Château de Madières - Châteauzen

Our dog had a wonderful time too, which made the stay even better. We really liked dinner, and the team happily adjusted it to a vegetarian option. Everyone was kind and sincere, and always willing to go out of their way to help. This is such a beautiful place to stay. We can’t wait to come back!

We stumbled on this castle while looking for somewhere to stay on our way to Spain, and what a find. It felt so welcoming, almost like visiting your grandma, and the village was lovely too. The rooms have everything you need, and the tea selection was really nice. I still don’t get why some hotels buy liston and charge like Marriott. The food, atmosphere, views, rooms, and staff were all perfect. I could stay here all summer. We’re planning to return in autumn. Highly recommend.

I’m keeping Châteauzen to myself, because I don’t want it overrun by crowds chasing the next Instagrammable spot and “discovering” a place that’s best kept secret. It’s one of a group of four, and I’ll be visiting the other three too. The setting, views, and scents are wonderfully zen, and the staff deserve heaps of praise. The service, interiors and grounds are incredible, as are the hamman, sauna, heated pool, and suit of armour on the stairs. Breakfast and dinner are served in fabulous settings. I could heap on superlatives, and they still wouldn’t feel overdone. But I’ll stop here and keep the rest to myself.

There’s free EV charging, and the views are astonishing from the hotel’s spot on the side of a gorge. It’s a beautiful 14th century chateau, and dinner was to a very high standard. The staff were kind and always ready to help.