Replica of Medieval French Monastery For Sale

BERKELEY, CA - Just a one mile walk from the UC Berkeley campus is a gated estate that's half a world and centuries out of place. It has links to Black Bart of the Old West, to Greek Theater and to modern psychiatry. The estate is Hume Mansion, called Hume Cloister or Hume Castle by locals. It's also for sale. Asking price: $5 million.

Old West history buffs may have arched an eyebrow at the name "Hume." It was Wells Fargo Special Detective James Hume who captured outlaw Black Bart, the gentleman robber who held up stagecoaches. Hume died in Berkeley in 1908. His only son, Samuel James Hume, had the mansion designed by famed architect James Hudson Thomas in 1927. Construction was completed in 1929.

Samuel Hume received a bachelor's in architecture from Berkeley and a master's degree in theater from Harvard. In 1918 he was an assistant professor at UC Berkeley when he took the reins as director of the Greek Theatre. He continued in his role until 1923, when he resigned. Hume traveled to Europe where he met Portia Bell, a Berkeley grad who was studying sculpture in France. The couple married and returned to Berkeley.

Portia Bell Hume became a psychiatrist, teaching at UC Berkeley and operating a private practice.

Hume Mansion delivered everything this couple loved - dramatic architecture, old Europe, the best of Berkeley with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay from the expansive terrace. Built into the home is a central courtyard, public spaces, five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a massive fireplace, and enough bookcases to satisfy two professors. Hume also later owned a bookstore in Berkeley.

In addition to being close to the university, the Hume Mansion is also within walking distance of parks, lakes and a golf course. Hume Mansion is listed by Bebe McRae of The Grubb Company. The home is listed on the California State Historic Resources Inventory.

Are you interested in something a bit more modern? Check out the homes for sale on Patch's local real estate map for Berkeley.

--Images via Zillow