crcash

My wife and I want desperately to spend one night in a chateau during our upcoming honeymoon (December 21-28). We have inquired about the Loire Valley, but have been told that the weather and time of year might make a trip to the Loire not worthwhile. Does anyone have any suggestions of any chateaux in any other regions of France that might be better for that time of year?
Thanks

crcash

One more note: we will be staying in Paris, so any chateau within a day's travel from there would be great! I have heard good things about Rouen, Chartes, Champagne, and Lyon.

Underhill

You might consider the Château d'Esclimont, on the road to Chartres. It's a fabulous place and only about half an hour outside Paris.

RonZ

On our next trip we will be driving out of Paris to Reims and spending our first night at the Chateau de Fere in Tardenois. On the way we will visit the Chateau de Compiegne. One could go on to Reims the next day, dropping the car and taking a train back back to Paris.

Wherever you go, I suggest mappy for route planning.

RonZ

Of course if a big splurge is a possibility, the thing to do woud be Reims by train and a stay at Boyer les Crayeres!

Ivy

Who told you that the time of year makes the Loire valley not worthwhile? I don't agree. Granted it won't be the best weather but the chateaux of the Loire cannot be beat - in ANY weather. Buy the Karen Brown guide to France (inns and B&B's - 2 books) she has lots of chateaux to stay at. when we went we stayed in manor houses and chateaux and it was one of the best trips of our lives. Plus, in december you'll have the added bonus of fires blazing and coziness. I say go for the Loire.

crcash

Thanks Ivy,
We were thinking of Rochecotte in the Loire if we went there. Ever been? The only reason we were discouraged about the Loire was the possibility of bad weather. does the loire ever receive snowfall?

Ivy

Don't know about the snowfall, check www.weatherbase.com for historical weather info. But even if it snowed it would still be charming. Never been to Rochecotte, sorry.

JulieVikmanis

Yes, the Loire receives snowfall. We were there staying in a Chateau on May 1 several years ago. I looked out the window and couldn't believe what I was seeing. We drove to Paris in a slush storm. Bad things happen but a night in a chateau is magical. We loved the Rochecotte. Also check out the chateau in Chissay.

susanna

I have to say that bad weather would be a bonus to staying in a Chateau. The rooms, the food, the experience, you really don't want to leave for very long, and bad weather would justify you not going out.
Another suggestion: We just stayed in Chateau des Comtes de Challes, which is just outside of Chambery. It is an easy 3 hour TGV train ride, it is at the foot of the french alps, so snow would be a bonus. The little town of Challes les Eaux is really cute, there are thermal spas and a casino within walking distance if you didn't want to rent a car and drive anywhere...if you do take a car there are numerous places to visit.
http://www.chateau-alpes.com/loisirs.htm

sorriso

Susanna, the Chateau des Comtes de Challes is exquisite. The website is entirely in French so I wonder if a visit there would require more than just the limited French I have? Does the TGV stop right in Chambery or Challes les Eaux? And finally, is the three hour ride you mentioned from Paris?

Thank you!

susanna

Sorriso: yes, the 3 hour train ride is to Paris. Chambery is about 6K from Challes les Eaux, maybe a 5euro ride in a taxi. I thought that the Chateau would be up and away, far from the town, but it was only a couple of blocks walk to this very cute, small town. The web site is only in French, but the front desk and the wait staff in the restaurant spoke english quite well...our french is limited to polite phrases with absolutely no comprehension of the response, and we were fine. I found this place through a trip report by hanl, which you could search for, and it is also in Karen Browns book. We got a junior suite, which is the bedroom on the site with the canopy bed, with breakfast and dinner, and it was 200euros...it was fabulous! Hope this helps

4totravel

Bad weather would make a chateau perfect...get cozy in front of the fireplace - my goodness - it is your honeymoon!

sorriso

Susanna, I read Hanl's report and now have a question about cuisine. I'm a chicken and beef woman--the thought of a menu featuring predominantly fish, prawns, scallops and snails makes my stomach turn. What do you think, should I stop thinking about Chateau des Comtes de Challes and pension complete because my palate is so limited?

amelia

I just read the menu on their website, sorriso, and I'm seeing beef, duck, etc. I don't think you have to worry.

Kavey

Although the Loire certainly has a high concentration of chateaux you should be able to find a few in most parts of the country - as long as you're aware that most chateaux are what I would refer to as stately homes and don't always fit the translation of "castles".

We recently returned from Bordeaux and there are certainly chateaux hotels in this area as well as nearby Dordogne.

I imagine your best bet will first be deciding on a region (based on both weather and your own interests) and then look into possible hotels that fit the bill. That said, if you're intending to spend only one night in a chateaux you'll probably not find it as relaxing as it could be as no sooner have you unpacked and settled in than you're leaving again.

Another option is to look for a chateau hotel not far from Paris (am I right in remembering that you'll be in Paris?) - two minutes on google and I found these options - I don't know anything about them personally:

http://www.chateau-mont-royal.com/
http://www.chateaudemontvillargenne.fr

Alternatively, if it's only for one night, I think I'd be tempted to splash out for one night in one of Paris' top hotels - you'll certainly be just as pampered without the stress of travelling and rushing to another destination.

sorriso

Thanks Amelia, I hadn't scrolled through the restaurant.

Crcash--Thank you for sharing your post!

susanna

Sorriso: don't worry, the first night there we had a wonderful rack of lamb,we did have scallops the next night. There menu is huge, and you don't need to do half board, you could just choose off the menu...we only took half board because what was being offered was to our liking. For a first course we had a savory mushroom tart on a bed of greens that was to die for. I am not a desert person, I usually take a bite and pass it to my husband,who counts on having both, but, they had the most incredible little chocholat molten cake that I polished off and was hoping they would have the next night, but they didn't. The food and service was just wonderful.