Château de La Ballue

I only had one night here before getting back on the road, and I really wish I could have stayed longer. The château has a calm, tucked-away feel that makes it easy to unwind. I loved its authentic character, and the staff clearly care about preserving it and sharing its history. Breakfast was personal and comforting, almost like being looked after by a grandpa.

The breakfasts were filling, and we loved exploring the château’s extensive grounds. The garden design is beyond what I could have imagined, with gorgeous views and beautiful historical interiors. Our room was cosy and charming too. The hosts welcomed us warmly, along with their immensely cute dogs and pups. A magnificent, authentically beautiful place, well worth visiting even in low season.

The garden is lovely to wander through, with a charming little labyrinth, and the pool is beautiful. We had a gorgeous room and an excellent breakfast, and the hosts were wonderfully kind. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like royalty, this château is the place.

The room in the Diana room was amazing, and the château itself is gorgeous. Online pictures don’t capture its grandeur or history. Breakfast was made just for us and was probably the best food I had in France during our week there. Try the homemade yogurt and fresh fruit salad. We also met the owner, who was gracious and spoke perfect English to help us along with our passable French. She’s as lovely as the grounds. One thing I didn’t see mentioned in the reviews: cattle are kept just off the property. I’m not sure if it’s a slaughterhouse or a working farm, but the manure smell made walking around the grounds almost unbearable. Maybe it was the time of year, the end of October, or perhaps something new in the area. The nearby restaurant list is out of date, with some places closed. We stumbled on Phil …a Table restaurant by Chef Phil, and the food there was excellent. If you arrive late, you may have to drive 15 min and look around for food, or go to bed hungry. The owner offered us the kitchen, but as it wasn’t included in the price, we didn’t want to impose. She really is a lovely woman. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay, just be aware of a few shortcomings in the area.