Today, the Italian town schemes that offer houses for 1 euro if you renovate them might still offer small, castle-like structures you could negotiate ownership of. In Poland, Czech Republic, France, and Spain, you can still find castles and old palaces for sale for amounts that even peasants like us can afford.

France and Italy are frequently cited as the best countries for finding "cheap" castles, though the term requires a realistic perspective on renovation costs. In rural France, particularly in the Berry or Limousin regions, it is possible to find small châteaus or fortified manors for less than the price of a small apartment in Paris—sometimes between €300,000 and €500,000. These properties are often "cheap" because they are located in depopulated rural areas and require immense structural work to be habitable. Italy also offers incredible deals through its "1 Euro Houses" and "State Property" initiatives, where the government occasionally gives away historic ruins to those who commit to a multi-million euro restoration project. Scotland has its share of "tower houses" for sale, but these are often listed as "ruins" and have strict conservation laws that make modernizing them incredibly expensive. While the initial purchase price of a castle in these countries can be surprisingly low, the "hidden" costs of heating, heritage-approved roofing, and specialized masonry usually mean that a "cheap" castle will eventually cost several times its list price in long-term maintenance.