Château de Fleurville

I recommend the Château de Fleurville for the experience of a “vrai” (real) château at a reasonable price. Leaving the corporate life behind, Pascal purchased the château, already a hotel, but then enthusiastically and conscientiously renovated it to a level of quality never previously realized in over 400 years of existence. One accesses this intimate and pretty turreted château off either side of a circular staircase to an entry that both descends to the reception and climbs up to many of the guestrooms. Rays of light filter through the central stained-glass window creating a dance of colors on the walls. Most of the guestrooms are located in the château with décor appropriate to its theme and outfitted with all the modern conveniences. Five smaller rooms in a more modern décor are found at the top of the stairs accessed off the side garden, close to the pool and enjoying a shared outdoor terrace. Dining here is a memorable experience with a menu that Pascal says focuses on the “sauveur” with good meats and fresh fish prepared to accentuate their distinctive tastes. Dine either in the regal ambiance of the interior dining room or at tables set on the outdoor terrace with its tables separated from the lawn by a band of flowering roses, lavender and begonias—a truly beautiful setting.