It’s everything you would expect from European royalty – and more.

Once upon a time, Villa Les Cèdres belonged to King Leopold II, who reigned as the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909.

Built in 1830, the 18 000-square-foot mansion still sits within 35 acres of landscaped grounds on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat coastline, which, as you might know, is gorgeous in its own right.

According to CNN, the rooms are as ornate as they come, complete with panelling, coffered ceilings, period mouldings and elaborate chandeliers:

According to Bloomberg, its library holds some 3,000 books, including a 17th-century botanical codex, which is also for sale, alongside carpets, paintings and furniture from the villa.

King Leopold bought the mansion in 1904 and promptly expanded its grounds. Still to this day, his blue-and-gold sigil is mounted on one of the sitting room’s walls, while portraits of his mistress still hang in the rooms.

A little weird, no?

Now on sale for €350 million (R5,1 billion), it is the most expensive home for sale in the world.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Gorgeous, stunning, divine even! What an opulent affair!

[source:cnn]