Chateau de La Lande

The best part of the retreat was the company. The “Lalonders” spent real time with us, and their warmth made it feel like we were being welcomed into a family. The other guests were lovely too. We clicked right away, laughed a lot, and I’m sure we’ve made lasting friends. I’ve followed The Chateau Diaries for years, so coming to the Chateau for a gourmand retreat felt surreal. The countryside is beautiful, and the restored home has a fairy-tale feel while still being warm and lived in. I slept so well in the lovely Chambre Marquis. Chef Marie’s food and wine pairings were consistently excellent, and visiting local restaurants, markets, vineyards, and a liqueur distillery added a lot to the trip. I hope to see everyone again, maybe at Lalande. Whether you follow the vlogs or just want a memorable French countryside break, I’d wholeheartedly recommend the retreat.

Those long, meaningful conversations in the winter salon and the spectacular dinners with Stéphanie and Philipp are what I’ll remember most. I was traveling alone over the May 1st weekend, but quickly felt at ease and connected with lovely people from around the world. Nati gave me a truly chaleureux welcome, and Emma’s delicious breakfasts were prepared with such care. She’s incredibly kind. Marie’s food was outstanding too. It was a warm, enriching stay that I won’t forget.

It was lovely seeing in person all the rooms I’d followed online, and my husband and I felt very welcome on our first visit this weekend. I’ve watched the Chateau Diaries since the beginning. Thanks so much to Stephanie and Philip for opening their home, and to Nati, Marie, and Emma for making the stay so relaxing. Everyone on the lalande team was friendly. We’re looking forward to coming back soon.

We brought our dog, and he was treated like royalty. The ten other guests are now close friends, and dinners with Stephanie and Philip felt like a gathering of friends at a country estate from another century. They’re consummate hosts, and Nati kept everything running, from check-in and the tour to making sure we had what we needed. We’ve followed Chateau Diaries for a few years, so we had an idea what to expect, but everyone was so nice and the service was top notch. The food was amazing, thank you Marie! This is an absolutely magical place, and I give it my highest recommendation.