20-bedroom French fort with a gruesome history could be yours… for £4 million

A historic fort dating back to the 13th century has hit the market at £4 million – but behind its stunning exterior hides a rather gruesome past.

Now a 20-bedroom towering chateau nestled in Hautes-Alpes, France, the property was once the site of witch burning trials.

The huge home comes complete with soldier barracks, a bakery, a hospital, storage buildings, and even a chapel – all of which are currently open to the public from May-September.

Fort Queyras was built in 1265 and, in the 15th and 16th centuries, was used as a site for witch trials, seeing ‘witches’ burned at the stake.

In 1692, a French military engineer made some improvements to the home, as well as others in the region, to improve all the forts defenses ahead of any upcoming battles.

The former site of Witch Burnings, now a family home, in Hautes-Alpes, France

Historic 13th century fort where witches were burned at stake hits market for £4M

Historic 13th century fort where witches were burned at stake hits market for £4M

Unknowingly, these grand modifications proved important, as the fort was used during the second world war.

In the 1950’s, the fort transformed into a holiday camp for children, before returning to civilian life in 1967.

This unique property is now used as a family home, as well as a museum, wedding venue and a historic chateau, admired by the general public in the summer months.

The fort has 20 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and sits on a plot of 445,335 sq ft.

The bedrooms are decorated in a traditional style, all featuring beautiful, long, windows with shutters.

It is currently open to the public from May-September

It is currently open to the public from May-September

The huge home comes complete with soldier barracks, a bakery, a hospital, storage buildings, and even a chapel

The huge home comes complete with soldier barracks, a bakery, a hospital, storage buildings, and even a chapel

Fort Queyras was built in 1265 and, in the 15th and 16th centuries, and was used as a site for witch trials

Fort Queyras was built in 1265 and, in the 15th and 16th centuries, and was used as a site for witch trials

In 1692, a French military engineer made some improvements to the home, as well as others in the region, to improve all the forts defences ahead of any upcoming battles

Unknowingly, these grand modifications proved important, as the fort was used during the second world war

In the 1950's, the fort transformed into a holiday camp for children, before returning to civilian life in 1967

In the 1950’s, the fort transformed into a holiday camp for children, before returning to civilian life in 1967

The bedrooms are decorated in a traditional style, all featuring beautiful, long, windows with shutters

The bedrooms are decorated in a traditional style, all featuring beautiful, long, windows with shutters

The bathrooms celebrate a vintage aesthetic, with cream walls and rounded corners.

The kitchen also consists of traditional ovens and brick, wood burning stoves, carrying the history in the decor.

The stunning fort is located in Hautes-Alpes, a town in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region of southeast France, and sits atop a rocky perch surrounded by picturesque views of the surrounding countryside.

The home is currently for sale for £3,989,025 (EUR4,500,000) for any history buffs.

The fort itself is a collection of buildings, which can be accessed via the main draw-bridge entrance.

A cobbled lane leads up to the main courtyard, where a beautiful lawned terrace and private gardens can be admired.

The property is currently available with Leggett.

This unique property is now used as a family home, as well as a museum, wedding venue and a historic chateau, admired by the general public in the summer months

This unique property is now used as a family home, as well as a museum, wedding venue and a historic chateau, admired by the general public in the summer months

A historic fort dating back to the 13th century has hit the market at £4 million - but behind its stunning exterior hides a rather gruesome past

A historic fort dating back to the 13th century has hit the market at £4 million – but behind its stunning exterior hides a rather gruesome past

The home is currently for sale for £4 million

The home is currently for sale for £4 million

The bathrooms celebrate a vintage aesthetic, with cream walls and rounded corners

The bathrooms celebrate a vintage aesthetic, with cream walls and rounded corners

A historic fort dating back to the 13th century has hit the market at £4 million - but behind its stunning exterior hides a rather gruesome past

A historic fort dating back to the 13th century has hit the market at £4 million – but behind its stunning exterior hides a rather gruesome past

The stunning fort is located in Hautes-Alpes, a town in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeast France, and sits atop a rocky perch surrounded by picturesque views of the surrounding countryside

The stunning fort is located in Hautes-Alpes, a town in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southeast France, and sits atop a rocky perch surrounded by picturesque views of the surrounding countryside

The fort has 20 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and sits on a plot of 445,335 sq ft

The fort has 20 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and sits on a plot of 445,335 sq ft

The kitchen also consists of traditional ovens and brick, wood burning stoves, carrying the history in the decor

The kitchen also consists of traditional ovens and brick, wood burning stoves, carrying the history in the decor

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