Fancy playing at being a real aristocrat – for a few days, at least? Why not stay at one of the many châteaux across France which welcome paying guests? Some feature adjoining swimming pools, spas and tennis courts, while others offer golf courses…
1. Domaine des Bidaudières (Indre-et-Loire)
An elegant 15th-century château, the Domaine des Bidaudières is right in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards in the Loire Valley. Owners Sylvie and Pascal have five guest rooms, each named after a local vineyard, as well as a guest house, a two-room gatehouse and even a limestone cliff dwelling. On one side are views over the estate grounds and lake; on the other there’s a delightful swimming pool and terrace.
2. Château des Arpentis (Indre-et-Loire)
This 17th-century château in Saint-Règle sits within a lovely 30-hectare park. Renovated as a hotel in 2007, it features 15 lovely guest rooms, including two family suites and an apartment, all with views of the parkland. Surrounded by a gorgeous moat, the château also has a swimming pool and a lodge with a fireplace. Prices start at €183 per room per night.
3. Château Cardou (Lot-et-Garonne)
With a swimming pool, tennis court and room for up to 20 guests, this château near the beautiful village of Tournon-d’Agenais is perfect for large family holidays. Inside there is a large attic playroom, a drawing room, a table tennis table and a dining hall with a log fire and a grand piano. Prices start at €2,400 a week.
www.chateau-rentals.com/cardou.htm
4. Château de Vollore (Puy-de-Dôme)
This château in the Auvergne has been under the same family ownership for more than two centuries now. Descendants of General de La Fayette, a key figure in the Revolution and the American War of Independence, still call it home today. There are five rooms available on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The château is open to visitors all year round (booking essential). In the summer there is also a park, exhibitions and an escape game to enjoy.
Photo: Château de Vollore Site
5. Domaine de Sandricourt (Oise)
Available for group bookings only, this château estate in Amblainville, less than 50km northwest of Paris, features accommodation for 15 people in all. Guests have access to all the living and leisure spaces within the château, including the dining room, the library, the office and the lounge with billiards table. Outside, within the 42 acres of parkland, is a swimming pool, tennis court, children’s playground, chapel, greenhouse and beautifully landscaped gardens. Plus, the head chef will cater for all your culinary needs.
6. Château du Plessis-Anjou (Maine-et-Loire)
This château in La Jaille-Yvon, which is owned by the Renoul family, was built between the 16th and the 19th centuries. It has five rooms available for guests, as well as table d’hôte catering. Outside there are 15 or so hectares of parkland to explore, with forest, lawns,flowerbeds, orchards, a kitchen garden and a small farmyard. Classic car tours, hot-air balloon rides, cooking courses and liquor workshops are available too.
7. Château de Fère (Aisne)
This five-star establishment has all you’d expect from a high-end hotel-restaurant: spa (currently under renovation), swimming pools, tennis court, lovely rooms (more than 30 in all), meeting rooms and a wonderful restaurant with private dining rooms, all surrounded by beautiful forest. But what makes a visit here even more special are the incredible ruins of the 13th-century Château de Fère-en-Tardenois just next to it, accessed across the Renaissance bridge.
8. Château de Gizeux (Indre-et-Loire)
The landlady of this château, Stéphanie de Laffon, doesn’t really see herself as the building’s owner. “We feel like we are guardians of something that is much more important than us. We’ll be here perhaps 20 or 30 years, in a place that is 600 or so years old. So, we’re just a tiny part of the château’s history,” she says. With suites, an apartment and a treehouse available, Stéphanie hopes her guests might be a small part of the château’s history too. Enjoy a guided tour of the building and its parks and gardens before taking a dip in the delightful swimming pool.
www.chambres-chateaudegizeux.com/en
From France Today Magazine
Lead photo credit : The castle of Chambord at night, Castle of the Loire, France. Chateau de Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley. A UNESCO world heritage site in France, Photo: shutterstock
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