abdank-Abakanowicz. Try saying that name three times quickly. He was a mathematician, engineer, inventor, and, by the looks of things, someone who thought life wasn’t worth living without a bit of grandeur.
Originally, it served as a retreat for Polish artists, including Nobel Prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz, who allegedly wrote parts of Quo Vadis here.
Whether that’s true or just good marketing is anyone’s guess, but it’s a nice story to tell at dinner parties.
What Do You Actually Get?
The island itself is flanked by giant pink boulders, which are great for clambering about if you’re feeling adventurous, or just sitting on with a glass of wine while contemplating life’s mysteries.
Two small beaches, one on the north side and one on the south, offer plenty of opportunity for sunbathing or braving the Atlantic.
Move inland, and you’ll find a botanical wonderland with 200 species of trees, shrubs, and flowers, all meticulously arranged to make you feel like you’re wandering through a very posh dream.
And then there’s the castle itself, which looks as though it belongs on the cover of a fantasy novel.
Inside, it’s every bit as dramatic as you’d hope. Turrets? Check. Arched windows? Naturally. Banquet halls and knights’ rooms? Of course.
There’s also a TV room, presumably for watching some documentaries about castles, and several terraces that are just perfect for sipping champagne while feeling superior to the rest of humanity.
There are five bedrooms as well, all with views of the Atlantic, because anything less would be unthinkable.
And.. there’s also a heated swimming pool with massage jets and a sauna, for those moments when all that lording over your private island becomes a bit much.
But Wait, There’s More!
Here’s the clever bit: at low tide, you can actually walk or drive a 4×4 between the island and the mainland.
So, while it’s a private retreat, it’s not one of those annoying places where you have to rely on a dinghy every time you need a pint of milk.
It also has electricity, water, and telephone service, which makes it far more practical than most medieval castles.
Should You Buy It?
Well, that depends. Do you like the idea of owning a castle? Do you enjoy the prospect of gazing wistfully at the sea from your very own turret? Do you have $9.8 million that you weren’t planning on doing anything sensible with?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Château de Costaérès might just be the best thing you’ve ever bought.
And really, isn’t this what we all secretly want? A place where we can play out our medieval fantasies without giving up modern conveniences. A home with history, drama, and just the right amount of preposterousness.
So, there you have it: Château de Costaérès is proof that sometimes life really is better when it’s a bit ridiculous.
