Escape to the Chateau: How to Buy and Renovate a Castle

They say an Englishman’s home is his castle – but for many Brits, Americans and others, the absolute dream is to secure a piece of history in the form of a French château.

Few television programmes capture that dreamy spirit as well as Escape to the Chateau.

Over the years, viewers have enjoyed following TV presenter Dick Strawbridge and his wife, Angel Adoree, as they embraced the exciting challenge of restoring their abandoned French château. They purchased it for less than €400,000 and transformed it into a warm family home and flourishing business enterprise.

Although the original series concluded in 2022, the château’s enchanting story continues. And after taking a heartfelt break as their children, Arthur and Dorothy, grew older and headed off to college, the Strawbridges are delighted to announce their return for Series 10 of Escape to the Chateau in 2026.

This new season brings more treasured moments and fresh projects, keeping the French magic and British quirkiness alive at Château de la Motte Husson.

Beloved Château DIY TV Show

The charming spin-off, Escape to the Château: DIY, showcases Dick and Angel sharing their hard-earned knowledge with other château owners, including our client Sharon in the Limousin. 

Together, they explore the joys and challenges of restoring charming but dilapidated castles into beautiful homes and thriving businesses. Throughout the series, we’ve watched owners dedicate countless hours to their renovation journeys, rolling up their sleeves themselves to avoid hefty costs.

It offers a wonderful glimpse into both the romance and the realities of owning a historic French property.

Significant Château Interest

The result has been a significant increase in interest in French châteaux. We always have a selection of castles available in our French real estate range, and they have proved a massive draw for buyers and investors over the years, especially Americans.

Of course, it’s one thing to watch a television show and browse images online, but quite another to take the plunge in real life. How realistic is it to renovate a château in France?

The guide below outlines five key areas to consider before deciding whether investing in a French castle is the right choice for you.

Finding a Cheap Château

There’s no question that a French château commands a premium compared to other properties. A manor house could be just as spacious, filled with character and surrounded by extensive land, without the high price tag of this special piece of real estate.

Even if you manage to grab a cheap abandoned château – Dick and Angel paid just €390,000 ( some years ago…) for their 45-room castle – you’ll likely need to invest much more to restore it to a habitable state.

Although these old abandoned castles and medieval ruins are very difficult to find in 2026, it’s still possible to find a gem, as long as you’re ready to roll-up your sleeves.

A competitive currency deal at completion can help offset some renovation and maintenance costs, but make sure to be ready to move quickly.

Château Renovation Costs

The size and scale of most châteaux mean they will cost more to renovate than your average home. However, it’s not just the square footage that adds to the bill: specialist materials and fixtures may well be needed to meet the requirements of owning a listed building.

The good news is that significant grants are often available for restoring historic buildings, so it is worth investigating this option before you buy.

Ongoing Maintenance

In addition to the initial renovation costs, you must also factor in ongoing maintenance expenses over many years.

The cost of this can also be higher than for other properties – but again, there may be grants available. In many cases, money is attached to the condition that you open the château to the public for a set number of days per year.

For example, have you heard about La Nuit des Châteaux? If you’re planning to run it as a business anyway, this shouldn’t be too problematic; however, you need to be confident you can generate enough income to cover routine maintenance for features such as the roof, windows, and traditional interior features.

Seek Expert Advice

Because of their special historic status, there may be restrictions on the changes you can make to a château to make it suitable for your business.

Whether you’re hoping to offer chambres d’hôtes, holiday rentals, or even a wedding venue, you may need to adapt the property to suit your needs, and this will be trickier in a castle than in other properties.

French real estate covers a diverse range of options, including historic manor houses, domaines with associated gîtes, and former farmhouses with outbuildings ripe for renovation. Explore all the options and seek expert advice before making your decision.

Finding Your Own Château

There are châteaux across much of France; the north-west of the country, particularly around the Loire Valley, has by far the most to choose from, being in the King’s Valley.

Anything within an hour or two of Paris commands a particularly high price, but the lavish style and construction of the Loire Valley châteaux means they do tend to be expensive.

Although many châteaux are available elsewhere, they are usually simpler in style and therefore more affordable. However, they are often older and require significant investment to restore them to their former glory. 

A good alternative, and also not too far from Paris, the Alps, and Switzerland, is the Burgundy region, perhaps one of the best kept secrets, where one can find rare gems, still in their own jus, while still enjoying a pace of life some areas may have lost, while being just 1 hour away from Paris.

And then, there are many castles on the market in southwest France, just ask Trish, who fell in love with an old château in the Pyrenees. Her story and move from America is inspiring and educational.

Preparing your Château Escape

 Ultimately, if you have your heart set on a chateau, you may need to be prepared to search for longer than if you are looking at other property types, unless you have a ‘coup de foudre’ and find your own fairytale château on the first visit!

To learn more about the challenges and rewards of purchasing a French château, visit our buyer’s guide, filled with expert tips and advice.

And discover more château stories and inspiration on our blog, including our guide to mastering the vocabulary of historic castles with a short video tour.