Stuck for something to put on your Christmas list? How about a castle, the genuine article complete with turrets and maybe a moat?

A French chateau as a lifestyle enhancer for 2018 isn’t so fanciful when you factor in the money making possibilities.

A castle in France can make a fantastic setting for a holiday business in the luxury bracket, says Fleur Buckley, property services manager for a company called FrenchEntree.

A wedding venue with a restaurant that attracts locals as well as overseas visitors adds to the allure. And then there’s the land which usually comes with it. That could be a gold mine.

As Fleur points out: “Ample grounds open up the possibility of running equestrian schools, hunting and fishing and other enterprises. Working orchards, olive groves and vineyards can also provide business angles for those keen to work the land as part of their fairytale dream.”

Buyers are sometimes drawn to renovation projects as a more accessible way to realise their ambitions, says the agent, but she warns potential purchasers unfamiliar with large scale restoration projects or converting truly old buildings to consider the eventual overall cost.

“This can vary based on region but the average figure per square metre for renovation work is between 700 and 1,500 euros, the latter if it’s a total rebuild.

“If the property is merely in need of internal modernisation and refurbishment – for example, kitchens, bathrooms and heating - then you can generally reduce this figure by almost 50 per cent.”

South west France can provide exceptional value, says the market expert: “The region that a chateau is in can heavily influence its style. Pays de la Loire, the historic playground for French aristocracy, is associated much more with leisure. Chateaux here were designed with elegance and aesthetics as the main concern whereas those near to the Spanish border were designed to be defendable.

“Owning a chateau isn’t cheap,” she concedes, “But the variety of styles, sizes and conditions mean there are properties available to suit a surprising range of budgets.”

Those currently on the books of FrenchEntree this month range from a ten bedroom chateau in the Loire Valley dating from the 15th, 17th and 19th centuries with four hectares of riverside gardens including stables for 890,000 euros.

At the opposite end of the price scale is a three star 33-room hotel in a chateau in the Dordogne. It generates a turnover of 900,000 euros during the eight months it’s open each year which could go some way to soften what might otherwise be the daunting 6.386 million euros the owners want for it.

Closer to the middle price range at 1,195,000 euros (sterling equivalent this week: £1,047,568) is a 26 bedroom chateau with a moat in the Loire region (pictured above).

It was rebuilt in 1893 and stands in 40 acres which include four separate holiday cottages “each larger than a typical five bedroom house.”

The largest cottage is 270 sq metres - as the agent says, “it’s almost a petit chateau in its own right.”

But Fleur said: “The inclusion of outbuildings tends to provide plenty of flexibility for owners, Some rent them out as holiday properties while others use them as accommodation for a caretaker or groundsman.”

As with any undertaking you need to be fully aware of what you’re letting yourself in for and this agent knows her onions when it comes to the financial side of owning a castle in one of the most alluring regions in France.

She sums up: “Running costs and upkeep are a major undertaking when you buy a chateau of significant size. The minimum wage still exists in France and at a higher rate than in the UK.”

Her advice is yes, live the dream but go into it with your eyes open.

The UK office of FrenchEntree can be contacted on 01225 463752 or visit propertysales@frenchentree.com.