If you can't afford a brand-new, meticulously finished home, a fixer-upper could be the ideal way to get onto the property ladder. From crumbling castles and faded forts to abandoned mansions and royal palaces, thousands of palatial structures out there need restoration. We've scoured the world to bring you the most magnificent fixer-uppers on the market right now. 

Could you return these masterpieces to their former glory? Click or scroll to find out...

If you're looking for a big project with plenty of development and usage opportunities, then these abandoned farm buildings could be the ideal option.

Located close to Antas de Ulla, in the Lugo region of Spain, the properties are up for grabs with Grupo Country Homes for a mere €75,000. That's just £63,300 ($85k).

The plot extends approximately 32,292 square feet (3,000sqm) and is mostly flat, making it perfect for further construction.

Currently, the land comes complete with an old Galician farmhouse, a stone wheat store, a large hórreo (granary) and a shed. All of the buildings need restoration work, but they offer plenty of charm and character.

The buildings were all built entirely from stone, with tiled roofs. The main house features a huge stone chimney, which, according to the listing agent, suggests it was once a noble house.

At the main entrance, there’s an inscription that says the building dates back to 1832, and on one side, there’s a large wood-fired oven.

The garden is also home to a vegetable patch that benefits from the excess water flowing from a public fountain on the other side of the road. This means all your irrigation needs will always be met.

In total, you'll gain 4,435 square feet of inside space (412sqm), but the grounds provide room for a new modern home, or even for rearing animals or growing a few crops.

As imposing as it is beautiful, this Greek Revival-style mansion is located in Lancaster, Kentucky, on over an acre (0.6ha) of land.

Known as the Thomas Salter House, the property has been described by Coldwell Banker VIP Realty as a “piece of Kentucky history” and its origins stretch back to 1838. The main residence is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has Kentucky Landmark designation.

Listed for just £149,200 ($200k), the house stands proud at 5,438 square feet (505sqm).

While the striking brick exterior boasts an impressive pedimented portico, twin columns with original wrought iron ornamentation, eight limestone steps and an iron and brass balcony, the interior is bursting with period charm. 

There’s a central hall that features a curved staircase with a walnut bannister and oak treads, numerous reception rooms with 11-foot (3.4m) ceilings, decorative fireplaces, wide plank poplar floors, raised plaster medallions and rare, paired closets.

There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms in total, all of which are well portioned with large sash windows overlooking the leafy garden.

The grounds are lush and idyllic, coming complete with an original two-room log cabin, dating back to the early 1800s. Both structures are in need of extensive restorations, including the complete rebuilding of the kitchen and bathrooms.

There’s also a large underground springhouse with stone steps. How's that for bang for your buck?

Proving that you don't always need millions in the bank to buy something unique and entirely cool, this medieval tower could be yours for £320,900 ($430k), or €380,000 in the local currency. 

The historic structure lies in the village of Menolzio, in the Piedmont region of Italy, and is thought to date back to 1250. So, it's no surprise that it has slowly been swallowed by trees and foliage.

While the roof is still intact, we're sure the buyer will need to undertake thorough repairs to make the tower habitable.

Sadly, we can't step inside the property – likely due to its weak structural condition – but this close-up image shows that the entrance door has seen better days, and some of the stonework looks like it needs attention.

The tower features three floors and there are 3,229 square feet (300sqm) of internal space. So, there will be plenty of room for a lounge, kitchen, two bedrooms and a family bathroom.

If you want to take this tower on, then it's for sale with Fabrizio Fazzolari.

As far as unique properties go, this historic gate lodge is one of the rarest and most unusual we've ever come across.

Positioned in County Carlow, Ireland, the former gate lodge was once part of Duckett’s Grove, a now-ruined 19th-century stately home.

If you're wondering what a gate lodge (or gatekeeper's lodge) is, then it's a decorative building, situated at the entrance to a country house estate.

Anyone visiting the grand residence would pass through the arch of the tower, receiving a very imposing welcome.

The estate and lodge once belonged to the Duckett family and the house was formerly at the centre of a 12,000-acre (4,856ha) estate. Today, the gate lodge sits unused and has been swallowed up by local flora.

However, it still looks to be in remarkably good condition, although we can't step inside to see the state of the interior spaces.

The lodge comes equipped with water and electricity, as well as two acres (0.8ha) of land. We don't know the size of the lodge, but we're sure it would provide enough space for a living area, bedroom and bathroom, with some creative thinking!

If you want to tackle the scheme, then it's for sale via Patrick Sullivan via Former Glory for €380,000, which is £320,900 ($430k).

Dating back to the 12th century, this ancient castle lies on an elevated plot, surrounded by woodlands, in the Hauts-de-France region of France.

The property was mostly rebuilt in the mid-13th century and served as both a defensive keep and a dwelling. The estate also boasts a 15th-century house, which is said to have hosted the lords who occasionally passed through the region.

The castle enjoyed great military importance until the mid-17th century, when the annexation of the region by the King of France caused it to lose its border position and its strategic importance.

The structure is said to have been dismantled and burned down in the early 18th century, but was rebuilt over the existing medieval cellars.

Arranged over four floors, the main residence features a kitchen from the 1950s, a vast reception room, 18 bedrooms, several attics and a dovecote.

The property has been abandoned for some time, so many of the rooms require attention. However, there are plenty of lovely features worthy of being restored, including a spiral concrete staircase, parquet flooring, ceiling beams, statement fireplaces and bay windows.

The main residence provides 19,375 square feet (1,800sqm) of interior space, while the grounds stretch almost five acres (2ha) and come complete with numerous outbuildings.

There's also the ruins of an ancient defensive structure that could be rescued and turned into something amazing. For sale with Patrice Besse, the residence is priced at £329,400 ($441k), or €390,000.

This grand yet dilapidated mansion can be found in the Australian town of Cockatoo, Victoria, and was reportedly originally built by a European couple who had wanted a large family. Sadly, they didn't end up having children and never finished constructing their dream home, although they are said to have lived there for many years.

The crumbling property sits on 13 acres (5.3ha) of land and boasts an impressive façade, complete with a turret-style staircase, three balconies and seemingly endless windows.

Spanning three storeys, the eight-bedroom residence garnered more than 143,000 views from keen house-hunters when it hit the market in April 2024. In fact, it was Victoria’s most-viewed home of 2024, according to Australian news site news.com.au.

And it isn't hard to see why. The graffiti-ravaged mansion is undeniably fascinating and just a little bit haunting.

The brick house comes with 14 rooms in total, all of them vacant with broken windows, graffiti-covered walls and seriously acid-green paintwork. Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming the building, with vines and plants growing through its openings.

Extremely spacious, the mansion comes with a large entrance hall, a courtyard, wide hallways, four ensuite bathrooms and a portico. Of course, every room is in a state of deterioration, so the buyer will need to roll up their sleeves and invest a significant sum in the renovation.

Those wanting to explore the pad have been warned that, due to its condition, closed-toe shoes and long trousers are essential.

Fancy taking on this extreme fixer-upper? It's currently for sale with Ranges First National Real Estate Belgrave from AU$900,000, which is £432,700 ($580k).

If you have the budget, you could pick up this grand European palace. This ancient castle can be found on almost 23 acres (9.2ha) of land in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, with the historic structure originating from the second half of the 18th century.

The regal castle has already been partially refurbished, but there’s plenty more work to be done to render this palatial home liveable. It's laid out over three wings that cover a staggering 13,185 square feet (1,225sqm).

During the mid-2000s, two of the wings were turned into four fairly modern apartments. The new owner could choose to keep them as they are or undertake a restoration project to return them to their former glory.

However, the main wing of the abandoned castle hasn’t been touched, so there are plenty of original 18th-century elements inside.

From huge arched windows to stone floors, ornate woodwork, vintage light fixtures and pretty fireplaces, the main wing is overflowing with charm. Plus, the castle's reception rooms are incredibly large, offering plenty of scope for development.

There are also numerous outbuildings with plenty of additional space – perhaps these could be converted into characterful homes, or used as guest lodgings.

There’s even an old stable block, making this an ideal property for equestrian fans. If you fancy your chances, it's currently on the market with Vermittlung Historischer Immobilien for £1.3 million ($1.7m), or €1.5 million in the local currency.

If you're seeking a fixer-upper that's also an amazing business opportunity, then this next listing might well be for you. If you've got £9.5 million ($12.7m) going spare, then the property could soon be yours.

The Castle Cary Estate is situated in Creetown, in Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway region, and is now a well-established holiday park with plenty of communal facilities. Yet it's the castle ruin that lies on the property that makes it truly enticing...

Castle Cary has been owned by the same family for over 166 years, according to the listing agents Galbraith – Castle Douglas. The castle, which now sits in ruins, was built between late 1400 and early 1500, and at some point later down the line, a home was added to the side of the structure.

This part of the property was formerly the country residence of Sir James Caird MP, while the castle was left vacant and slowly began to fall into a state of decay.

This image shows the structural condition of the castle, which is missing walls, its roof and windows. Trees and other greenery are growing inside the building, too, creating an eerie but awesome look.

Clearly, whoever takes on this property will have their work cut out for them when restoring this historic structure.

In 1976, the current owners started a caravan park on what was previously their private, nine-hole golf course. Today, it’s a highly successful business, with a static holiday caravan park.

It also boasts a heated outdoor pool, a licensed pub (complete with a self-contained flat), two residential dwellings, a log cabin reception building, sports grounds, a shop and a games room. Plus, there are almost 99 acres (40ha) of native woodland surrounding the estate.

If you happen to have €15 million, or £12.7 million ($17m), in the bank, then this spectacular Portuguese palace could soon be yours.

Located in the Lisbon neighbourhood of Xabregas, the house was once a large farm belonging to the nobility. With more than five centuries of history, Xabregas Palace was first owned by the world-famous explorer, Tristão da Cunha.

Partially restored about 15 years ago, the abandoned palace needs a little work to bring it up to scratch for modern living.

However, there's no end of elegant period features and one-of-a-kind interior touches, from panelled ceilings to frescoes dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Built in 1510, the house features 30 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a huge formal dining hall, a ballroom and almost an acre (0.4ha) of surrounding land.

Every room benefits from exquisite flooring, including stone, hardwood and parquet, while some spaces boast towering barrel ceilings, oversized doors, dramatic chandeliers and decorative plasterwork.

For sale with Portugal Sotheby's International Realty, this opulent palace has lots of development potential – it could be broken down into multiple residences or even transformed into a five-star hotel.

If you have the budget, the determination and the imagination, then this incredible tumbledown mansion in Lake County, Montana, could well be the home of your dreams.

In need of more than just a coat of paint, the extreme fixer-upper is on the market via Hall and Hall for a whopping £53.6 million ($72m). While it may not be for the faint-hearted, it does have plenty of promise, plus it comes with its very own private island and 348 acres (141ha) of land.

Despite the hefty listing price, it's still fairly easy to imagine how impressive the home will be once it's completed.

From the large windows to the double-height ceilings and twin, symmetrical suspended staircases, there's plenty to admire already.

Inside, living areas are abundant for entertaining and relaxing, and though it was originally designed to have four bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the floor plan is flexible, and the new owner could choose to transform the rooms as they see fit.

The house was built from concrete and reinforced with epoxy-coated rebar. According to the listing, the construction materials and methods used were chosen to ensure that the structure lasts over a thousand years!

Yet the main mansion isn't the only draw of this listing, as the price tag includes a second home, too. This characterful guest villa is positioned a short distance away from the main house and could be rented out as a holiday let, or even flipped and sold off.

Luckily, this property is pretty much complete, but there are a few finishing touches still to be made. The listing also includes a custom-built barge from the 1960s, which could be turned into a luxurious houseboat for seafaring adventures. Sign us up!

If you'd rather live the island life, then you could pick up this historic fortress. Known as Leamcon Castle, the tower-like structure stands proud on a coastal isle overlooking Roaring Water Bay in County Cork, Ireland.

Offering privacy, seclusion, stunning scenery and truly unique accommodation, this is one listing you won't want to overlook.

According to the listing, the O’Mahony Clan once controlled land from the banks of the River Lee to Three Castle Head, on the southern tip of West Cork.

The O’Mahony chiefs built castles on strategic points along the southern coast of the country, to control imports and exports, as well as fishing rights. Leamcon Castle is one of those fortresses, which is why it stands alone on such an unusual piece of land.

The building was constructed in 1474 and saved from the battering ram in 1603. Then, after the Battle of Kinsale, the owners sailed to a new life in Spain, leaving the castle abandoned.

Exposed to strong coastal winds and rain, the castle slowly deteriorated. It remained unoccupied until the mid-1970s, when it was purchased by a recently qualified architect, on his return to Ireland from the USA.

The buyer repaired the castle’s damaged walls, roof and windows and created himself a family holiday home. Some 50 years later, the castle is for sale but very much in need of more repairs and renovation.

Old-fashioned and poorly insulated, the property could do with a thorough internal makeover and some structural upgrades. Have you got it in you to take on the task? If so, then James Lyons O’Keeffe of West Cork Properties has all the details you need.

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