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Inside the world's most expensive house

  • <p>Palm trees line the lawn avenue in the private gardens leading to the Villa Les Cedres, a 187-year-old, 18,000-square-foot, 14-bedroom mansion set in 35 acres, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, southern France. </p>
    1/13

    Most expensive

    Palm trees line the lawn avenue in the private gardens leading to the Villa Les Cedres, a 187-year-old, 18,000-square-foot, 14-bedroom mansion set in 35 acres, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, southern France.

  • <p>Marble urns and benches decorate the lawn in private gardens at the Villa Les Cedre. With a price of €350 million (£312 million, or US$411 million), the owner, Italian distiller Davide Campari-Milano SpA, is betting that the house’s combination of history, luxury, and a prime location will be enough to make it the most expensive residential sale in history. </p>
    2/13

    Nice urn-er

    Marble urns and benches decorate the lawn in private gardens at the Villa Les Cedre. With a price of €350 million (£312 million, or US$411 million), the owner, Italian distiller Davide Campari-Milano SpA, is betting that the house’s combination of history, luxury, and a prime location will be enough to make it the most expensive residential sale in history.

  • <p>Armchairs and tables stand beneath chandeliers as 19th century portraits in ornate frames adorn the walls of a sitting room inside the villa. </p>
    3/13

    Elegance and history

    Armchairs and tables stand beneath chandeliers as 19th century portraits in ornate frames adorn the walls of a sitting room inside the villa.

  • <p>Cushions rest on sofas of a sitting room inside the villa, which was built in 1830 and bought in 1850 by the mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, when it operated as an olive tree farm </p>
    4/13

    Style and comfort

    Cushions rest on sofas of a sitting room inside the villa, which was built in 1830 and bought in 1850 by the mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, when it operated as an olive tree farm

  • <p>The initials M.L., for the Marnier-Lapostolle family, sit inscribed on a stonework of a fireplace. Belgian king Leopold II purchased the villa in 1904. </p>
    5/13

    Fireplace

    The initials M.L., for the Marnier-Lapostolle family, sit inscribed on a stonework of a fireplace. Belgian king Leopold II purchased the villa in 1904.

  • <p>Chandeliers hang over armchairs and tables in of a sitting room inside the sprawling villa. The most recent private owners, the Marnier-Lapostolle family, are best known for making the Grand Marnier liquer. </p>
    6/13

    Ornate features

    Chandeliers hang over armchairs and tables in of a sitting room inside the sprawling villa. The most recent private owners, the Marnier-Lapostolle family, are best known for making the Grand Marnier liquer.

  • <p>Tropical plants surround a swimming pool in the private gardens. The Marnier-Lapostolle family acquired the villa in 1924, some 15 years after King Leopold’s death. </p>
    7/13

    Swimming pool

    Tropical plants surround a swimming pool in the private gardens. The Marnier-Lapostolle family acquired the villa in 1924, some 15 years after King Leopold’s death.

  • <p>A pond sits in the private botanical gardens overlooking the Mediterranean coast, a breathtaking view for any potential new owner. </p>
    8/13

    Breathtaking

    A pond sits in the private botanical gardens overlooking the Mediterranean coast, a breathtaking view for any potential new owner.

  • <p>Antique furnishings decorate one of the 14 bedrooms in the near-200-year-old building. </p>
    9/13

    Bedroom

    Antique furnishings decorate one of the 14 bedrooms in the near-200-year-old building.

  • <p>Panorama of the Mediterranean Sea is seen from a bedroom. The sale is being handled by international realtors Savills. </p>
    10/13

    Room with a view

    Panorama of the Mediterranean Sea is seen from a bedroom. The sale is being handled by international realtors Savills.

  • <p>Palm trees stand beyond columns on a terrace. A huge, wood-panelled library holds 3,000 books on flora and naturalism. </p>
    11/13

    Terrace

    Palm trees stand beyond columns on a terrace. A huge, wood-panelled library holds 3,000 books on flora and naturalism.

  • <p>The sprawling botanical gardens are a spellbinding feature of the villa, with Amazonian lily pads resting on the man-made pond. </p>
    12/13

    Botanical gardens

    The sprawling botanical gardens are a spellbinding feature of the villa, with Amazonian lily pads resting on the man-made pond.

  • <p>The town of Villefrance-sur-Mer sits across the water from the private beach. (All pictures: Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg, via Getty Images) </p>
    13/13

    Private beach

    The town of Villefrance-sur-Mer sits across the water from the private beach. (All pictures: Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg, via Getty Images)

<p>Palm trees line the lawn avenue in the private gardens leading to the Villa Les Cedres, a 187-year-old, 18,000-square-foot, 14-bedroom mansion set in 35 acres, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, southern France. </p>
<p>Marble urns and benches decorate the lawn in private gardens at the Villa Les Cedre. With a price of €350 million (£312 million, or US$411 million), the owner, Italian distiller Davide Campari-Milano SpA, is betting that the house’s combination of history, luxury, and a prime location will be enough to make it the most expensive residential sale in history. </p>
<p>Armchairs and tables stand beneath chandeliers as 19th century portraits in ornate frames adorn the walls of a sitting room inside the villa. </p>
<p>Cushions rest on sofas of a sitting room inside the villa, which was built in 1830 and bought in 1850 by the mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, when it operated as an olive tree farm </p>
<p>The initials M.L., for the Marnier-Lapostolle family, sit inscribed on a stonework of a fireplace. Belgian king Leopold II purchased the villa in 1904. </p>
<p>Chandeliers hang over armchairs and tables in of a sitting room inside the sprawling villa. The most recent private owners, the Marnier-Lapostolle family, are best known for making the Grand Marnier liquer. </p>
<p>Tropical plants surround a swimming pool in the private gardens. The Marnier-Lapostolle family acquired the villa in 1924, some 15 years after King Leopold’s death. </p>
<p>A pond sits in the private botanical gardens overlooking the Mediterranean coast, a breathtaking view for any potential new owner. </p>
<p>Antique furnishings decorate one of the 14 bedrooms in the near-200-year-old building. </p>
<p>Panorama of the Mediterranean Sea is seen from a bedroom. The sale is being handled by international realtors Savills. </p>
<p>Palm trees stand beyond columns on a terrace. A huge, wood-panelled library holds 3,000 books on flora and naturalism. </p>
<p>The sprawling botanical gardens are a spellbinding feature of the villa, with Amazonian lily pads resting on the man-made pond. </p>
<p>The town of Villefrance-sur-Mer sits across the water from the private beach. (All pictures: Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg, via Getty Images) </p>
Mark Dorman

The world’s most expensive house has gone on the market – for an eye-watering €350 million, about £312 million (US$411 million).

Villa Les Cèdres is an 18,000 square foot pile, boasting 14 bedrooms, and set in 35 acres of immaculately manicured grounds. It sits in the exclusive enclave of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the coast of southern France.

Built in 1830 and once owned by King Leopold of Belgian, it’s now being sold by the Italian drinks firm behind the Grand Marnier liquer brand.