Nearly 8,000 Strangers Now Co-Own This 13th-Century French Chateau

The Mothe-Chandeniers chateau was in jeopardy of total destruction before thousands of people from around the world donated to restore the historic property.

The history of the Mothe-Chandeniers chateau is as fascinating as it is long. Built during the 13th century in Les Trois-Moutiers, France, the structure was twice seized by the British in the Middle Ages before it was nearly destroyed in the French Revolution. In 1932, over a century after the upheaval in France, a fire ruined much of the building. And it appears that drama has followed the chateau into the 21st century. Earlier this month, a group of nearly 8,000 people from around the world donated at least $61 each toward the total of approximately $600,000 to buy and restore the castle. The reward for each of the donors is partial ownership of the beautiful property in western France (roughly 100 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean).

The project was run through a website called Dartagnans, which organizes crowdfunding campaigns to conserve various pieces of cultural heritage. And while the culture may be French, some 45 different nationalities can now claim ownership of the property. This doesn't mean they will be able to take up residence on the hallowed grounds. Far from it, in fact. But the group of nearly 8,000 will be the first to visit the chateau in 2018 and will also have a say in the way the restoration is conducted.

Today, the castle has a beautiful if not eerie aesthetic. Surrounded by a moat and overrun by vegetation, the Mothe-Chandeniers is a chateau that has experienced many ups and downs, but appears poised for a fairy-tale ending.