The Dh70 million Greek retreat

There are countryside retreats and then there is the 400-acre, Dh70 million farmhouse in Epidavros, Greece, providing any discerning buyer the luxury of salubrious country living close to the sea and a historic seaport.

However, High Groves Estate, as the property is called, is not solely a farmhouse. It is an estate with a castle-like manor house and comes with its own orchards and vineyards. Elise Knapp, of Ploumis Sotiropoulos Real Estate, told Emirates Business: "In Greece, land-holdings are usually quite small. It is very rare to have such a large property –approximately 400 acres – as this." It has a private evergreen forest forming most of its perimeter that encircles the farmland and forms a natural bowl extending to the tops of the surrounding hills. From one of its bluffs you get a dramatic view of the coastline, as the estate is close to the sea and easily accessible from Athens.

Knapp said: "Only about 90 minutes by car and 20 minutes by helicopter from Athens, it is the perfect Mediterranean hideaway. It has all the privacy of a country estate, yet it is within driving distance of beautiful beaches and yacht marinas. It is the ideal base for sailing around the Greek islands."

High Groves Estate is only seven kilometres from the ancient seaport of Epidavros, which offers summer weekend hydrofoil service to Piraeus and the islands of the Saronic Gulf. Epidavros is situated close to many of Greece's most important historic sites, including Mycenae, Tyrinth, Corinth, Argos, Nemea, Nauplio, and the two world-renowned ancient Greek amphitheatres at Epidavros.

"Even though the property has its own large swimming pool and stables for horses, as well as many riding trails to keep the owners occupied, there are plenty of beaches nearby offering a range of watersports,"said Knapp.

"During the summer, the nearby open-air amphitheatre of Epidavros hosts theatrical, ballet, and opera performances."

The High Groves Estate is also a stunning wildlife preserve with stately accommodation. Occupants can wake up to beautiful views of a verdant countryside visible from each room. The 7,500 sq ft stone manor house comes with seven bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom. The master suite has two bathrooms and also offers a dressing room. The sunken drawing room and formal dining room feature cathedral ceilings with exposed wood beams.

The monumental fireplace presiding over the drawing room and another elegant stone fireplace accenting the library, together with dramatic stone flooring throughout most of the ground floor, add to the castle-like character of the interior.

The house also includes a sunny breakfast area, a large home theatre and game room, a wine cellar, a laundry room, a four-car garage, and a two-bedroom caretaker's apartment with a separate entrance. Under-floor radiant heating has been installed throughout, and in-wall speakers are found in all of the reception areas. Extensive verandahs and an elegant, covered loggia overlook the expansive estate grounds, the flower and herb gardens, and the stunning heated swimming pool.

The property is an operating farm whose orchards include several thousand trees – 2,000 olive, 900 apricot, 650 clementine, 350 orange, 300 pear, 230 pistachio, 125 walnut, 75 hazelnut, 75 grapefruit, and numerous pecan, almond, fig, apple, and quince trees. Mature vineyards consist of 2,000 grapevines, including the Roditis, Hamburg, and Roman varieties.

Knapp said: "It has abundant pure natural water sources, which will be ever more important in the future.

"The spacious manor house, together with the thousands of olive trees and grapevines, offers an elegant country lifestyle including the production of your own olive oil."

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