Whether you have delusions of grandeur, dream of being a princess or simply want to see how the other half live, then France has thousands of opportunities for you to stay in a chateau. While some places understandably are luxurious hotels, others certainly need not break the bank. Indeed in some cases, sharing a big property with lots of friends or family can bring the price down to around €15 per person per night.
Anyway, here are some of my favourites, written originally for various articles in The Times.
Château de Saint-Paterne, Saint-Paterne, Sarthe
A favourite haunt of King Henry IV, who conducted his liaisons dangereuses here, Château de Saint-Paterne is now owned by Charles-Henry de Valbray, who is an expert chef and cookery-book author. The salons, dining room and ten rooms and suites are decorated in fabulous fairytale style, with candelabras, free-standing baths and four-poster or canopied beds.
Details: Doubles from €135, breakfast €13 (00 33 2 33 27 54 71, www.chateau-saintpaterne.com)
Château in Angers
Château des Briottières just north of Angers in the western Loire overlooks peaceful parkland. Here, the ebullient, aristocratic host, François de Valbray, provides aperitifs in the elegant salons before his wife, Hedwige, serves delicious home-cooked meals in the dining room. For 2019 they have renovated the swimming pool, which is enclosed in a small walled garden. Near by are the lesser-known châteaux of the western Loire, the historic city of Angers and the vibrant Cointreau distillery to tour.
Details Doubles cost from €159 (00 33 2 41 42 00 02, briottieres.com). Fly to Angers or Tours.
Château de Chenevière, Normandy
Not far from the D-Day beaches, this elegant Norman mansion dates from the 18th century and was inhabited by the Germans during the Second World War, when the château was a stud farm. These days guests can enjoy the walled garden, exotic trees, heated outdoor pool and tennis courts. In the château the 29 bright rooms come with iPod docks and L’Occitane toiletries. Foodies can enjoy the excellent Botaniste restaurant or the pop-up restaurant in the garden during the summer months.
Details Doubles are from €220 (£170), breakfast is €25 (00 33 2 31 51 25 25, lacheneviere.com). The ferry port of Caen-Ouistreham is 40 minutes away
Wine châteaux, Cahors
The Cahors region is the birthplace of the malbec grape, and those wishing to acquaint themselves with the robust red wine can learn much from staying at the fairytale castle of Château de Mercuès; its winery celebrates its 30th birthday this year. Owned by the malbec wine specialist Georges Vigouroux, the hotel has a new package that includes a visit to its winery and the nearby Château de Haute-Serre for a series of tastings of its delicious wines. The Château de Mercuès is set on a cliff overlooking the River Lot and makes an excellent base for exploring the beautiful Lot Valley.
Details A night’s B&B costs €459 for two, including a three-course dinner at the fine-dining restaurant, visits to the winery and lunch and a tasting at the Château de Haute-Serre (00 33 5 65 20 00 01, chateaudemercues.com).
Château De Riell, Pyrenees
For centuries, the Pyrenees have attracted people to bathe in their mineral-rich waters, and at Château de Riell the spa taps into the natural hot spring 150 metres below the site. Its thermal pool is set in an exotic greenhouse, while its bathing pools, used for various water-based treatments, are set in rare green, ivory, black and amber marbles. The hotel has 19 rooms and suites in the château or adjoining cottages, and the view of the Mont Canigou beyond the well-tended gardens will make your heart soar.
Details: Doubles from £129, breakfast €22 (00 33 4 68 05 04 40, relaischateaux.com). Perpignan airport is 45 minutes away.
Château de la Treyne, Lot/Dordogne Valley (main picture)
Perched on a cliff above the River Dordogne, the elegant Château de la Treyne is the stuff fairytales are made from. The white turreted castle dates from the 14th century, and has 17 individually styled rooms, some with four-poster beds, others with sensational bathrooms, and all featuring antique furniture and sumptuous fabrics. It is surrounded by peaceful parkland, including a bewitching rose garden, but its pièce de la resistance is its terrace, where you can enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine as the river glides gently by.
Details: Doubles from €200, breakfast €25 (00 33 5 65 27 60 60, chateaudelatreyne.com). Brive-Dordogne Valley airport is 30 minutes away.
Château Cordeillan-Bages, Gironde
Surrounded by vineyards that supply its world-famous winery, the four-star Cordeillan-Bages is a must-visit for gastronomes. The chef Jean-Luc Rochas boasts many accolades including two Michelin stars and serves a sophisticated menu that blends the best of land and sea. The four-star hotel offers 28 bright, contemporarily decorated rooms, many with their own terraces, as well as a fitness room, outdoor heated pool and – should you require it – a helipad.
Details: Doubles from €262 including breakfast (00 33 5 56 59 24 24, cordeillanbages.com). Bordeaux airport is 45 minutes away.
And great for self-catering:
Château de Breuil, Loire Valley
History lovers will adore the charming Château de Breuil between Loches and Amboise in the Loire Valley. Owner and architect Roxanne McDonald is a keen collector of historic artefacts and uses them to best effect in this 15th-century chateau that she rescued from near-ruin. Climb the time-worn stone staircase to the three bedrooms, where cosy country house décor and bathrooms with roll-top baths await. Garden lovers will adore the nearest village Chédigny, famous for its hundreds of roses bushes.
Details: Sleeps eight (additional annexe sleeping six further guests, also available). Seven nights self-catering from €900 (00 33 2 47 92 55 88, sawdays.co.uk OR loire-chateau.fr). Tours airport is 40 minutes away.
Chateau de Montcaud, Gard > linked post