cddauenhauer

My husband and I will be traveling in France and Spain for 2 weeks this June. We have 3 teenage sons (11, 14, and 16) who would love to arrange a night in a castle if possible. We will be in Paris, Toulouse, and Perpignone areas.

Any suggestions on where to stay for families would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Christine

WoinParis

A good place to start lookin :
https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/

Christina

Where are you going in Spain? The equivalent are the parador accommodations but I suspect both in Spain and in France, your children's ideas of what staying in a "castle" means will not be met, as these type of hotels in Spain are meant to help keep up old historic buildings (and I think some are even modern) and the largest ones might be more described as palaces (some were former monasteries). In France, they are just big stone houses or mansions for the most part. The word chateau in French (which translates as castle) does not necessarily mean a fortified royal residence, just a large private mansion.

I suspect your sons are envisioning moats, drawbridges, lookout towers, etc. and have their ideas from history books or fairy tales, animated films, etc., that may not match the reality of chateaux that let rooms out.

IN any case, this is the Spanish website http://www.paradores-spain.com/
Here is one in the NE of Spain that was actually a castle or fortress
http://www.paradores-spain.com/spain/pcardona.html

Here is one near Toulouse, for example, is that what they are envisioning?
https://www.bedandbreakfast.com/fran...ont-saves.html
Here's another which is nothing glamorous
http://chateautoulouse.com/

I think this is one of the few former fortified Cathar castles where you are actually allowed to stay
http://chateaudagel.fr/en/

That is sort of on the route between Toulouse and Perpignan, and it does look more like a castle than many of the other places that are hotel-chateaux.

Now you could compromise by staying in a hotel inside the walls of the Carcassonne citadel, even if the hotel itself was not a castle http://www.thehotelguru.com/hotel/ho...au-carcassonne
http://www.cite-hotels.com/hotel-de-la-cite/?lang=en

I think that might be your best bet.

Here is one near Perpignan
http://www.chateau-parcducup.com/mai..._parcducup.htm

cddauenhauer

Christina - amazing information - THANK YOU!!!

I will check the links out and thanks again for the wealth of information!

Christine

Pvoyageuse

Castle hotels between Carcassonne and Perpignan :
http://www.chateauderiell.com/en/ near Prades
http://www.chateau-valmy.com/fr/ near Argelès
http://www.chateau-des-ducs.com/fr/h...nt-carcassonne At Couizaé
http://www.chateau-de-floure.com/ Near Carcassonne
http://www.weekendesk.fr/week-end/76...otel_de_charme - Minervois
https://www.icastelli.net/fr/domaine-dauriac - near Carcasonne

I would avoid château-parc Ducup near Perpignan, It is located near an industrial zone with no view and is quite far from the center. (Side note : It is run by the parish).

Robert2016

In the Midi Pyrénées, you can check out the 14th-century castle Château de la Treyne, 10 km northwest of Rocamadour, and the 13th-century Château de Mercuès in the Lot Valley west of Cahors.

In Navarra you'll find the 15th-century castle Parador de Olite. In Galicia is the 15th-century tower Parador de Vilalba. In Catalunya is the 10th-century castle Parador de Tortosa, at the mouth of the Ebro River. And nearby in Aragon is the 12th-century castle Parador de Alcañiz, where is is said that the “El Cantar del Mio Cid, the "The Song of my Cid", was written.

The 12th-century castle in Sigüenza, once under the command of El Cid, would also make a good stop, and is a popular weekend destination for Madrileños.

cddauenhauer

Christina - Parador Cardona is booked!!! thank you again.
Christine

Underhill

We enjoyed our stay at the Château de la Treyne, which is perched high above the river. But it's not really a castle, just a great big private residence. Very well located for visiting sights in the area, though, and with nice grounds.

schnauzer

We stayed at the Chateau Mercues near Cahor a long Time ago but thought it pretty Castle like !