• Castle for sale Geneva Left Bank, Cologny, Switzerland

El Masr Castle: a 19th-century masterpiece

With a rich architectural provenance dating back as far as the 18th century, Château El Masr is a unique example of a Neo-Tudor property in Geneva. Boasting a picturesque setting amidst 5,500 m² of landscaped gardens and breathtaking views of the city and Lake Geneva, Château El Masr offers a refined sense of seclusion.

El Masr, The castle impresses with its spectacular medieval castle design and details. It was built in 1883-1884 by the Scotsman Charles Flood, on his return from Egypt, where he had made his fortune.

Its architects were Henri Bourrit and Jacques Simmler, trained in Zurich in the best aspects of 19th-century eclecticism, and responsible for several remarkable buildings in Geneva, including a neo-Florentine-style School of Chemistry and the Napoleon III-style Château Sans-Souci on the other side of the lake.

In Cologny, they created an extraordinary exercise in Scottish-inspired neo-medieval architecture, playing on the picturesque romanticism of the best Tudor style.

The property's distinctive feature is its medieval turret, adjoining the main residence, leading to a fortified tower-terrace adorned with battlements and machicolations, offering a unique view of Lake Geneva, the Jura and the night skies, with a high, square, four-storey keep at its center. This majestic keep is flanked by two main buildings, the largest of which features an astonishing seigniorial chapel on the second floor, lit by large ogival windows and bearing the monogram of its sponsor, Charles Flood.

A twentieth-century three-storey tower that is one of only three like it in Switzerland, and the only one accessible with a tea room on the second floor. The tower was built by the original owners, the Demierre family, in the same style as the Tour Champel.

Covering more than 1,000 m², the property's living spaces are spread over three floors, with eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

Entrance is via a carved porch, at the top of a Baroque-inspired double-flight marble staircase. A sumptuous drawing room suitable for formal receptions, a library and a kitchen are also located on the same level.

The second floor of the residence is occupied by the master bedroom, with French doors leading to a beautiful terrace.

Higher up, on the second floor, are three further bedrooms and a bathroom, with a circular staircase connecting to the turret. An office is ideally nestled in the round tower-like space, benefiting from abundant natural light and magnificent 360-degree views from its multiple windows.

This eclectic masterpiece underwent a meticulous and intense three-year renovation. The inherited heritage has been restored to its former glory, while the facilities and services have been brought up to the highest standards expected of a grand contemporary residence.

From the columns to the roof, everything was renovated with the utmost care, respecting every detail to perfectly preserve the neo-Elizabethan style, very much in vogue in Great Britain at the time of the Castle's original construction. Craftsmen from Murano in Italy were brought in full-time to create beautiful bespoke chandeliers, marble fountains and statues imported from Venice to maintain the coherence of the architectural style. No expense was spared in restoring the building.

The attention to detail is evident in the lavishly detailed interiors, including the high, hand-painted decorative ceilings.

In memory of his happy years in Alexandria, he christened his château "El Masr", or "The Egyptian".