Replica château sold for €275m

A newly built mansion in the Yvelines, built using 17th century methods and styles, has become the world's most expensive house after changing hands for an impressive €275million.

The Château Louis XIV in Louveciennes was commissioned by a Saudi property developer and completed in 2011.

It has 5,000m² of living space, set within 23 hectares of grounds, and "all the splendour of Versailles" with frescos, chandeliers, gold-leaf and marble, but "for the high-tech era" including a multiplex-size cinema screen, aquarium and swimming pool.

The buyer's identity has not been made revealed, but is reported to be from the Middle East.