LIMOGES, France — A ghost-hamlet in rural France that became a global media sensation for failing to find a buyer was auctioned off Monday to South Korean artist Ahae for 520,000 euros ($663,000).

The Asian artist beat competition during bidding from Dutch reality TV giant Endemol that wanted to shoot a series in the hamlet and a Belgian company that wanted to create a centre for housing the handicapped.

The deserted hamlet of Courbefy in the Massif Centrale near the center-west city of Limoges is classified as an historic monument, perched on a hilltop at an altitude of 557 meters (1,800 feet) and offering 360-degree views over the surrounding countryside. — AFP