02. 04. 09. - 18:00

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02. 04. 09. - 18:00

Credit-crunched Nic Cage flogs castle

Hollywood superstar Nicolas Cage has sold his 500-year-old fairytale castle - after spending just one night in the property.          

The Knowing star bought the 28-room castle for 1.8 million GBP three years ago in Bavaria, southern Germany where his mother's family come from.

At the time Cage, 45, told local media he wanted to spend millions turning the castle into a "wonderful hideaway" for "light hearted hours" with his family.

"The castle has something magical and I hope it will stimulate my fantasy and that it will also have a positive influence on my children," the star dad of two added.

But Cage was been spotted at the estate just once nearly a year ago.

Local architect Heinrich Schwirzer - who planned a massive restoration of the castle for Cage - says the star scrapped the ambitious project with no warning or explanation.

But Cage is said to have been selling a string of homes and yachts in recent months as the credit crunch starts to bite even Hollywood's wealthiest stars, reports Germany's Welt newspaper.

"At the moment I will certainly not buy anything," Cage said recently.

But Cage's castle neighbours say they won't miss the star.

Neidstein bei Etzelwang mayor Roman Berr said: "Our disappointment is not too big. The community was not really in touch with Mr Cage."

Despite frequent attempts to be neighbourly, "there was never any response," he added.

Austrian Times

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