A Former Château Hotel Near Paris With 148 Acres Asking €22 Million
Rooms: 56
Interior: 5,000 m² / 53,819 ft²
Lot: 60 ha / 148 acres
Amenities: Former luxury hotel, 60 ha / 148-acre private estate, former stables, garages, gatehouse, forested grounds, no overlooking neighbours, development permit for 17 private villas, access to Paris in roughly one hour.
The 56-room château dates to the 16th century and was once held by one of France’s oldest noble families, while the wider estate carries a granted permit for 17 private villas within its forested grounds.
Château d’Esclimont, a former luxury hotel in Auneau-Bleury-Saint-Symphorien, has been brought back to market with Propriétés Parisiennes Sotheby’s International Realty.
The property sits within a 60 ha / 148-acre estate about 60 km / 37 miles from Paris and includes around 5,000 m² / 53,819 ft² of built space, according to the listing. The estate includes a main château of approximately 3,500 m² / 37,674 ft², an independent building of nearly 500 m² / 5,382 ft², and around 1,700 m² / 18,299 ft² of outbuildings, including former stables, garages, and a gatehouse.
Originally built in the 16th century for Étienne Poncher, Archbishop of Tours, the château later passed into the hands of the La Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville family, one of France’s oldest noble houses. In the 19th century, it was significantly transformed under Sosthène II de La Rochefoucauld.
Its hotel history is central to the current sale. The château was sold by the La Rochefoucauld family in 1981 and converted into a luxury hotel by René Traversac, founder of Les Grandes Étapes Françaises. In 2015, the estate was sold to Chinese group Tianci Hot Spring for a reported €35 million. The property was reportedly closed for works in 2021 and is now listed for €22 million.
The listing positions the estate as suitable for a private residence, hotel, conference centre, or events venue. A key commercial element is the estate’s development component: according to the listing, a building permit has been granted for the creation of 17 private villas, designed to be discreetly dispersed within the forested grounds and held in full ownership.
Its proximity to Paris is another defining part of the property’s appeal. The estate combines the scale and privacy of a country château with access to the capital in roughly one hour by car.
With its historic architecture, former hotel use, and permitted residential development component, Château d’Esclimont sits between private estate, heritage hospitality project, and high-end residential opportunity.
All photographs belong to the listing agency. See more on Propriétés Parisiennes Sotheby’s International Realty.
