CHÂTEAUX 2022 THE GUIDE


impressive enough. The exterior, though, will take your breath away. First up is the three-hectare French garden, with its parterres, consisting of geometrical boxwood hedges, bright flowerbeds and yew topiary. Beyond this are the organic vegetable garden and a 30-hectare English-style park with a network of woodland paths and some remarkable tree species. The château is open every day from April to October, and at weekends in March and early November. Tickets are currently €11. www.chateau-hautefort.com


Château de Chenonceau (Indre-et-Loire) Looking like it’s almost floating above the River Cher, this château, with its stylised moat, turrets, towers and drawbridge, is a veritable beauty. However, it’s the 70 hectares of landscaped gardens and lush forest rather than the tourist- heavy interiors that are most interesting. On either side of the river you can visit the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Médici, the Jardin Vert, the yew maze, and the vast flower garden. Both the château and the gardens are open every day of the year – even Christmas, which as everyone knows, is a rarity in France. www.chenonceau.com


Château de Versailles (Yvelines)


Undoubtedly the most famous château in France (possibly even on the planet), Versailles served as the political capital and seat of the royal court from 1682 until revolutionaries dragged off Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the guillotine. To avoid getting overwhelmed by a sea of other tourists, head for the wonderful 800-hectare Parc de Versailles where you can enjoy vast manicured, formal gardens populated by endless statues and water features, the English-style Jardins du Petit Trianon, the Orangery, the Grand Canal where rowing boats


The magnificent parterres at Château de Villandry must be seen to be believed


are available to hire, and the Lake of the Swiss Guard. You will be amazed. www.chateauversailles.fr


CHÂTEAUX TO STAY IN


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; others even offer golf courses.


Château de Gizeux (Indre-et-Loire)


The landlady of this château, Stéphanie de Laffon, doesn’t really see herself as the building’s owner. “Not in the way that you might have an owner of an apartment or a house,” she says. “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 really just a tiny part of the château’s history.” With five suites and one larger apartment available, Stephanie hopes her guests might be a small part of the château’s history too. Once you’ve


checked in you can enjoy a guided tour of the building, its parks and its gardens before taking a dip in the heated pool. It’s just heavenly. www.chambres-châteaudegizeux. com/en


Château de Chambiers (Maine-et-Loire)


Whatever the size of your party, there are rooms to accommodate you at this château not far northeast of Angers: double rooms, triple rooms, family rooms, a ‘romantic apartment’, a gardener’s cottage that sleeps nine, an orangery cottage that sleeps ten, and a former orangery that houses up to 26. The restaurant is overseen by Elie and Anne Crouan, both self-confessed slow-food enthusiasts. They also offer cooking and wine-tasting courses. The estate includes beautiful gardens (the focal point of which is a 400-year-old oak tree), a heated outdoor swimming pool, pitch and putt golf, a fishing lake and a neighbouring forest. www.chateauchambiers.com


Château d’Ainay-le-Vieil (Cher) Viewed from above, this octagonal 13th-century fortress


(with a Renaissance house tacked on) looks almost perfect, with its moat, seven cylindrical towers, portcullis, arrow slits, ramparts and crenellations, all encircling a central courtyard. Slap bang in the middle of France, not far south of Bourges, it has five chambres d’hôtes and four gîtes to stay in. There is also a museum of arts and crafts, a restaurant and even escape games. château-ainaylevieil.fr


Château de Verrières (Maine-et-Loire)


This five-star hotel in the Loire Valley boasts ten bedrooms, all in the actual château. There are four acres of surrounding grounds, the highlight of which is the outdoor swimming pool, heated from May to September. Inside there’s a spa with sauna, Jacuzzi and treatments. There’s also a bar and a great selection of wines. www.chateau-verrieres.com


Domaine des Bidaudières (Indre-et-Loire)


An elegant 15th-century château, the Domaine des Bidaudières is in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards in the Loire Valley. Owners Sylvie and Pascal have nine guest


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IMAGE © JEAN-CHRISTOPHE COUTAND


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