Château de la Gaude - Relais & Châteaux

With its vineyards, art-filled rooms and excellent dining, Château de la Gaude would make a beautiful setting for a wedding weekend near Marseille or Aix. The different spaces could give each event its own atmosphere, and the gardens would also suit a small wedding or elopement. A lovely choice for a destination wedding. At Travellur Weddings, we enjoy recommending places like this to American couples looking for elegance, good food and an easy experience for their guests.

From the moment we arrived at Château de la Gaude, the staff made everything feel effortless. They took our luggage straight to the room and gave us a personal tour. There’s a golf cart available to take guests to the pool, and with so few rooms, the place feels wonderfully private, even when fully booked. The grounds are beautiful, and the hotel has the feel of a true luxury retreat. The team was responsive and thoughtful before we arrived too, helping arrange activities and bookings. We keep strictly kosher, and the staff went out of their way to organize catered meals. The head chef personally picked up the food and was warm, attentive and generous. We accidentally ordered too much, and he didn’t charge us for all of it. We also ate at the Michelin-starred restaurant, where the service and professionalism were the best I’ve experienced. The vineyards nearby are beautiful to wander through. I’d highly recommend Château de la Gaude for a refined, private and memorable stay.

This was the worst R&C stay I’ve had so far, and I’m giving it one star. I’ve stayed at dozens of R&C hotels, and they’re usually wonderful buildings full of character with great food. This one started well: lovely atmosphere, good service, a little tour of beautiful architecture, and a drink at the bar with a blissful view. Then we got to the room at 6:30pm and it wasn’t ready. It was over 25 degrees inside, with no air conditioning. We left the room dark to keep out the mosquitoes, opened the windows and went to dinner. When we came back, the “intelligent” turn-down service we hadn’t asked for had closed some windows but left others open, and turned on our lights and TV. Idiotic. With the windows open, we had some breeze but also the kitchen cooking smells, loud music, glass bottles being emptied into bins, and staff clattering over the cobbles and shouting. I’ve never stayed in a noisier hotel. Closing the windows reduced the noise a little, but left the room stifling. The automatic hallway lights were so bright they might as well have been visible from space. Don’t get up to use the toilet in the middle of the night unless you want your retinas to suffer. Charging €500+ for a room only, above the kitchen, bins and staff thoroughfare, without air conditioning, is ridiculous. If you want an R&C in Provence, stay at Jucas. It’s idyllic and much more peaceful. I’d recommend somewhere else, especially if you value your sleep.

I’m still thinking about the “princess treatment” we got here days later. The chateau is stunning in every corner. C'est tre tre tre jolie. We arrived in the evening, and the reception manager upgraded us to the mademoiselle suite. He was professional and attentive, and gave us a personal tour. He said the suite was exceptional, and he wasn’t wrong. The bathrobe was one of the most comfortable I’ve worn, the bathtub was a work of art, and the magical mattress and pillow had us asleep in no time. The view over the beautifully manicured garden was incredible. We were also given a bottle of Rosé, which we took back to London. We took a short walk around the estate in the morning. The vineyards in the Provençal sun were so therapeutic. The only small thing I’d nitpick is that the fruit infused water outside the sauna was a bit bitter, maybe because the fruit had been sitting in it too long. The staff were very helpful with our luggage when we arrived and left. We stayed for two nights and wished we’d booked another, so we could enjoy the spa and wine tasting. We’ll definitely return. I’d highly recommend this chateau to anyone visiting Aix-en-Provence. The extra 15 min drive is worth it for the beauty, serenity and top-notch hospitality.