Château © Walt Hubis@flickr CC-BY
If you ever want to have a holiday of a lifetime surrounded by splendour in some of the most sumptuous houses and Chateaux in the world, then Relais & Châteaux are the people to talk to. This is an elite organization that operates in around sixty countries all over the globe offering pure luxury to those who want to visit and stay in the many residences they have in their fold.
Needless to say France and especially the Loire Valley, is one of the countries where Relais & Châteaux operate. It all started back in 1954 when the Association who set this up chose some of the finest properties so that discerning visitors and guests could spend some time in them. These properties were, and still are, historic landmarks with many castles, manor houses and other superb homes being selected to be part of the Association.
A motto was established – Caractère, Courtoisie, Calme, Charme et Cuisine – which translated means Character, Courtesy, Calm, Charm and Good Food. Anyone who plans a stay at one of these incredibly beautiful places knows that their choice will offer them exactly this, and the trend for more people to search out such exquisitely situated retreats is growing.
Château Tarascon © Wolfgand Staudt@flickr CC-BY
One amazing château in France which is part of the Relais & Châteaux association is Le Château de Mirambeau which is situated in the region of France called Charente-Maritime. This fairy-tale castle is steeped in history and set in some of the most beautiful countryside that France has to offer. As will all the members of the association, this superb Château offers it’s guests pure luxury in a setting that takes them back through the centuries in such a wonderful way.
Another incredibly beautiful Château is Chambord in the Loire Valley. This is a masterpiece of French Renaissance that will take you back in time to when Francis I and Louis XIV lived in the apartments. But there are many other Châteaux that are part of this association in France and each one of them offers a uniqueness that can only be found in this lovely land of fairy-tale castles.
Chambord © David Barrena@flickr CC-BY
Every now and again it is nice to be able to just sit down and pamper ourselves and staying at one of these amazing Châteaux or grand houses is just that. It means you have the chance to spend some real quality time in a setting that’s fit for royalty. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, your every need is catered for in the blink of an eye. The rooms are sumptuously decorated with furnishings and paintings and the cuisine that’s offered to each of the guests in their superb restaurants is a sheer gastronomic delight.