Best B&B Castle Hotels in New Aquitaine - 2023

Chateau Mareuil, as UK visitors may know from the Channel 4 series Escape to the Chateau DIY, is a very charming 15th-century chateau with a lovely setting overlooking the Asse valley in the Hautes Vienne region. It has, as fans of the series will know, been painstakingly restored and the result is a chateau guest house with an authentic look and feel. The environment is gorgeous too – the chateau’s flower gardens and lawns are flanked by a river, and surrounded on all sides by silent green fields in this deeply rural part of central France. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are three guest suites in the chateau itself – The Princess Suite, referred to on the booking page as Deluxe Family Room with Private Bathroom is the largest, sleeping up to four (one double and two singles) over a full 64 m² (689 square feet) space, but somehow still feels cosy and intimate. The two other suites – referred to as the Deluxe Triple Room & Comfort Triple Room have one double bed and one single each are smaller but still perfectly formed. Lastly, there is a double studio apartment with a kitchen in an adjoining, also historic building. Check out READ MORE

Known as one of the most beautiful chateaux in Deux-Sevres, Aquitaine, the majestic Château de Saint Loup, which was commissioned in 1609 to honour Good King Henry; Henri IV of France, is now an intimate boutique hotel. The chateau is a stirring sight, it still has a wonderfully medieval atmosphere and, though you may be paying for the pleasure, it feels quite a privilege to stay there, knowing that in times gone by such a property would have been out of bounds for all except the highest levels of French aristocracy. ACCOMMODATION: They have just nine spacious rooms to choose from; doubles, triples and one larger ‘family room’ which has two separate sleeping quarters and can sleep up to four. All of them are carefully decorated to maintain the medieval ambience with some lovely four poster beds, antique furniture and art pieces, and private bathrooms with old style bathtubs. The chateau has much lovely common space to explore too, with a library, a music room with piano, sitting rooms and a drinks bar at your disposal. The estate surrounding the moated chateau covers over 120 acres and includes some stunning 18th century landscaped grounds, including lawns and flower beds, an READ MORE

The very pretty Chateau de Maraval is where 15th-century design meets 21st and somehow they get along quite nicely. Its unashamedly contemporary interior design is so well done it doesn’t seem at all incongruous on a five centuries-old canvas. The chateau is a boutique hotel but with only four rooms (book as quickly as you can!), very friendly hosts and a down-to-earth atmosphere, it feels more like a gathering place for long-lost friends. The breakfast here is a great feast and is served up until noon, later on you can enjoy complimentary homemade cakes and snacks, coffee and tea etc. The owners sometimes organize evening dinners for the guests too and there are also some great restaurants in the surrounding area. The chateau itself looks fairytale-like from the outside, especially as it is surrounded by some lovely deep, peaceful woodland – very inviting to explore. There is also a swimming pool at the property, a small gym and spa facilities. Note: neither children nor pets are allowed at Château de Maraval. REVIEWS: “The chateau exceeded our very high expectations in every way possible. The location is peaceful, the air fresh and invigorating. The house itself stunning, with a fun spa, READ MORE