Inside a $45 million castle at a premier Colorado ski resort

IIt’s been about 800 years since castles prepared for battle with troops, weapons and supplies. The former military forts played their role during, for example, the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, but changed centuries later into something much more grandiose.

The castle style takes a page from the Italian Renaissance and included slate roofs, dormer windows, richly decorated facades, and large-scale interiors fit for royal residences. A look from outside told you everything you needed to know about the status of those living inside.

And that was the whole point.

Napoleon loved the bountiful castles of France, either as his personal residence or as his government workplaces. Before the self-proclaimed emperor was famously exiled to the Tuscan island of Elba in 1814, he bid farewell to the nation at the Chateau Fontainebleau, just outside Paris.

What a way to go.

Modern castles set the tone for European design, featuring modern amenities no ancient warrior could have imagined, and locations that match their contemporary designs.

To take Mountain castlea ski-oriented home that, at a palatial 16,000 square feet, is one of the largest and most iconic homes in Beaver Creek, Colorado. It is secluded within the gates of an exclusive resort community, with no battlefield in sight.

The stone and glass walls of the facade keep the focus on the surrounding woodlands and lush mountain location. Soft pointed roofs cover the expansive house, connected by balconies and exterior stairs, which sits on an acre and a half of land.

Once you arrive, there’s little reason to leave.

You can ski in or out to the nearest slopes, especially via the Elkhorn Lift and Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express, which also connects to the Bachelor Gulch enclave. Because castles naturally exist in enclaves.

Do you want to have friends over? Seven large bedrooms with 14 bathrooms (several primary suites have his and her own bathrooms) should be sufficient. Would you like some more wine? Something from the cellar with 1,100 bottles will undoubtedly delight the taste buds.

Do you want to watch a movie? Line up your favorites and relax in the spacious home theater. Or maybe you just want to sit down for a meal in the dining room and look at the mountain, or cozy up to one of the campsite’s nine fireplaces.

Outside, nature provides entertainment and ultimate privacy all year round. With few neighbors, residents and guests can enjoy private moments by relaxing on the patios and balconies or taking a dip in the outdoor hot tubs.

And what nature has not provided, technology does. A three-story waterfall cascades down a dramatic rocky course – a feature built to complement the landscape and greet visitors.

The owner, known on the Forbes 400 list, purchased the property in 2009. It was extensively renovated and redesigned as a four-story castle with a gym, separate massage room and steam room on the first floor, and bedrooms on the second floor. Heading back upstairs, the great room, dining area and kitchen are on the third floor, with the master suite on top.

Future owners may view the property as an old house: a retreat for extended families that is suitable at any time of year. They would also be offered a charter membership to the Beaver Creek Club, which adds golf and tennis privileges, as well as a ski club and other amenities.

The costs? A princely $45 million, which could well be a record for home sales in the area.

Janice Ciampa-Bauer keeps track of the entry Slifer Smith & Frampton Real estate, a member of Forbes Global Propertiesthe invited network of top real estate agents worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.