10 Castle Hotels in France with an Epic Story

Walking down the hallways in Château de Rochecotte, you can almost hear this magnificent castle tell tales of its former owners and guests. It has hosted Honoré de Balzac and Victor Hugo in the past, potentially inspiring their writing. However, the juiciest tales are from the Duchess of Dino’s boudoir and will certainly make you blush. The Duchess was responsible for renovating the chateau in the 19th century, but she also gained reputation as an irresistible seductress with 3 illegitimate daughters.

Today this Coteaux-sur-Loire chateau is a modern luxury hotel just a 3-hour drive from Paris. It features 3 fabulous restaurants, a spa, a heated outdoor pool and a gorgeous garden. What more do you need for a perfect holiday?

In Château de Vault-de-Lugny, you’re in aristocratic company. This medieval castle is believed to have hosted King Philip the Bold of France and King Louis XI. The enemies of the latter accused him of spinning webs of plots and conspiracies, which earned him the nickname "The Universal Spider". Maybe he got his most cunning ideas in this wonderfully remote château in the north-western Burgundy countryside.

There are no spiderwebs or plots in sight at this luxurious hotel and event venue which today welcomes you to experience its historical ambience and picturesque surroundings. The château with a Michelin-starred restaurant is set amidst a sprawling estate that includes gardens, forests and vineyards, and is only a 90-minute drive from Dijon.

The stunning Hôtel Le Nessay, or Château du Nessay, takes your breath away not only with its fabulous location but also with its colourful history. In the 12th century, the site was occupied by a fortified castle which housed a row of gallows. Other buildings in the grounds have been used for monitoring the coast and even as prisons. On a happier note, in the 1970s, the current castle served as a children’s summer camp.

The modern-day hotel has 17 rooms and a well-equipped spa. It’s positioned between 2 spectacular beaches, perfect for sipping a cocktail on the deck while watching the sunset. You can reach Hôtel Le Nessay in about 30 minutes from Saint-Malo by car.

Château Saint-Jean emerges from the Auvergnese landscape like a magnificent fortress from a fairy tale or adventure film. You can easily imagine knights in full armour on their noble steeds galloping into battle. In fact, this otherworldly castle was once home to real knights and an important stop on the way to the former "Bourges-Néris les Bains" Roman road. You can still find a brave knight’s grave in the ruins of the 12th-century chapel.

Today, the chateau has been lovingly restored to an upscale hotel featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant. To work up your appetite, you can climb up the majestic turrets for a spectacular view. Château Saint-Jean is located a 3-hour drive north-west from Lyon.

Château des Sept Tours has evolved from a medieval fortress to a 19th-century castle and subsequently into a charming hotel with an 18-hole golf course. The chateau's origins can be traced back to the 11th century when it was a fortified manor with 3 towers. Over the years, new owners had additional towers built bringing the total to 7 in 1834. This is when the chateau acquired its distinctive name.

You can get a glimpse into the castle’s intriguing past in the hotel’s elegant rooms, many of which retain original features. The chateau's grounds offer a tranquil and picturesque setting for relaxation and recreation. You can reach this beautiful chateau in 30 minutes from Tours by car.

The sophisticated Château Belmont has had many lives. Its original vineyards were replaced with apple trees in the 1880s to produce cider for over 60 years. It served as a hospital during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and accommodated over 1000 wounded soldiers. After the war, the chateau’s new owners converted the building into a research facility for tulips.

Although modernised throughout, Château Belmont still retains some of its original features and has a beautiful park. The Tours city centre is only a 30-minute walk or 20-minute tram ride away. After a long day of sightseeing in the city, you can rest your feet in the lovely spa and the indoor pool.

Château des Grotteaux has been home to many notable figures who have shaped French history over the years. Guillaume Ribier, King Louis XIII’s counsellor, turned the chateau into a centre of intellectual and cultural life in the Sologne region in 1620. Charles-Joseph Bagieu, a close friend of Napoleon Bonaparte, helped introduce exotic plants to France and cultivated them in the château shortly after the French Revolution.

Today, you can explore many original features in this well-preserved estate, like the medieval walls, towers and moat. In the in-house museum, filled with period furniture and artefacts, you’ll learn more about the castle and its inhabitants. Château des Grotteaux is in Huisseau-sur-Cosson, by the river Cosson, just an hour’s drive from Tours.

Château de Fonscolombe, built in the Quattrocento style of the 18th century, has belonged to 2 great humanists: Marquis de Saporta and Honoré Boyer de Fonscolombe. They were both passionate patrons of arts and sciences and wanted the chateau to be a place of beauty and learning. Just imagine the conversations and heated debates in the gatherings they hosted for scientists, artists and writers.

The modern-day chateau welcomes you and your loved ones to enjoy a romantic weekend or a family holiday. Kids can have fun in the free kids' club while you indulge in spa treatments or take a dip in the heated outdoor pool. This impressive chateau is in Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade, a 25-minute car ride from Aix-en-Provence.

The intriguing Château de Coubloust has gone through several architectural metamorphoses. Its origins can be traced back to the 13th century, when a fortified manor, known as the Château du Vivier des Landes, dominated the landscape. Over the centuries, the castle became a patchwork of aesthetics when each new owner renovated the building to keep up with the ever-changing styles and fashions. In the 19th century, the Godeau d'Entraigues family managed to restore the architectural integrity of the château.

This quaint château has 7 rooms, all meticulously restored and adorned with period furniture and artwork. Modern amenities ensure that you’ll have a comfortable and pampered stay. Located in Vicq-sur-Nahon, Château de Coubloust is easy to reach from Tours and Bourges.

The picturesque Château de Boisrenault, originally a wedding gift from Mr. Huard de Boisrenault to his daughter, has been in the same family for generations. There’s also a strong family connection to the great rugby player of the 1920s, Yves du Manoir. In the 1950s, the family hosted the French singer Barbara who, at the beginning of her career, stayed in the château for 6 months. Legend has it that she practised on the piano all day, every day, and was never late for dinner when meat was served.

Today the lovely Buzancais guesthouse features an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, a garden and a restaurant. It takes a 3-hour drive to reach Château de Boisrenault from Paris.