Château de Betz: The mystery surrounding the sale of King Mohammed VI’s favorite residence

Acquired by Hassan II in 1972, the 71-hectare estate would be the subject of a sale according to Actu.fr. Specialized media mention a reorganization of the monarch’s real estate assets, although the Moroccan embassy officially assures that the residence "is not the subject of any sale."

In the streets of Betz, the news is causing embarrassment and silence. The inhabitants mainly observe the absence of the sovereign, who has not been seen "for a while." The Moroccan flag, once hoisted above the gate during royal stays, no longer flies over the sumptuous building.

"The sale? That’s all bullshit," say former castle employees. However, the manager of the local shop admits not having seen the monarch for a long time. Formerly, Mohammed VI frequented the region without protocol, even doing his shopping at the Intermarché in Crépy-en-Valois. Real estate reorganization and the sovereign’s withdrawal in the Oise region

Local anecdotes testify to a bygone era. A resident remembers crossing the king "on a draft horse, accompanied by two bodyguards." These stays were marked by a massive deployment of French gendarmes and law enforcement, disrupting the calm of the village.

The estate remains imposing, protected by high stone walls and an anonymous gate. Crossed by the Grivette river, the property houses the "Pavilion of the Princes," built by Hassan II for his son, as well as stables and a clay tennis court.

This apparent disinterest in the rural residence suggests a change in strategy. The monarch now seems to favor his private mansion located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. In Betz, the nameless doorbell at the entrance of the castle now symbolizes the uncertainty surrounding the future of the estate.