Large and stately homes in the Washington, D.C., area sometimes come with a historic pedigree. Not so for a luxury landmark property on the Potomac River in Virginia that may look more at home in Europe than the nation’s capital.

The sprawling castle-like house at 612 Rivercrest Drive in McLean, Virginia—a stone’s throw from the border with Maryland and the D.C. area—was built in 2008 on 1.2 acres. The eight-bedroom home on four levels is being sold by the owner who lovingly built it.

“[They] personally had his hand in designing every piece of it, all the materials that were chosen, the iron railings, the wood on the staircase, the doors that were imported—everything,” says listing agent Megan Thiel of Long & Foster Real Estate.

Indeed, the bespoke interior features eight different types of wood, including cedar, mahogany, maple, Brazilian cherry and walnut as well as granite, marble and travertine floors. The limestone exterior topped with Vermont red slate and copper accents covers the home’s square towers and rounded turret. Large arched windows and doors on the main level keep the outdoors close.

The waterfront setting adds a one-of-a-kind magical note. “From the back of the property, all you have is a view of the river. To have 1.2 acres of riverfront is really special,” Thiel says.

Inside, the main foyer has a pantheon-style ceiling that rises nearly 40 feet while ceilings in other rooms range from 10 to 15 feet. A wooden staircase with custom wrought-iron railing links the four levels. There’s also a glass exterior elevator that offers views of the Potomac as you move from floor to floor.

Other rooms include a living room facing the river, formal dining room, bedrooms with wooden floors and en suite bathrooms, five fireplaces, two wrought-iron balconies with river views, and a custom contemporary kitchen with granite countertops as well as Corinthian capitals and columns.

Amenities give the home its luxurious heft, such as a 1,000-square-foot indoor pool with sauna, hot tub and casual dining area; gym; screening room and an escape room. Outdoor stairs amid the landscaped grounds lead to a large lawn with a fire pit and chairs that face the river.

It’s a 20-minute drive to downtown D.C., along the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway. The property is also close to green spaces, such as Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and Langley Oaks Park.

Who might be a potential buyer? “Someone who needs to come to D.C. a lot to meet with policymakers, potentially an ambassador,” Thiel says. “I think there are a lot of different potentials there.” The home is well known in the area. It has been the site of private presidential events and opera performances. It also has been used as a filming site for The Real Housewives of Potomac and featured in films and TV shows.

The house is for sale for $22 million.

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• Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2023/08/28/potomac-river-castle-outside-washington-dc-seeks-22-million/