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The next alleged ruler and deputy prime minister of the Arab nation had spent nearly $ 320 million on the 50,000 acres of Chateau Louis XIV in Louveciennes, France. Only one castle has been built in France in over a century, and the Chateau Louis XIV drew heavily on the spectacular classical palaces built throughout the reign of the eponymous king. Presented as a unique architectural feat of the contemporary era, the castle is located in Louveciennes, west of Paris, and the fenced 69-hectare property is a stone’s throw from Versailles.
The majestic Château Louis XIV
The 54,000 square foot palace near Versailles, when it was sold in 2015, was billed as “the most expensive house in the world” according to Fortune. The sky-high purchase ranks alongside several crown prince extravagances, including a $ 500 million luxury yacht with two swimming pools and a $ 450 million Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece. Interestingly, ownership of the property has not been disclosed by various shell companies in France and Luxembourg. They were all primarily owned by Eight Investment Company, headed by the director of the Bin Salman foundation.
The picturesque chateau is modeled after a 17th century French chateau and was built by the Saudi Frenchman Emad Khashoggi, who demolished a 19th century chateau in Louveciennes to make way for the new building in 2009. The structure of the building was constructed to look like built in the days of Versailles. Still, it’s packed with various modern amenities, including lights, music, air conditioning, and fountains that can be controlled via an iPhone, according to New York Times.
With the chateau spanning over 69 acres, it has a wine cellar that can hold 3,000 bottles, a cinema room, elaborate frescoes, a squash court, two ballrooms, doors and light fixtures covered with gold. ‘gold and two swimming pools. There is an additional indoor pool which has a rain spout falling from the ceiling. The underground nightclub is full of priceless treasures and artifacts from the Prince’s collection.
The most spectacular and impressive feature of the building is the Underwater Meditation Room set inside the castle moat, which features a see-through underwater chamber with koi fish and a sturgeon swimming above it. A statue of Louis XIV in Carrara marble overlooks the park as a sentinel.
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Inside the sprawling castle
The Chateau Louis XIV is a truly remarkable building, with a perfect and exciting fusion of luxury and technology. The ground floor is a large space, suitable for hosting large receptions under the phenomenal painted ceilings. At the same time, the living room and the dining room are no less impressive, according to Cogemad. These trompe l’oeil frescoes are inspired by the decor of the Palace of Versailles and the creations of Charles Le Brun. Behind the 5.2 meter high ceiling there is a silent cooling system. A 540 square foot room is used as a secure room on the same floor, and the spacious garage can accommodate up to eight cars.
The first floor of the Royal Residence houses the master apartment, with more than 3,000 square feet, which includes four bedrooms, four marble bathrooms and a guest bedroom. The lower level of the Chateau Louis XIV houses a variety of leisure areas such as a huge indoor swimming pool, a fitness room, a squash court, a 12-seat cinema room and even a nightclub! Under the entrance is a discreet but gigantic wine cellar that can hold up to 3000 vintages near the professional kitchen.
Other ultra-luxurious features outside the castle include a replica of the Apollo Basin like the one found at the Palace of Versailles, gilded statues and a 2 km long labyrinth and a garden perfect to impress anyone. Plus, there are ways to play with light and water with a phone app!
A colossal enterprise
Initially, the identity of the purchaser of the gigantic property was not revealed, but according to the New York Post, it was none other than the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman. This massive 5000 m² castle was built on a 23 hectare estate in Louveciennes by Emad Kashoggi, a Saudi man passionate about sumptuous French castles.
Inspired by 17th century design, construction on the building began in 2011 and lasted only two and a half years. Emad and his company Cogemad built and renovated French-inspired chateaux, and they worked with around 120 artisans to make this dream project come true.
This quaint property sits amidst beautiful woods and meadows, and the lavish home combines cutting-edge technology and historical wonders. The castle is a classic but futuristic project. The lavish home is fitted with state-of-the-art kitchens that guarantee no noise or sound, and there are nearly 200 completely hand-crafted chandeliers and wall lamps. The house is built with French and imported marble from Brazil and Carrara, and the fountains are lacquered with gold leaf as reported by Guardian, remarkably similar to the Palace of Versailles.
The Château has brought a new dimension to haute couture by living like a property worthy of a royal. Although the building was only recently constructed, Cogemad boasts that the Chateau Louis XIV meets French standards for what constitutes a historic monument.
Source: New York Post, Fortune, Cogemad, New York Times
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