A MAGNIFICENT fairytale castle that looks straight out of a Disney film comes with a sinister secret and is up for sale for £1.7million.
The stunning 26-room, five-storey fortress would be a perfect fit for an “eccentric” buyer who would love to “live like Tudor royalty.”
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The dreamy property, located in the woodlands of Rochester, Michigan, US, features secret passageways, a dungeon and a working drawbridge.
The castle was listed on property site Zillow by estate agents Sotheby’s International Realty but they’re yet to find their “king or queen of the castle” despite being bombarded by viewing requests.
Images uploaded to the site show the 60-ton steel structure topped by medieval stone-walled turrets, and there’s even a moat, portcullis and drawbridge to protect its grand entrance.
Many of the 26 rooms are lined with oak walls and linked by wide staircases from the vast entrance hall – while the master bedroom appears fit for royalty with a four-poster bed and balcony.
Hidden within the walls of the $2.3million-listed (£1.7million) property is a 50ft-tall spiral staircase that leads from the roof terrace to the secret cave where a Tudor-style bar and wine cellar can be found.
The stunning home was designed by James LeBlanc and completed in 1991 as an engagement present to his then-wife Vera LeBlanc – 22 years after he promised to build her one because he couldn’t afford a ring.
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Realtor Mike Kuligowski believes the vacant fortress, which has seven bathrooms, is perfect for an “eccentric” buyer who dreamed of living in a castle as a child.
He said: “It’s the perfect opportunity to live like a king or queen. It’s for someone who just has to have a castle because they dreamed of it as a kid.
“I was blown away by it. When my client told me he had a castle to sell, I thought ‘yeah, right’, because a lot of people talk like they’ve got a castle.
“It’s pretty over-the-top. It feels very much like a castle when you’re in it. It’s a very elaborate and custom-style home. The master bedroom is incredible.
“When I drove up and saw the working portcullis and the 763lbs front door, I realised he wasn’t joking and it really was a castle. It’s the sort of thing you dream of as a kid.
“This is perfect for someone eccentric like the original owner and someone who likes to show off.
“It’s designed and built to host people. So it’s for someone who likes the experience of having people over and wanting to give them an experience.
“I’ve worked on some unique properties but not one as unique as this.”
The six-acre plot is situated at the rear of a gated community, so the homeowner and their guests reach the castle through a winding forest littered with trinkets such as an iron-sculpted dragon.
The property also features a heated garage opposite the castle, fitted with a toilet and seat from one of the Concorde jets former US military engineer James helped design.
James sold the house six years ago but paid rent to live there until he moved into assisted living in 2019, and Mike’s now arranged 40 viewings since the Zillow listing went live 92 days ago.
He says he’s had lots of interest from people hoping to use it as a quirky AirBnB or wedding venue, but that’s banned in the gated community so he’s looking for a committed resident.
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