Two weeks after he put up Pounds 20 million of his own money to save Dumfries House, Prince Charles was given the grand tour.

The weather was less than hospitable but nothing could have put the Prince of Wales off from visiting Dumfries House. It was the first time he had ever stepped inside and seen its treasures, all the more incredible as he put up a large part of the Pounds 45 million that saved the stately home for the nation.

The 250-year-old Georgian house has never been opened to the public and few have seen its collection of Chippendale furniture, said to be the world's finest.

The Prince showed his appreciation as he was led through some of the house's 31 rooms, admiring the ornate carved ceilings, the banks of portraits lining the walls and the Chippendale furniture. The artworks had been had been due to be auctioned off this week at Christie's and many pictures and pieces of furniture still had their lot number stickers attached.

The Prince, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, was joined on the tour by Alex Salmond, the First Minister, who paid tribute to the Prince's efforts in rescuing the house, calling it the "last-minute save of the century". He said: "What a magnificent property this is, so well done to the Duke of Rothesay for taking the initiative. The Scottish Government were delighted to do our bit to help."

He said that people would come from the four corners of the Earth to see Dumfries House, and tipped that it would be used by the Government to impress visiting dignitaries. "Just about every government reception takes place in Edinburgh. Why shouldn't they take place around Scotland?"

Contributions to the purchase price included Pounds 5 million from the Executive, Pounds 7 million from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Pounds 20 million from the Prince's Charities Foundation. The bid also included Pounds 1,250 raised by residents of the nearby town of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, one of the most deprived areas in Scotland.

The property had been put up for sale by its owner, the Marquess of Bute, so he could restructure his family finances and concentrate on his family home, Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. He said yesterday that he was delighted with the outcome of the sale.

"It's an emotional time for me but I'm delighted about what has happened," he said. "I've got no doubt whatsoever about what this means -it's very, very positive for the house and the local community. The end result is a hugely important new heritage project in Scotland."

The house will in November formally transfer to a new trust set up by the Prince, and will open to the public for the first time next year after renovations. Also included in the sale was 66 acres of land in Cumnock which it is hoped can be developed for housing. The Prince plans an ecovillage similar to one he has already created in Poundbury, in Dorset. The new settlement would consist of affordable, rental and private housing, the Prince's spokesman said. So far it does not have a name.

Residents of Cumnock have been impressed by the Prince's efforts and showed it on their faces as he paid the the town a visit. Although they have been banned from entering the grounds, let alone visiting the house, the stately home has always been a source of pride to them.

Anne Clegg was one of the first in the queue to see the Prince, turning up at midday, almost three hours before he eventually arrived. "The town has been in terrible decline since the closure of the coal mines, but Dumfries House will bring new industry," she said.