Parc de Lesseps

We loved this place. Marie has made her château into a special way to experience a castle in the French countryside, and she’s an incredible host. On arrival, you can have an aperitif with her, and breakfast with Marie and the other guests includes a lovely mix of local produce. The property has so much charm, whatever you’re expecting.

The château itself is beautiful, but I can’t recommend staying here. A day after we left, Marie claimed through Airbnb that we had damaged the stairwell, without providing proof. The supposed damage was a few scuff marks that could have been cleaned, yet she sought thousands of euros to repaint the wall. If she’d raised it politely while we were still there and shown evidence, we would have offered to clean it or pay a reasonable amount. Instead, she acted nice during the stay, then made what felt like an attempt to scam me. The Airbnb dispute was awful and not worth the trouble.

I found plenty of quiet corners in the park to read, write, or just sit and think. On a walk after breakfast, I meditated under an old tree, saw a deer run by, and watched a squirrel cross my path without fear. The grounds are huge and lovely, with wild garlic growing in the fields. At night I heard a tawny owl, and in the morning two little white horses were playing under the old trees. Marie's horse wanders in the garden, and there’s a place to ride your own horse too. The chickens provided fresh eggs for breakfast. Inside, our room was warm, full of character, and peaceful, and I liked how soft the shower water felt. Chateau de Planches is a beautiful old castle, both romantic and inspiring. We spent an evening by the fire talking with Marie about Tarot, yoga, and other interesting things. Spotting my little prince in the bookcase made me feel I was in the right place. I had a great time and will definitely return. If you need space to relax, read, or write, I think this place could leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

The garden is astonishing, and the château is gorgeous. Marie is such an amazing host, she made me feel at home the whole time. I’m already looking forward to going back one day!