The on-site sale will be conducted by Poinsett Auction & Realty, also of Travelers Rest. Preview-inspections are scheduled for March 8 (2-4 p.m.) and March 21 (12-2 p.m.).

“This is a rare opportunity for someone to name their price and purchase a home like no other,” said Stacy Crowder of Poinsett Auction & Realty. “It really is quite literally a castle, but even with its formal appearance on the outside, the house has a warm, livable feel on the inside. We’re looking for a king and queen to claim this magnificent home, located about 15 minutes from downtown Greenville.”

The “castle” tower and bridge give the outside of the house a medieval appearance. The cultured stone, 600-pound carved limestone corbels (from an historic bank in Chicago) and hand-crafted cypress entrance door combine to make a statement that leaves visitors feeling as if they’ve been transported back in time. The house could conceivably be converted to a bed 'n' breakfast or commercial property.

Construction on the structure began in 2001 and took about five years to complete. The 4,700 square feet of living space includes four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. The floor plan called for three distinct levels, two circular stairways, a long meandering stairway, a bridge, a three-stop elevator with 900-pound capacity, and a complex foundation system. No expense was spared along the way.

Inside, attention to detail has been generously paid. Upon entering, the great room – with its 15- foot-high embossed tin ceiling framed with wooden beams and wall-to-wall hardwood floors – suggests antiquity brought to life. The 32-foot room also features an elevated Gothic wood-burning fireplace with marble-tiled hearth at one end and vaulted, Gothic arches rising 17 feet above a balcony at the other end.

Just off the great room, on the lower level, is the master bedroom, with its majestic 11-foot ceiling, spacious walk-in closet and ceramic-tiled master bathroom featuring nine feet of vanity counter space and a walk-in shower built for two. Like the great room, the master bedroom is heartwood pine (as are most of the other lower-level rooms). Authenticity and mastery of design are in strong evidence.

On to the library, which was showcased in the Home & Garden section of the Greenville News. The room offers an ideal reading environment, with curved walls; 120 feet of custom red oak Gothicstyle bookcases; 12 storage cabinets with dovetailed drawers; a 19th-century pierce-carved walnut table complementing the overall design scheme; four colorful archer windows; and a curved oak entryway.

The guest bedroom – or “prophet chamber” – is a showpiece unto itself, with the highest ceiling in the house (19.5 feet). The room has iris wallpaper and contains a built-in antiqued Gothic-style bed, embellished with Old World crestings and details. Adjacent to this room is a guest bedroom, with clawfoot tub and pedestal sink. On the same level is a dining room with a fireplace and step-down balcony.

Behind the dining room is a 27-foot galley kitchen, the ideal place to enjoy summer barbecues, the spring landscaping and crisp, clear winter night skies. The pewter-glazed, Mission-style cabinets all have European hinges and knobs, and the floors are Australian cypress. Storage space is more than ample. Nearby there is access to a crenulated, walled patio that rests atop the rounded library below.

The two-car, oversize garage offers direct entrance to the kitchen, via a drive that splits off from the main drive (allowing for back door entry). The circular stairs in the tower provide a second access, to the upper level, where a winding staircase leads to a secluded study and then to two bedrooms connected by a shared bathroom. Every detail has been planned, to give the home a consistent and unifying design.

Quality features abound, such as the scroll-sawn trim along every hardwood step, the oversize architectural shingles, copper flashing, custom Masonry chimney, the Andersen windows fitted with diamond grilles and pair of 600-pound corbels carved from Indiana limestone. These tell the story of a masterfully constructed home meant for practical living and showcasing architectural craftsmanship.

The house is presently occupied and tastefully furnished. The furnishings, in fact, may be included in a negotiable separate purchase. The address of the home is 875 White Horse Road Ext., in Travelers Rest, S.C. Travelers Rest is located just off Highway 25, about an hour by car from Asheville, and 20 minutes from the North Carolina line. The beautiful North Carolina mountains are also nearby.

To get to the auction, take Highway 276 North to Highway 25, heading toward Asheville, past Furman University. On Highway 25, turn left at the second light onto State Park Rd., then turn right onto Tubbs Mountain Rd.. Drive four miles to White Horse Rd. Ext., #875 will be on the right. To see photos of the property, and for more info, log on to http://www.castlewoods.info  or http://www.PoinsettAuctions.com .

There will be a Realtor-only showing of the home on Tuesday, Mar. 3, from 2-4 p.m. Broker participation in the sale of this property is welcome. The successful buyer's agent will receive a 3 percent commission of the highest bid at closing. To speak to someone directly at Poinsett Auction & Realty about the house, you may call Randy Crowder at (864) 704-9555 (please, serious inquiries only).

Poinsett Auction & Realty specializes in real estate, business liquidation, estate and consignment auctions. Their offices and gallery are located at 655 No. Main St., in Travelers Rest. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. For more information, you may call them, at (864) 834-8389, or e-mail them, at stacy@poinsettauctions.com. The website is www.PoinsettAuctions.com .