A British millionaire has been ordered by a French court to demolish his $64 million mansion in the south of France, which includes 18 suites and 2 helicopter pads

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A French court said the $64 million villa was built without permission in a protected woodland area.

• British millionaire Patrick Diter built an elaborate, $64 million chateau for himself and his wife in the south of France - and now he has to demolish it, CNN reported.
• Last week, a French court ruled the building to be illegal and ordered Diter to tear it down within 18 months or pay a $226,000 fine.
• The villa, which can sleep up to 36 guests, sits on 17 acres and includes 18 suites and two helicopter pads.
• Neighbors previously won $50,000 in damages after they complained of noise from Diter renting out the mansion for film productions and weddings.

British millionaire property developer Patrick Diter and his wife, Monica, wanted to buy a villa in Tuscany.

But the couple ended up building their very own sprawling, $64 million Tuscan-style mansion in Grasse, a town in the south of France less than an hour's drive from Nice, French magazine Paris Match reported in 2017.

The home, dubbed "Chateau Diter," includes 18 suites, two helicopter pads, a swimming pool, and manicured gardens.

But it may not be standing for much longer. Last week, a French court decided the structure was illegally built and ordered Diter to demolish it within 18 months, CNN reported. Otherwise, the property developer will have to pay a fine of $226,000 as well as an extra $565 per day for every day the home remains standing past the deadline.

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The sprawling chateau includes a swimming pool and two helicopter pads.

The court in Aix-en-Provence ruled the chateau was built without permission in a protected woodland area, The Guardian reported.

"Patrick Diter was accused of having executed important works on a land without authorization," Pierre-Jean Gaury, attorney general at the court of appeal in Aix-en-Provence, told CNN.

Diter has agreed to tear down any illegally constructed buildings.

Diter and his wife live in the villa, but they've also rented it out as a boutique hotel, landing a feature in Boutique Hotel Awards.

Boutique Hotel Awards describes it as an "incredibly luxurious chateau" with "glamour and beauty in abundance."

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Diter has agreed to tear down any illegally constructed buildings.

The opulent chateau can sleep up to 36 guests and features several lounges, a library, a 15th-century fireplace, a cellar with a wine-tasting room, and a kitchen that overlooks the Italian garden.

"He made it very luxurious," Gaury said.

Diter bought the land legally, according to The Guardian, although neighbors have complained about noise at the chateau over the years. The court awarded neighbors about $50,000 in damages after the mansion was rented out for film productions and weddings.

Diter did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.