What is the difference between a house and a chateau?
What is the difference between a house and a chateau? So what really distinguishes a “chateau” from a “big country house”? The real difference is in the owner(s). If the family is in the lineage of one of France's “noble” families, and if the house has been passed down from generation to generation, it's usually called a chateau.
What is the gender of château?
Masculine nouns often end in: -eau, eg le château – castle.
Why are châteaux cheap in France?
Why these properties are so seemingly cheap is obvious to the French: The castles are a money-suck. They demand constant repairs. The lower-priced ones are often located in isolated areas, far from the nearest train station or grocery store. They consume massive amounts of energy.
Do kings live in castles or palaces?
While kings and queens certainly took up residence in palaces as well as castles, nonmilitary royals might also have lived in (or still live in) palaces. Bishops and ministers could live in castles to showcase the power of their immense riches rather than their nonexistent military power.
Why are so many French châteaux empty?
Why are so many French châteaux empty? Because it costs a fortune to maintain them. The heating and electricity and water bills alone are astronomical, never mind maintenance of old stone structures and upkeep of the land.
What is a villa vs a house?
Villa's tend to have a much larger number of rooms and more creature comforts such as a kitchen or dining area. House's on the other hand may just feature a large living space with a couple of bedrooms and maybe an en suite bathroom. These things are important points to consider when comparing the two.