583-Year-Old Royal Retreat in Provence Offers a Very Lucrative Business Opportunity to a Savvy Buyer

A historic French estate that was built in the 1440s as a royal retreat has been put on the market in Provence—serving up a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity to buyers looking to launch themselves into the heady world of luxury rentals.

The eight-bedroom Provencal estate known as Bastide de Goult is nestled on 15 acres on the outskirts of the town of Goult and is surrounded by vineyards, lavender fields, and landscaped gardens.

Designed to accommodate up to 19 guests, the property, which is part of the Provence Holidays portfolio and is on the market for $4.7 million, boasts a restored primary residence along with additional accommodations.

But while the home would certainly serve as the perfect personal castle for anyone with a dream of taking on their own royal-approved abode, its greatest potential lies in the rental market, where it can reel in more than $291,000 a year from short-term leases.

“This property represents a great rental investment as it has been one of the most popular luxury holiday rentals in the Provence Holidays portfolio over the last five years,” says Simon Richards, founder & CEO of Provence Holidays.

“Priced around the $4.7 million (€4million) mark with an annual rental income in excess of $291,000 (€250,000), buyers have assurance in its investment value whilst being able to own a distinguished piece of Provence’s heritage.”

Having been built almost 600 years ago, the property is also filled with history.

The iconic compound, which was completed in 1442, was once the home of René d’Anjou, also known as “Good King René,” who served as the King of Naples from 1435 until 1442.

“Dating back to 1442, Bastide de Goult was once owned by René d’Anjou, the “Good King René”—Count of Provence, Duke of Anjou, and King of Naples and Sicily,” a listing description reads.

“A patron of the arts and a great admirer of blown glass, he invited Italian master glassmakers to settle in Provence, where they established one of the region’s most important glassworks in Goult.

“By 1476, Nicolas II de Ferry, hosted by King René at La Grande Verrière, was appointed royal glassmaker and officer of his household.”

Though the estate retains much of its original structure, it has been expanded on several occasions over the years—getting a new wing as recently as 1904.

Three years after that, it became part of a wine estate—and its remaining cellar still boasts some of the original vats and a winch.

“The estate evolved over centuries, with its most recent wing built in 1904, later becoming a wine estate in 1907, its cellar still holding original vats and winch—a nod to the intertwined legacies of craftsmanship, culture and viticulture that define this historic Provençal property,” the description goes on.

The primary estate has been thoughtfully renovated to now offer a large living room with a fireplace, a smaller living room, a dining room designed for entertaining, an updated kitchen, and a “bistro-style” bar area that opens up to an outdoor terrace.

Four air-conditioned, en-suite bedrooms can be found upstairs along with a children’s room. Two staircases separate the two wings. There is also a fully-equipped laundry room.

A sixth en-suite guest bedroom is accessible from a custom-made stone staircase and offers access to a terrace. Also nearby is a two-story detached structure that houses two additional air-conditioned suite with their own private access on each floor.

An outbuilding provides extra storage space.

The Luberon property also has walking paths, a vegetable garden, a heated swimming pool, spa with sauna, and a garage with parking area. There is also a children’s play area with swings and ping-pong table.

It also has easy access to Bonnieux, Ménerbes, Lacoste and Roussillon.