The French-Canadian chanteuse and her husband have decided to sell their luxurious home on a small private island just south of Montreal, including all of the stylish artwork and furnishings.
(Image Courtesy of Joseph Montanaro)
A stunning French-Normandy chateau on a Québécois private island has just come on the market – and one of its best selling points may be that is currently owned by renowned singer Celine Dion and her husband and manager, René Angélil. The couple have decided to sell their opulent home after deciding to spend more time in the United States, but the Wall Street Journal has reported that they may soon be in the market for a smaller Canadian residence.
The island chateau was recently listed with a local affiliate of Sotheby’s International Realty for just over CAD $29.65 million. Broker Joseph Montanaro, who is selling the property, told PIN that the couple were looking for elite representation that offered a global scope. “The sellers hired me through my affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada to promote the property to our unrivaled world-wide pool of qualified buyers,” he said.
The list price of Mrs. Dion’s private island estate makes it one of the top 5 most expensive homes in Canada – and for good reason. The spectacular four-storey chateau is surrounded by nearly 20 acres on a gated island in Gagnon, which is just a 15 minute drive from downtown Montreal, but its setting on the dreamy Mille Îles River feels exceptionally secluded.
(Image Courtesy of Joseph Montanaro)
It’s a rare opportunity on the Quebec market – and also a unique experience for its broker. “Although I represent many luxury listings through Sotheby’s,” said Mr. Montanaro, “this is indeed my first ‘private island’”.
Mrs. Dion and her husband undertook extensive renovations of the property in 2001, expanding it to 24,000 square feet during a lengthy 3-year refurbishment period that employed a reported 300 construction workers and craftsman. Elegant and vast, the six-bedroom chateau features a library, three living rooms, a swimming pool, and a wine cellar with a tasting room.
Considered one of Canada’s national treasures, Dion has built a vast fortune from her golden pipes, including a lucrative Las Vegas show deal and platinum-selling albums. In an interview with TVNZ, Mr. Angélil stated that it was this long-term residency in the United States that prompted the sale of their island home. He said that their oldest child, 11-year-old René-Charles, attends school in Florida, and the family spends most of the time at their Jupiter Island mansion. The couple also have two 19-month-old twin boys, named Eddie and Nelson.
(Google Earth Image of Celine Dion's Home)
The private island estate in Gagnon is one of the most exciting properties to come on the Canadian market in years, and has already generated plenty of buzz in the international media. The question remains, however; who would be a buyer for the chateau? “I can see the buyer being either a local or international fan of the Celine Dion,” said Mr. Montanaro. Aside from a devoted (and extremely wealthy) fan, the estate would also definitely appeal to anyone seeking the ultimate in privacy.
There are plenty of security cameras surrounding the estate, and the waters around the island are too shallow for boats, creating an effective moat. To top it off, the island’s bridge is secured with a gate. It would certainly be an ideal setup for a solitude-seeking millionaire with a taste for sophisticated European living, and even at almost CAD $30 million, it may not be on the market for long.
Read more about this story: Wall Street Journal
View Joseph Montanaro’s video of 175 Ile Gagnon: Youtube
See the listing details on Vladi Private Islands: Link
