If you're looking for the ultimate European escape then look no further. These grand fixer-upper properties are ready for renovation and perfect for living out the fairy tale. With overgrown grounds, towering turrets and long empty hallways, click or scroll through and take a look at these deserted mansions and castles for sale. 

This next restoration project sits just below the charming medieval village of Citerna in Umbria, Italy. Described as a farmhouse, the 14-room stately country home is more of a manor house with its own barn in the classic Umbrian countryside. For sale for a fairly modest £253,800 ($319k), or €295,000 in the local currency, let's take a look around this Italian fixer-upper...

With four large arches and original floors still intact, you’ll find animal stalls with vaulted ceilings on the ground floor – ideal for an open-plan living and kitchen area with doors that lead out onto a terrace. According to the listing, the walls are in fairly good shape, but the roof and floors have collapsed in some parts. 

Set across three floors, the large stone and brick country house boasts an old stone sink and fireplace in the original kitchen area on the first floor where exposed beams and original ceiling tiles can be found on the upper levels. Elsewhere, you may even discover a secret underground tunnel that is said to lead to the walled village above, thought to have been used in times of siege.

Towards the rear of the garden, this intriguing manor house comes complete with two catacombs as well as an old pigsty with a small walled courtyard found near the main entrance. As the listing suggests, with more than 75,000 square feet of land there’s plenty of space to install a pool should the new owners fancy, to be beautifully surrounded by mature evergreen trees and mountain views across idyllic Umbria.

Priced at £326,900 ($411k), or €380,000, this historic presbytery is a real steal. However, the new owner will need to roll up their sleeves because a lot of work is needed to bring the house back from the brink.

Sadly we don't know too much about the residence, but we do know that it dates back to both the 16th and 18th centuries and lies next to a church in the heart of Wallonia, in the Liège province of Belgium. The gorgeous rural house would once have been home to the local Roman Catholic parish priest and this is clear when you step inside, taking in the home's ornate architectural details and its numerous Christian antiquities and decorations.

The elegant, classical-style mansion boasts a gorgeous brick façade, punctuated by large windows with dressed stone surrounds. Inside, the rooms are in need of renovation, but there are endless spaces to play with, including an entrance hall, several reception rooms, four bedrooms and a bathroom. Of course, though, a lot of work is needed, with crumbling ceilings, dusty floors and plaster missing from many walls.

Outside, there's a large, enclosed garden that measures 20,451 square feet. The property is ideal for family life, but could also be turned into a hotel or even a wedding venue. So, do you fancy taking on this extreme fixer-upper?

Fairytale castles don't get much more incredible than this. Located on almost 15 acres in France's central Corrèze region, this dreamy 15th-century residence is pretty, remote and overflowing with authentic features.

Laid out across four floors, the ancient castle boasts round towers with pepper pot turrets covered in chestnut shingles, gorgeous mullioned windows with stained-glass elements and a studded wooden front door topped by a triangular pediment featuring the carved coat of arms of the former Earl's family. As for the interior, it's equally as stunning. The ground floor features a hallway, a dining room, a library and a cloakroom, all decorated in the neo-Gothic style.

Elsewhere, you'll find a vast kitchen with a granite inglenook fireplace and 10 bedrooms – four were once used as servants' quarters, while two are connected by a secret passageway. Everywhere you look you'll spot lovely period features, like napkin-pleat wood panelling, herringbone parquet flooring, red hexagonal terracotta tiles, French-style painted ceilings and rustic exposed beams. Yet it's clear that some work is needed to bring these elements, and the rest of the castle, back to their former glory.

Priced at just £593,700 ($747k), that's €690,000, the castle offers fantastic bang for your buck because outside there's a range of outbuildings that are waiting to be put to use. These include a tall farm building with a garage, stables and a cowshed, as well as a hayloft that's supported by elegant stone columns – cool barn conversion, anyone? There are also endless English-style landscaped grounds waiting to be explored. If you've fallen in love, the property is for sale via Patrice Besse.

Left empty for several years and last renovated in 1975, this beautiful 13th-century German castle is ready for its new owners – patiently waiting in the heart of western Upper Lusatia, in southern Brandenburg.

In need of major refurbishment, the castle is awash with enviable original features throughout. Built into a rectangular main building with outbuildings during the Renaissance, the extensive residence was later extended with short side wings and a tower in the Baroque period. It currently features no sanitary facilities or furnishings and defective electricity as per the listing, so it's ripe for a full renovation project.

The listed monument is currently for sale for €800,000, which equates to £688,300 ($867k), a modest price for the 39-room castle but with renovations set to be rather costly. According to the seller, the property is partially developed with electricity available on-site, alongside gas, fresh water, sewage pipes and internet laid up to the property line.

With interior space covering approximately 25,000 square feet, the 13th-century German schloss is surrounded by its own moat and accessed via bridges. Charming views across the neighbouring countryside can be enjoyed from multiple balconies and terraces – ideal for royalty-worthy alfresco dining in the German sunshine.

Who wouldn’t want to be the new ruler of this 17th-century castle, proudly residing in the beautiful woodland of Cork, Ireland? Overlooking surrounding Monkstown, with stunning south-easterly sea views, the 10-bedroom structure has stood vacant and ruinous for decades before hitting the market recently at €800,000, or £688,300 ($867k).

Although in need of a serious investor to finish renovating Monkstown Castle fully, the property has undergone restoration in recent years and comes with full planning permission for three apartments comprising of the ground floor, first floor and penthouse apartment. 

Spanning a total of 9,150 square feet of living space in total, the Irish tower house has all mains connections and even hosts a lift shaft in situ. The ground floor offers access to an external garden patio area, while the first floor – with three bedrooms and a kitchen/living room – boasts a 40-year-old central fireplace. 

Beautiful vaulted ceilings with wooden beams and skylights adorn the potential penthouse, with four ensuite bedrooms, a library and charming views across Monkstown golf course and the ocean beyond. Does this dreamy abandoned Irish castle catch your fancy?

How about a renovation project located in the enviable Cote d’azur region of France? Complete with two main buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, agricultural plots and its own stream and spring – you could have all of this in the French sunshine for just shy of €1.2 million, which translates to £1 million ($1.3m).

Nestled in the peaceful Luberon countryside of Southern France, the nine-bedroom manor house was originally a folly for a wealthy family from Marseille, according to the listing. Rich tapestries adorned the walls in refined friezes, which need replacing due to fading, while high ceilings and checkerboard flooring nod towards the property’s history.

Tall windows, decorative wallpaper and marble fireplaces still remain throughout, while terracotta honeycomb tiling adorns the floors of the second-floor bedrooms in the 18th-century part of the house, boasting views across the manor grounds below. Beneath the 19th-century section, you’ll find a cellar and boiler room.

Outside, the grounds host an outbuilding in need of complete renovations, a dormant hen house and hutches, while a tool shed sits next to an old spring-fed pond. Surrounding the house, you’ll find a park and garden filled with flowering shrubs, conifers and broadleaf trees as well as a stream that irrigates the farmland to the north of the manor. Described as a “sleeping beauty” by the listing agents, it certainly would be “an exciting project for a buyer who wished to breathe life back into the property.”

Nestled on a picturesque 37-acre plot, between the Olt Valley and ancient wheatlands, this 16th-century French castle is surrounded by ancient redwood trees. Built over several centuries, it features an imposing keep and numerous circular towers topped by pepper pot turrets. It has plenty of surprising extras, too. For starters, the estate's three buildings are all connected via private, hidden passageways.

The castle itself benefits from an enchanting 4,327-square-foot interior, packed with stunning design details. From herringbone parquet floors to patinated terracotta tiles, beamed ceilings, lattice windows, cast iron radiators, huge stone fireplaces and hand-painted motifs, every single room reveals the rich history of the place.

Room-wise, there’s a formal living room, a kitchen, a dining room and countless bedrooms, all of which are in need of some TLC. There are even two huge cellars with amazing brick-barrel ceilings. They can be accessed via a spiral staircase in the central tower and the largest of the two has wooden support posts that add to its character.

On the top floor, you'll find a derelict attic with potential for conversion. Over in the keep, there are five floors of space waiting to be discovered and renovated. The estate also has a 'secadou', a building that was originally used for drying chestnuts, and a two-storey, red sandstone barn with a vaulted ceiling. Listed with Patrice Besse for €1.5 million, which equates to £1.3 million ($1.6m), this amazing castle is sure to be snapped up soon.

Located in the attractive Saintonge province of southwest France, this particular French chateau sits close to the Cognac region known for its rich cultural heritage and plentiful vineyards. For €1.5 million, or £1.3 million ($1.6m), the late 19th-century chateau, complete with outbuildings and a 30-hectare park, could be all yours. 

The main residence with its south-facing façade of dressed limestone – known as "coquillère” (shell stone) – boasts French windows with delicate small panes, leading out onto balconies from the first floor. The ground floor hosts a living room awash with 18th-century geometric oak panelling that we’re sure the new owners will be keen to keep.

Elsewhere, you’ll find another large family room with an elegantly veined white marble fireplace, more oak flooring and an ornate ceiling rose awaiting a chandelier. While not strictly abandoned, this stunning property is in need of a caring new owner ready to breathe new life into the numerous rooms and maintain the chateau’s incredible period features.

The grounds feature multiple outbuildings, known as the ‘farm’, which sit to the right of the main residence as you approach, while a fountain stretches along an alley and leads towards the main entrance gate. To the east of the dream chateau, an ancient circular moat separates the expansive 75-acre park from the estate’s meadows that come complete with large, fruit-bearing trees.

If you'd rather be in Burgundy, one of France's iconic wine regions, then this 18th-century rural estate could be to your liking. Priced at a hefty £1.5 million ($1.9m), or €1.8 million locally, the property isn't cheap but it provides rather a lot of bang for your buck.

For your money, you'll obtain 62 acres of parklands, meadows and woods, as well as a substantial U-shaped chateau. Many of the building's elements date back to the late 18th century but others were added in the 19th century. Spanning two floors, the house is flanked by two protruding wings, linked by a stone terrace. The abandoned chateau is entered via a vast vestibule, with terrazzo flooring and a black marble fireplace.

The entrance leads to the reception rooms: a dining room and a lounge, as well as a library and a study on the west side. There are also two kitchens, utility rooms, six bedrooms on the first floor and a series of former staff bedrooms on the second. According to the listing agents, following renovation works there’s scope to add nine more bedrooms. Most of the interior spaces have herringbone parquet flooring, wainscoting, French ceilings, marble fireplaces and casement windows with wrought-iron details. 

There’s also an attic and a cellar, both of which are ready to be transformed. Interestingly, the basement is laid out under the east section of the chateau and was once part of a medieval fortress and as such, it features a range of vaulted stone tunnels. If that wasn't enough, the estate also boasts a guest house, a caretaker’s cottage, an old orangery, a stable block and several abandoned farm buildings that could be converted into additional accommodation.

This breathtaking Italian renovation project is known as Villa Castello Pellegrini, but with those turrets, towers and wraparound balconies it’s reminiscent of a storybook castle. Alongside an impressive 129,000 square feet of interiors, the property comes with two private beaches. How’s that for outdoor space?

Currently on the market with Sotheby's International Realty for a reported €2.8 million, which is around £2.4 million ($3m), Villa Castello Pellegrini comes with all permits approved for the renovation. As the listing suggests, it is possible to purchase it perfectly restored, according to the wishes of the buyer. We love the grand foyer on arrival, with a marble staircase plus your very own elevator should you prefer.

The neo-classical fixer-upper was once owned by Gianfranco Ferrè, the Italian designer known as the "architect of fashion" who sadly passed away before completing the necessary renovations. Built in the late 19th century, the nine-bedroom stunner spreads over three floors above ground and a basement floor, with two circular corner turrets and a central square tower to admire your two private beaches from.

Located in the idyllic resort town of Lake Maggiore, the second largest lake in the country, the Italian castle hosts breathtaking views across the lake via wraparound balconies and multiple arched windows. With the vast Villa purchase, you would also gain a two-level annex that comes with a kitchen, a living room and two bathrooms as well as a small cottage – ideal for when you decide to transform the property into a fabulous hotel and need somewhere to live close by. 

Sprawling, stylish and seriously stunning, Netterville Manor in County Meath, Ireland, isn't just a dream home – it's a one-of-a-kind real estate opportunity. For the price of £2.5 million ($3.2m), or €2.9 million in the local currency, the buyer won't just bag themselves an incredible mansion, but the estate's "spare" castle and views of Stone Age tombs.

Listed with Christie's International Real Estate, the property lies in the heart of Ireland’s Boyne Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to the Neolithic tombs of Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange. So, from certain spots in the garden you can take in views of these historic burial sites. It was built in 1877, by the Netterville Trust to a design by architect George Ashlin, whose notable works include Tulira Castle in Galway and Annemount in Cork. Later, in 1844, the prominent 19th-century writer, John Boyle O’Reilly, was born at the estate. 

The manor itself stretches 6,049 square feet and comes complete with elegant but dusty rooms filled with original period features, such as beautiful plasterwork, grand chandeliers and ornate fireplaces. There’s a pretty front porch that opens to the hall, leading to a drawing room, formal dining room and sitting room. Elsewhere, you'll find a study, a kitchen and four ensuite bedrooms, as well as this incredible two-storey library. In addition to the main residence, there's a private chapel and a detached garage. Oh, and a "spare" castle!

The impressive, four-storey castle sits adjacent to the main house and is considered to be in excellent condition, with heating and electricity services already in place. Plus, the estate spans 100 acres and boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, including a water feature that’s surrounded by a Victorian stone wall. It also benefits from almost a kilometre of River Boyne frontage. So, whether you want to create the ultimate private stately home or set up a wedding venue, this property offers plenty of scope.

Imagine the views from this six-storey castle tower, dating back to the 11th century. Located on a hill in an Umbrian valley, Torre D’Annibale, as it is known, sits close to Passignano sul Trasimeno and Lake Trasimeno, one of the largest lakes in Italy. For just shy of £2.5 million ($3.1m), or €2.9 million locally, the medieval castle could be all yours to renovate.

According to the listing, the outer walls were secured and renovated in the last seven years, while the tower was stabilised and given an earthquake-proof frame. Both the main, two-storey building and tower have been restored with the original antique bricks, but the interiors are yet to be renovated by the lucky new owners.

The cool castle is partially developed, with electricity and water already connected. Constructed in 1100, the building hosts 21 rooms in total, with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms to enjoy redeveloping and decorating – perhaps with a medieval theme respectful to its rich history?

Multiple square windows and a vaulted ceiling with a huge roof lantern provide incredible panoramic views from the castle’s tower with its newly fitted earthquake-proof frame. The possibilities are endless with this historic Italian property, ready to create a unique private residence or commercial venue to host breathtaking events.

If you've got a bigger budget, then this sprawling and historic stately home could soon be yours. Listed with Savills for £10 million ($12.7m), Homestall Manor can be found in East Grinstead, West Sussex, and occupies almost 28 acres of land in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The manor is Grade II listed and features both medieval and Tudor architectural elements. The original 15th-century house, known as Homestall, formed the southwest wing and is believed to have once been John of Gaunt’s hunting lodge. In the early 20th century, the property was bought by the Dewar family, who picked up and moved Dutton Hall from Cheshire to its current location, enabling them to enlarge the house substantially. Today, it spans a staggering 26,259 square feet.

During the Second World War, the manor served as an auxiliary hospital and in the late 1940s it became a prep school. Despite this, plenty of amazing original details have been preserved, from huge stone fireplaces to pretty leaded windows and rustic beams. The impressive great hall is perhaps the home’s best asset, thanks to its hammer-beam roof, which is believed to have originated from the wardroom of the last English ship to go into battle. What's more, its stone fireplace dates from 1585 and its 1,000-year-old front door was sourced from a French monastery.

With endless space to play with, the house has 10 reception rooms, 26 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and gorgeous grounds, equipped with a swimming pool, two all-weather tennis courts, a walled garden, a games barn, a three-bay garage, numerous offices and a party barn, so the possibilities for this place are endless. Not for the faint of heart, though, the buyer will need deep pockets and plenty of imagination in order to rescue this dreamy country estate. 

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