If you're looking for a lovely vacation in the countryside, here's our recommendation for Where to Stay in the Loire Valley: Chateau de Valcreuse. With all-suite accommodations, sprawling grounds, and close proximity to the town center, this stunning chateau offers visitors a delightful home base in the French countryside.
Have you ever dreamed of staying in a château?
Waking up in a beautifully decorated luxurious suite. Opening up the windows to watch the sun rise over the French countryside.
Wandering the grounds amid picturesque vineyards, orchards, and forested trails that amble alongside a serene river.
Indulging in a four-course meal prepared by a private chef in a stunning formal dining room.
Some fairytales can come true!
These are some of the experiences Alain and I had the pleasure of enjoying during a magical one-week vacation with six other couples at Château de Valcreuse.
Nestled in the tranquil countryside of La Roche-Posay, France, the property’s blend of old-world elegance and modern comforts make it a perfect getaway.
Jump to:
About the Loire Valley
The lush Loire Valley is often called the "Garden of France." Here, you'll find enchanting landscapes, many a majestic châteaux, incredible French food and wine, and rich cultural heritage.
Spanning over 170 miles along the Loire River, this region is renowned for its rolling vineyards, historic villages, and beautiful gardens.
With more than 300 castles, the Loire Valley has the most concentrated number of castles in France. This includes some of the country's most iconic castles, such as Château de Chambord.
The region is also a wine lover’s paradise, offering world-class wines like Sancerre, Cabernet Franc, and Vouvray. We had the pleasure of wine tasting at three wineries in the Loire Valley. Alain will be sharing those experiences in another post soon!
In the Loire Valley, you'll find a taste of authentic French life. It's truly a perfect destination for anyone seeking a peaceful yet culturally enriching escape.
About Chateau de Valcreuse
Château de Valcreuse is a beautiful 19th-century château nestled in the tranquil countryside of La Roche-Posay, France.
Built around 1850 as a grand family residence, the château has retained much of its historic charm, with its elegant stone facade, turrets, and sprawling estate. In one corner of the building, a bell and plaque marks the spot the castle was bombed during World War II.
Over the years, it has evolved from a private residence into a luxurious guest house. Current owners Catherine and Mark have lovingly cared for the castle and offer it as a peaceful retreat.
The castle
Inside Chateau de Valcreuse you will find a beautiful mix of old world charm and modern amenities.
A grand staircase from the foyer leads you to the suites upstairs. To the right of the staircase is a game room with pool/snooker table and a large living room. The bar is just off of the living room, and leads into the dining room.
The massive chef's kitchen has everything you need for the week, and is prepped and ready for catered events.
A large wine cellar in the basement quickly became one of my favorite rooms of the house.
But to my surprise, perhaps my favorite room was the large formal dining room. Even though we eat all of our family meals in our dining room that seats 10, there's something so special about enjoying a meal at a table for 14 underneath a beautiful chandelier.
The rooms and suites
The main château has seven spacious suites, each with its own unique layout, furniture, and slightly different offerings. They are perfect for couples to stay in.
Each suite has a king-size bed or a queen-size bed, with the exception of the Innocence suite on the top floor which has a twin bed and a double bed.
Every suite has its own private bathroom, some with spacious bathtubs, some with walk-in showers.
Our suite, Intuition, as well as Spntaneite, have their own small private balconies.
The grounds
Chateau de Valcreuse is a sprawling estate covering just over 17 acres (7 hectares) of land at the edge of La Roche-Posay, along the Creuse river.
The lawn, pool, and pool bar are the perfect place to lounge and soak up some sunshine.
Near the pool is a gazebo, tree swing, and petanque court.
There are also lovely orchards with pears, apples, plums, apricots, and more.
And there is also a truffle oak garden!
The food
At Château de Valcreuse, you have access to a chef's kitchen, as well as to a private chef, if you choose. The private chef's services are an additional cost to your rental, starting at around 75€ per person, per meal.
During our stay, we had the pleasure of enjoying three gourmet dinners prepared by Chef Cesare Bonacoscia (pictured above).
We were also treated to gorgeous charcuterie boards and an amazing dinner of beef bourguignon, red wine risotto, and ratatouille by our hosts, Sandy and Lori.
And don't forget to stock up on all of the amazing French pastries and fresh fruits available at the bakeries and the market in La Roche-Posay. Every morning was a treat!
The vineyard
At the edge of the lawn, past the petanque court and pool, are the Château vineyards. With wide planted rows of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, it's a beautiful spot to meander.
Additional amenities and services
In addition to all of these wonderful amenities mentioned above, Château de Valcreuse includes:
- Towels, robes, slippers, and toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Pool/snooker table
- Wooden chess set
- On-site laundry facilities
- Coffee maker and tea kettle in the kitchen
- Private van transfer to/from Paris (additional cost)
- Concierge service to help you plan the most amazing time in the Loire Valley.
Getting to and from Chateau de Valcreuse
La Roche-Posay is approximately a 3-hour drive south from Paris. While staying at the Château, you have the option to add-on transportation service from Paris.
The pricing varies on time of year and number of passengers, but for a roundtrip for two in the fall, it is around 1600€.
By Car
The most direct way to reach Château de Valcreuse is by car. The drive from Paris to La Roche-Posay takes about 3 hours (around 320 km). Take the A10 motorway towards Poitiers, then follow the signs to La Roche-Posay. This scenic route allows for flexibility and the opportunity to explore the French countryside along the way.
By Train
You can also take a train from Paris (Gare Montparnasse or Gare d’Austerlitz) to the nearest major train station, which is Châtellerault. The journey takes around 1.5 to 2 hours by high-speed TGV. From Châtellerault, you can take a taxi or rent a car for the remaining 25 km (about 25 minutes) to Château de Valcreuse in La Roche-Posay.
Renting a car in La Roche-Posay
I highly recommend renting a car during your stay at Château de Valcreuse. We rented a car from Avis.
The office is in Chatellerault, which is an easy 20-minute drive from the Château.
You can use the search form below to book your rental car for your stay in France:
Stay at Chateau de Valcreuse
For those interested in staying at Château de Valcreuse, prices can vary depending on the season and type of rental.
The entire château can also be rented for private events such as weddings or corporate retreats, as well as for week-long stays.
You also have the option to rent out the La Maison des Papillons Bleus, a charming 3-bedroom cottage on the property.
Find the latest pricing on their website.
Château de Valcreuse
Route de Lésigny
La Roche-Posay 86270 France
Read more about Wine Tasting in the Loire Valley, Best Things to Do in La Roche-Posay,
Many thanks to our friends Erin (Platings & Pairings) and Rick for inviting us, and to Sandy (Reluctant Entertainer) and Paul and Lori (Recipe Girl) and Brian for hosting! We had an amazing time with an incredible group of people!
Things to do in La Roche-Posay
We'll be sharing more of our Loire Valley adventures in future posts, including wine tasting and a visit to Chateau de Chambord.
Feel free to click the links below for some of the more popular tours in the Loire Valley.
If you visit, please be sure to let them know that you read about it on Urban Bliss Life! And if you snap some pics, tag us @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
✈️ Planning a trip?
Here are my favorite items and resources I use whenever I travel.
🧳 Away Luggage - I've traveled all over the world with Away luggage and can't say enough about their durability and style.
🎒 Backpack - This is my go-to travel backpack. It has pockets everywhere and enough space to fit everything from my laptop to extra shoes.
📍Apple Air Tags - I always hide these airtags away in my luggage, especially if I check bags. That way I can track them and know exactly where they are.
👚 Packing cubes - Take the stress out of packing and make sure everything fits in your bags with this set of compression packing cubes.
⚡️Portable charger - I always travel with a portable power bank for my devices, and I've found this one to be the most reliable and long-lasting.
🔌 Travel adapter - Planning to travel to multiple countries? I use this all-in-one international travel adapter to make sure my devices work wherever I go.
🛩 Flights - I've found the best savings savings on flights here.
🏨 Hotel - I always snag the best lodging deals with this booking tool.
🚙 Rental cars - You can get some great savings on rental cars on this site.
I use all of these products and earn a small commission through these affiliate links.
Leave a Reply