Once upon a time...in an elegant family château...

Privatise a French Chateau and experience the gracious hospitality of Count & Countess de Vanssay in their elegant and historic Chateau, their family home since 1404, at the entrance to the Loire Valley, amidst a 100 acre private park, less than 2 hrs from Paris. 5 rooms & suites. Private heated swimming pool as of April 2022 Experience elegance and history as guests in a chateau, privately owned by the de Vanssay family since 610 years. Live the authentic life of French aristocracy. Without compromising on modern comfort, as Chateau de la Barre is listed among the 25 best small hotels of France on Tripadvisor. 5 rooms and 3 suites are available to welcome individual travellers, couples or small groups of friends and family. Room prices vary according to size and view, and range from 170 (a single), to 295 for a smaller double, to 350 euros for three of the larger doubles overlooking the garden and park, to 390 and 470 for the prestigious double rooms. 5 magnificently decorated reception rooms are open to our château guests for their enjoyment. All the 5 en suite bedrooms and suites are replete with valuable antiques and designer fabrics, without compromising on modern comforts with state of the art bathrooms, plush mattresses, bath towels and robes, Hermès toiletries and wifi. 100 acre private park with woods, meadows, a pond and a large flower garden. There is also a private family chapel on site. And a large heated swimming pool as of April 2022 Your hosts, Guy and Marnie de Vanssay, will tailor make your holiday programme according to your time, interests and budget, and you will benefit from all their contacts, knowledge of hidden gems and time during your stay. Upon prior reservation, guests may join in a Grand Siècle dinner hosted in our XVIII century dining hall, with all the family silver and crystal, or have a romantic supper on the chateau terrace or in the small dining room. English breakfasts are served daily. Chauffeur/guides can be organised for sightseeing tours, as well as other fun activities, such as driving a Porsche around the famous Le Mans race track, taking a hot air Montgolfier balloon flight, celebrating a wedding (they have a family chapel too!), an anniversary or a birthday, embarking on a wine tour, taking cooking lessons or learning to manufacture a stainglass window.... For lovers of historic France, and beautiful, quiet countryside, France the way it used to be, with rolling hills, quaint towns with Romanesque churches, farmers markets and friendly people, not jaded by tourists, as even in the height of the season, this region remains far from the Maddening Crowds, although the famous Loire castles and vineyards are easily accessible for a days' excursion. The magnificently restored medieval Plantagenet city of Le Mans is also worth an extended visit. Best is by car from Paris or from the Le Mans or Vendome train stations, which can be reached by fast speed TGV from Paris airport or City, and where you can rent a car. We can also provide chauffeur pick ups from anywhere in France. The per night price is based on a minimum stay of 3 nights! Over Christmas and New Years' Eve, the chateau is only available for privatisation, all 5 rooms.