Castle-Hotels

First built as fortresses, then as enormous homes for the wealthy. Many châteaux are now offered as hotels, where anyone can sample the life of Royalty. Here's a some of my favorites castles. For more images and information about each one, click on the image. (The one above is in Combourg, France.)

Château de Brécourt

Oooh. Nice Place. The Château de Brécourt is located on the edge of Normandy. It is near Pacy s/Eure, which is not far from Monet's place in Giverney.

Jenny & I stayed there once, in November 1994. I highly recommend it. If you choose to stay there, don't miss the opportunity to try their restaurant, "La Grande Siècle". We were blown away.

Château de Pierrefonds

OK, you can't actually stay in this castle. So sue me. What you can do is have the place pretty much to yourself. It seems that this town, once well-known, is now largely overlooked by tourists. All the better for you. Go there. You won't regret it.

I used to recommend staying at "L'Hôtel des Etrangers", an unpretentious inn a stone's throw from the château. However, when I visited a few years ago, we couldn't get anyone to come to the door to help us. Perhaps they had given up on travellers for the night. So, we stayed instead at the "Relais aux Blés d'Or", across the street. It was even nicer, and the owners are très gentille!

Château d'Esclimont

Esclimont, a 16th-century Château-Hôtel, is located near Chartres, Southwest of Paris.

Château de Marçay

Marçay is a beautiful 15th-century château in the Loire region, not far from where Joan of Arc met King Charles VII.

Château d'Artigny

Artigny was created by perfume millionaire François Coty, and is located just South of Tours, in the heart of the Loire château country.

Hostellerie Le Clos

The Hostellerie Le Close is well-situated; at the edge of Normandy. To the East is Paris; not far to the Southeast is the famous cathedral of Chartres, and to the north are the beaches of Normandy.

Parc Monceau by Claude Monet

The Hostellerie Le Close is well-situated; at the edget of Normandy. To the East is Paris; not for to the Southeast is the famous cathedral of Chartres, and to the north are the beaches of Normandy.

Finally, here's a link to the famous Louvre Museum, in Paris. It is, incidentally, also a château.

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Count visits since March 3, 2002.

Château de Brécourt	Oooh. Nice Place. The Château de Brécourt is located on the edge of Normandy. It is near Pacy s/Eure, which is not far from Monet's place in Giverney. Jenny & I stayed there once, in November 1994. I highly recommend it. If you choose to stay there, don't miss the opportunity to try their restaurant, "La Grande Siècle". We were blown away.

Château de Pierrefonds	OK, you can't actually stay in this castle. So sue me. What you can do is have the place pretty much to yourself. It seems that this town, once well-known, is now largely overlooked by tourists. All the better for you. Go there. You won't regret it. I used to recommend staying at "L'Hôtel des Etrangers", an unpretentious inn a stone's throw from the château. However, when I visited a few years ago, we couldn't get anyone to come to the door to help us. Perhaps they had given up on travellers for the night. So, we stayed instead at the "Relais aux Blés d'Or", across the street. It was even nicer, and the owners are très gentille!

Château d'Esclimont	Esclimont, a 16th-century Château-Hôtel, is located near Chartres, Southwest of Paris.

Château de Marçay	Marçay is a beautiful 15th-century château in the Loire region, not far from where Joan of Arc met King Charles VII.

Château d'Artigny	Artigny was created by perfume millionaire François Coty, and is located just South of Tours, in the heart of the Loire château country.

Hostellerie Le Clos	The Hostellerie Le Close is well-situated; at the edge of Normandy. To the East is Paris; not far to the Southeast is the famous cathedral of Chartres, and to the north are the beaches of Normandy.

Parc Monceau by Claude Monet	The Hostellerie Le Close is well-situated; at the edget of Normandy. To the East is Paris; not for to the Southeast is the famous cathedral of Chartres, and to the north are the beaches of Normandy.