If you are going to France — especially Paris, France — then Henryk highly recommends the Chateau de Rochecotte — a Medieval Castle they have turned into a 4-Star hotel. It is 1.5 hours outside of Paris, by train, located in the famed Loire Valley.
Henryk is an enterprise architect who travels the world with his wife, and is savy in finding deals.
The Château de Rochecotte is a late 18th-century chateau in grand Louis XVI style — located in the French village of Saint-Patrice, near Langeais, in Indre-et-Loire. It is halfway up a hill dominating the Loire valley — so you get terrific views of the valley.
The Château was built in the early 1800’s, and has been added to through the years by various owners.
Henryk Loves the place, as do most who rate it on Google — it gets 4.7 out of 5 on 540 Google Reviews with people going above and beyond to heap praise on it. And it is affordable — a night’s stay at current writing is around $200 US.
“5 star not 4!”, says D3831COmariab on Google reviews. “Exceptional!!!! The location, food, wine, service, prices 10/10 Friendly and stunningly decorated with beautiful grounds, simply exquisite. We arrived at an awkward time but they made us food and a bottle of wine.|6 hotels in one week and this was the best and least expensive!!!”
1. Phenomenal Rooms and Grounds
“You really feel like a king staying there,” says Lyudmila Emag who rated it 5 stars on Google Reviews ” The grounds are gorgeous, ground floor rooms feel like walking inside museums but then you can sit in luxurious arm chairs, beautiful pictures are on every wall.”
“Our children, aged 11 and 13, had an incredible time enjoying the heated swimming pool,” says Wiwit Susilawati. “The water temperature was perfect, even for the hottest sunny day. Being able to play table tennis in such a beautiful garden was an amazing experience for them. We were especially impressed by the warm and attentive hospitality, which made our stay unforgettable. Chateau Rochecotte is a gem, and we can’t wait to return!”
“What a special place,” says Q1181ADgeorgep. “It is a unique property like no other. The rooms are huge and well done. King sized comfortable beds. The water is steamy hot. Very clean. The staff is friendly and speaks English well. Dinner was wonderful. The younger woman who served the cheese board was delightful.”
“The property is vast and lovely,” adds Laura Lafata. We often felt like we had the place to ourselves on the massive grounds.”
2. Tremendous Views
“Best place to stay in Loire Valley,” says Blaylock Family. “It is minutes from Sleeping Beauty Castle, and Chateau Villandry (with the best gardens). Perfect dining experiences. Feels like you have your own chef and butler. The trails to explore on the property with breathtaking views at anytime of the day. Tea time was magical! The on-site bike rentals are the perfect addition. It felt like I was in a fairytale!”
3. Terrific Food
“Excellent FOOD !!!” says Clara Sergent. “An amazing place to stay, breathe some fresh air, rest, meet nature, birds and flowers! The Chateau is Beautiful. I loved the pastries and the food. The pool is great, and the Staff Amazing !!”
4. Incredibly Helpful, Family-Like Staff
In almost every review, people rave about the staff.
“Our stay at Chateau Rochecotte was absolutely enchanting!,” says Wiwit Susilawati. “From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction, making us feel truly pampered. The elegant ambiance of the chateau, combined with the breathtaking surroundings, created a magical experience.”
Naming names, Laura Lafata says: “The owner Christine herself was charming and helpful, but of particular excellence was the maître d’hôtel, Eric. His service and demeanor were superb and professional yet friendly, and he continuously went out of his way to service my requests, including a silly late-night chocolate craving. Xavier and the rest of the wait staff were always accommodating, but the entire team made us feel like we were in a luxurious home away from home. I hope to get back to this gorgeous property again. Merci beaucoup.”
“Thank you to the team for making this leg of our holiday memorable for all the right reasons,” adds Alan Nunn.”I will miss the afternoon swim followed by cocktails and amuse bouche on the terrace!”
5. Visit Loire Valley Castles & Vinyards
The Loire Valley is home to rolling hills, the River Cher and over 300 castles, ranging from practical fortified castles from the 10th century to splendid residences or chateau’s built 500 years later. Chateau translates to Castle in English — but it can also refer to a country house or a large manor house.
Most of the big castles were built during the Renaissance period, when the Loire became the valley of choice for French royalty and their courtiers. Some of the most grandeur castles in the Loire Valley lay within close proximity to one another, making it easy to go from castle to castle, visiting them.
The top 5 castles to visit are:
- Chateau de Chambord,
- Chateau de Chenonceau,
- Chateau de Villandry,
- Chateau d’Amboise, and
- Chateau de Cheverny.
These chateau’s (or chateaux) are known for their architectural beauty, historical significance, and stunning gardens.
Nearby Vinyards
The Loire Valley also has many great French vineyards. There are two right by the Chateau de Rochecotte and pointed out on its website:
- Vignoble de Bourgueil and
- Vignoble de Chinon.
6. Getting to Chateau de Rochecotte
To get to Chateau de Rochecotte, first go to France, and then:
- Take a train from Paris (likely Montparnasse station) to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station in Tours, France. This journey takes approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes.
- From Tours, you can take a direct train to Saint-Patrice station, which is close to Château de Rochecotte. This train journey takes about 27 minutes.
- From Saint-Patrice station, you can take a taxi or a local bus to reach the castle. Château de Rochecotte is located about 650 feet from the center of Saint-Patrice.
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