Need a break from cookie-cutter houses? From a puzzle home that claims to help its residents live longer to a palatial mansion, complete with pool, built 26 feet underground, 2019 certainly hasn't been a dull year when it comes to real estate. Let's take a look inside some of the strangest and most surprising properties to grace the market this year...

Lovers of 1960s design – and space travel, for that matter – had a once in a lifetime opportunity this year to buy this incredible property at auction in May 2019. Incorporating 11 bubble structures designed by the Swiss architect Pascal Hausermann in 1967, the Museumotel in Raon-l'Étape is a French historic monument and a shrine to mid-century design.

These Jetson-esque residences were originally intended for use as family homes, based on a utopian ideal of communal living that never quite took root and were abandoned in the early 2000s. After years of neglect, the site was taken on by a group of enthusiasts who transformed them into a themed hotel, until the business went bankrupt around 2016. The future looked uncertain for Raon-l'Étape, but thankfully the auction proved of great interest to bidders...

Six bidders were in the mix to secure this UFO-inspired property. A Parisian lawyer, Christophe Perchet, who used to spend holidays at Raon-l'Étape with his grandmother, ultimately won the auction with a bid of €360,000 (£310k/$398k). He has plans to restore the bubble homes, complete with quirky circular beds, to their former glory and preserve the site for future generations.

Love this? Step inside these amazing bubble homes from around the world

Social media platforms went into meltdown when this customised home with a difference hit the market in April 2019 for $435,000 (£339k). At first, owner and artist Missy Stephenson was inspired to paint her unique designs only in the kitchen over the course of three months. Each cupboard features an original scene with whimsical children, animals wearing human clothing and lots of botanical patterns on borders and drawers – all in her favourite raspberry pink colour.

Once she had finished the kitchen, Missy’s creative vision soon extended to nearly every room in the four-bedroom, two-bathroom house - the exception being her husband’s man cave, which was mercifully spared! In the living room, the pink theme continues with walls, furniture and soft furnishings layering up the shade. No cushion is spared a frill and her hand-painting skills have been put to good use on a customised cupboard, which she has decorated with ivy to match the reams of foliage sprouting from every crevice.

In the bathroom, ruffles, painted gold hearts and a bathroom vanity adorned with trailing wisteria adds to the impact of this extraordinary decor. The pictures proved to be a sensation online, with thousands of comments and shares from both admirers and detractors. Missy told Realtor.com she has received lots of compliments on her work and was sad to sell the house. "This is a little piece of heaven to me. I just love colour."

If you’re a Wild West fan, this next lot, which piqued global interest this year, is for you. Deep in the Nevada desert, this unusual four-storey castle with built on top of its very own gold mine. The peculiar four-bed property was built from scratch by Randy Johnston, who accidentally stumbled upon the old miner’s cabin whilst trying to find shelter from a snowstorm in the 80s.

Beneath the castle lies the 160-foot gold mine, its functional rail tracks running into the darkness. The mine is still serviceable and the listing promises that there could be more gold to discover on the property if you're brave enough to venture below... If venturing below ground doesn't appeal to you and you'd prefer to kick back and taking it easy, the property also features a majestic organ room and a home theatre.

Offering 40 acres of rolling desert, this surprising lot is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the Vegas strip. Built to offer its owner a self-sufficient lifestyle, there's even a woodshop if you're feeling crafty. Located 50 miles away from the nearest town, this unique home is as remote as it gets. Fancy escaping to the desert? The castle is still on the market and could be yours from £585,000 ($750k).

Intrigued? Take a tour of this 'Wild West' castle and see the amazing interior!

Nestled in the sandy basin of Paradise Valley, Arizona, this spectacular Moorish-style house makes for a pretty strange sight. With its showstopping dome and intricate parapet, the unusual property looks as though it was picked up and dropped here from the other side of the world. Situated at the foot of Camelback Mountain, the residence was built in the 1930s and has seen many a famous face across the years.

Lined in arched windows, the 25-foot-high dome has to be the home's pièce de résistance. Adorned in gold, light pours through the vaulted space and illuminates the main living room, while an ornate lantern draws the eye upward towards the magnificent feature. Stretching 2,340 square feet, the incredible home, which was once run as a resort, has even hosted Hollywood stars including Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin.

Throughout the living spaces, you'll find more unusual architectural features, such as this quirky stepped window, framed by Mexican tiles. Outside, a number of terraces flank the house, one of which features a wood-burning pizza oven, plus elegantly landscaped lawns with an intricate water fountain at their centre. Lusting after this unusual Moorish masterpiece? Unfortunately, the palatial property recently sold for a cool £935,000 ($1.2m).

This deceptive property hit headlines earlier this year when it went to auction for £888,000 ($1.1m). From the outside, the suburban Adelaide home looks ordinary enough, but a spooky surprise lies within. The mysterious property listing called for "brave people only" – have a look inside to discover why...

Above ground, the home's small chapel, featuring blood-red stained glass windows, hints at what awaits below ground. Step down into the cellar rooms and you'll find that the 160-year-old mansion is home to a gang of spooky witches and ghastly ghouls. Fanged bats and massive spiders decorate the walls, with a few cobwebs thrown in for good measure.

While this space lacks the same ghoulish decor as the previous basement room, we reckon it takes the crown for the most creepy – just look at that terrifying doll! Even the property's agents Toop & Toop warned house-hunters: "If you're a scaredy-cat, don't come!". This sinister dwelling definitely isn't for the faint-hearted...

Love this? These surprising homes for sale are not where you'd expect

Tucked away in the Scottish countryside, this former World War II facility that hit the market this year has a top-secret history. Opened by Princess Anne in 1985, the 12,380-square-foot airfield and radar were used by NATO to intercept spy signals for over 20 years. The carefully constructed base features a covert collection of corridors and operations rooms built to withstand biological, nuclear and chemical attacks.

At the heart of the site, the eye-catching antenna used to detect ballistic missiles resembles a giant 60-foot-high golf ball. While the base has seen plenty of military action over the years, including in the Cold War, music-lovers might recognise it best as the location for the music festival T in the Park, which was held here until 2014.

Although it’s only 30 minutes from Edinburgh, the spy base offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The unusual property includes nine acres of lush land as well as plenty of protection with a double-layered security fence and its own emergency generator – you'd certainly be safe in an apocalypse here! It's not too late to bag yourself a pad worthy of James Bond as the property is still on the market with Amazing Results for £950,000 ($1.2m).

A kaleidoscope of colour, there's nothing quiet about this vibrant house in New York's desirable East Hampton. Designed by artists Madeline Gins and Arakawa in 2008, the fantastical house caused quite the frenzy when it hit the market in 2019. But it's not just the bold facade that's showstopping – inside lies a unique interior unlike anything we've seen before.

Love this? Discover the mind-blowing architecture that shouldn't work but does

With a whopping 52 different colours used throughout the structure, the 2,700-square-foot home is designed to challenge the mind and the senses in more ways than one. An array of unusual textures adorn the walls, floors and surfaces of the living spaces, forcing residents to actively negotiate the tactile terrain – not dissimilar to an architectural crossword puzzle.

Also known as the Lifespan Extending Villa, the home's designers think the unexpected interior will keep homeowner's brains active and alert for longer. The central walkway in the hall features undulating bumps and ridges, leading through to a bright colour-block bathroom, while a sunken kitchen challenges residents' spatial awareness. Up for a challenge? Unfortunately, this one-of-a-kind home was snapped up this year to the tune of £1.2 million ($1.5m).

Hidden in an unassuming warehouse conversion in the heart of London, this duplex apartment is hiding a whole lot of spooky. Stepping through the door, you're greeted by garlands of withered leaves, an array of worn antique furnishings and some rather terrifying statement pieces – check out the eerie blindfolded doll on the right!

Faux Gothic architecture and scratched floorboards complete the spooky scene in the main living area. Resembling a horror movie film set, the sinister space was previously home to the Brothers Quay, identical twins and animators known for their dark, nightmarish aesthetic. The unusual one-bed flat served as their London retreat when they visited the city on business.

Even the bathroom has been given a macabre makeover, with a creepy armless dummy, distressed claw-foot bathtub and an array of trailing foliage. Fallen for this spooky city apartment? You'll have to move fast – it's still on the market with Williams Lynch for a cool £1.2 million ($1.5m).

Just a stone’s throw away from St Leonard’s idyllic seafront in the UK's East Sussex, this unassuming Victorian home, which hit the market in May 2019, isn't quite what it seems. Previously a Turkish bathhouse, before becoming a school and then a glass factory, its latest makeover is definitely the quirkiest to date...

Love this? Step inside the normal-looking homes hiding unbelievable interiors

That's right, this four-bedroom home is a celebration of the sights and sounds of the circus. Bursting with character, the spacious open-plan living space comes complete with its very own full-length bowling alley and an array of carnival games to keep the whole family entertained.

The carnival-inspired space also includes a home cinema room, a charming cellar and a quirky floating mezzanine overlooking the airy main living room. Fancy running away with the circus? The property is currently on sale for £1.5 million ($1.9m) via Rightmove.

Calling all Game of Throne fans – Castle Gyrn might just be the perfect property for you. Listed this year, the stunning 10-acre estate may look centuries old, but renowned architect John Taylor only completed the castle in 1993. However, its deceptive age isn't the strangest thing about this mock-Medieval dwelling...

An essential for any fantasy castle, the property comes with its very own fire-breathing dragon who guards the majestic estate. In addition to your own mythical creature, the grand home also offers five bedrooms, a cinema room, a detached one-bedroom lodge, impeccable landscaping and your very own grotto.

The interiors are befitting of royalty too, with the master bedroom featuring a regal four-poster bed and an elegant fireplace. The castle also comes with its own tower, offering 360-degree panoramic views of the gorgeous Clwyd Valley. Want to live out your own Game of Thrones fantasy, complete with dragon? The property is currently on sale via Hinchliffe on Rightmove for £1.8 million ($2.3m).

If you’ve ever fancied yourself a politician, this next house might be just the ticket. Incredibly, this bizarre New York home comes with its own replica of the iconic Oval Office. The property, dubbed a one-of-a-kind mansion, is said to have gone viral as soon as it hit the market in early October.

Love this? Discover the changing interior of the White House through the ages

And here it is! What inspired the owners to install this, we have no idea. Let's assume they were die-hard West Wing fans. Aside from the presidential-inspired space, the majestic four-bedroom home features its own heated indoor saltwater pool, hot tub, recording studio and an organ. Owners Greg and Katie Knowles bought the property back in 2009 and took 18 months to construct its unique features.

The impressive pool area comes complete with its own teppanyaki grill, ideal for poolside dining and entertainment. Elsewhere, the master bedroom features a cathedral-style ceiling, a walk-in closet and an ensuite with a luxurious jetted tub – only the best for the head of state! It's not too late to snap up this White House-worthy home – it's currently on sale via Zillow for £2.2 million ($2.8m)

From street level, this property looks like a seemingly ordinary family home in the Las Vegas suburbs, but delve underground and you'll discover all is not as it seems. A lavish bunker home lies 26 feet beneath the property, just two miles from the bustling Vegas strip.

The unique 14,620-square-foot property was created for Avon Cosmetics executive Girard Henderson and his wife, with all the luxury amenities you could possibly need in the event of an apocalypse. The blinged-out bunker creates the illusion of life above ground, with floor-to-ceiling murals of city and mountain vistas, plus fake grass carpet and mood lighting rigged up to simulate daylight, dusk, night and dawn.

The mammoth bunker mansion comes equipped with its own resort-style pool, barbeque station, bar and six-hole golf course. Built in the 70s amidst Cold War tensions, what more could a millionaire doomsday prepper need? The surreal property is currently on the market with Berkshire Hathaway and could be yours for £14 million ($18m).

Love this? These billionaire bunkers are only for the super-rich