10 Unique Places to Stay in France

1. La Chataigneraie, Sahorre, Pyrenees Orientales, France

🛏 Sleeps 2 – 26 over 13 bedrooms

🎲 Games room

🏊‍♀️ Swimming pool

🪵 Open fire and log burner

🍽 BBQ

🌳 2 acres of grounds to explore

La Chataigneraie is a large, spacious property, split into three sections, which can either be rented separately or together dependent on group size. There is also a separate gite available to hire which sleeps an extra 2 guests, giving you plenty of flexibility with numbers. This fabulous home is only 40 minutes from both ski resorts and Mediterranean beaches, as well as just a 5 minute stroll from the local spa town of Vernet les Bains, where you’ll find a range of shops and restaurants. On-site, you’ll discover 2 acres of gardens boasting stunning views to explore. While you’ll have plenty of room in your own apartment, there are also a host of larger spaces for groups to come together for meals, drinks and socialising, giving you the best of both worlds. You’ll find plenty of entertainment at hand too, with a swimming pool, library, games room, and even a boules court! You can also arrange for their visiting chef to cook you up a storm and give you a well-deserved night off from cooking.

2. Chateau de la Couronne, Angouleme, Charente, France

🛏 Sleeps 10 – 26 over 9 bedrooms

🪵 Wood burners and open fires

📽 Cinema room

🎱 Billiard room

🏓 Table tennis and boules outside

🏊‍♀️ Swimming pool

🌳 Five acres of grounds to explore

🍽 BBQ

This beautiful castle’s fairytale-like exterior is truly magical. While the exterior conjures images of princesses and knights in shining armour, the interior is chic, stylish and comfortable. Within the property you’ll find plenty of space for the group to come together, whether that’s for a meal, mixing a drink in the bar, playing billiards, or even popping outside for a splash in the heated swimming pool. The property is located on the borders of Carente and Dordogne, on the edge of a tiny village where you will find a baker, butcher, and tabac.

3. Chateau d’Hallines, Saint Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France

🛏 Sleeps 16 – 26 over 12 bedrooms

🎲 Games room

🪵 Open fireplace

🎾 Tennis court

🚴‍♀️ Mountain bikes

🌳 Outdoor games

🏊‍♀️ Wild swimming

This 19th century chateaux’s location is just one of its many appealing factors, being just a 30 minute drive from the Channel Tunnel. The chateaux itself features 12 individually designed bedrooms, as well as plenty of space for socialising. Entertainment wise, you will be spoilt for choice, with 2 television rooms to choose from, snooker and table tennis rooms, and even a trampoline room! If you can tear yourself away from the property itself, the local village offers a bakery, and a couple of pretty cafés, while slightly further afield is the city of Saint Omer, with its own cathedral and plenty of shops.

4. La Maison des Artiestes, Carcassonne, South of France

🛏 Sleeps 5 – 10 over 5 bedrooms

🎲 Games room

🔥 Hot Tub

🏊‍♀️ Swimming Pool

🎾 Tennis Court

🪵 Open fire place

🐕 Pets considered

La Maison des Artistes has been lovingly designed by two artists, creating a unique, quirky, yet homely feel to the property. The exterior is just as awe inspiring as the interior, with a heated infinity pool overlooking the mountains, alongside a luxury hot tub, and plenty of sunbeds to relax on. You’ll find yourself just a 10 minute drive from the historic city of Carcassonne, and only 40 minutes from the Mediterranean beach at Narbonne. You can easily access the old town by foot from the front door, where you’ll find a range of bars and restaurants, as well as local shops to pick up supplies. It is worth remembering the steep climb back up the hill to your accommodation if heading out on foot, especially if you’re planning on sampling some of the local food and wine!

5. Chateau Caillac, Fongrave, Lot et Garonee, France

🛏 Sleeps 10 – 18 over 7 bedrooms

🎲 Games room

🔥 Hot tub

🌳 Tree house

🏊‍♀️ Swimming pool

🐕 Pet friendly

This stunning chateau feels more like a fairytale castle from the outside, with its immaculate tall turrets and high windows. Inside the property, you’ll find light, open spaces, with tasteful antique and contemporary furniture, offering comfort while still maintaining the original feel to the property. Outside features not only a swimming pool, but plenty of space for relaxation or game playing, including a private jetty overlooking a pretty river. From the jetty, enjoy a trip on the canoe or row boat, and even take part in a spot of fishing! Close to the property are a range of towns, markets and even night markets. For an adventure, why not borrow a bike or even tandem to explore what the local area has to offer?

6. Castelnau des Fieumarcon, Gascony, France

🛏 Sleeps 2 – 80 over 37 bedrooms

🏊‍♀️ Swimming pool

🎾 Tennis Court

🪵 Open fire

🍽 BBQ

🐐 Goats, chickens and ducks to visit!

If you’re going to book a large property, you might as well just book an entire village right? No, seriously, this independent, private medieval village is available to hire. There are 14 unique houses within the village, all available to hire, ranging from 5 bedrooms down to 1, giving you huge flexibility. There are areas such as the renovated stables where the group can come together for dining, as well as picturesque terraces to take in the views. The village is built high up in the south west of France, and offers panoramic views. However, this doesn’t mean that you’re cut off in the slightest, while the village offers rural peace and tranquility, you’ll find the local town of La Romieu just 3 km away, with a range of restaurants, a boulangerie, and local shops.

7. Chateau de la Motte Henry, Le Mans, Pays de la Louire, France

🛏 Sleeps 15 – 36 over 15 bedrooms

🪵 Open fire

🏊‍♀️ Swimming pool

🏓 Table tennis

🏋️‍♀️ Gym

🎣 Fishing available

🍽 BBQ

🐕 Pet friendly

With a 9 hectare estate to explore, featuring a lake, meadow, woodland, orchard and gardens, as well as a swimming pool and gym, you’ll be blown away before you’ve even entered this charming property! Once you do manage to venture inside, you’ll discover a mix of antique yet comfortable interiors in each of the individually designed bedrooms, spacious sitting rooms, and even a library. The chateau itself sleeps 30+, however if your numbers exceed this, or you fancy something a little different, there is also a gite available to hire on site, sleeping an extra 6. Located in the Western Loire Valley, you’ll find yourself just 2km from the local town, with a supermarket, bakeries, butchers and bars to enjoy. If you prefer a more active day trip, why not book a session at the local swing golf, or take the kids to the nearby waterpark Aquaboule? There is also a towpath close to the property, where you can enjoy a trip either on horseback or cycling, and take in the natural beauty of the area.

8. Chalet Saskia, Vaujany, Alps, France

🛏 Sleeps 10 – 25 over 10 bedrooms

🎲 Games room

🪵 Open fires

🔥 Hot tub

🛝 Close to children’s activity hub

🏊‍♀️ Indoor heated pool & slide at sports complex next door

Views don’t get much better than this…offering uninterrupted views of the Romanche valley from all 10 bedrooms, as well as from the beautiful hot tub, you get an instant feeling of relaxation when looking at this property. The chalet itself is split into the East wing sleeping 13, and the West wing sleeping 12, however there is plenty of space for the group to come together in one of the spacious lounges or dining rooms, or on the sun terrace. There is also a well equipped games room, offering plenty of entertainment for the group. The property is found within a short distance of the local village Vaujany, where you’ll find a host of bars, shops and restaurants, make sure to visit both the top and the bottom half of the village, which are connected by a covered, state of the art escalator to save your legs from doing all the hard work!

9. Chateau La Carriere, Saint-Cyprien, Dordogne, France

🛏 Sleeps 9 – 16 over 8 bedrooms

🎲 Games room

🔥 Hot tub

🏊‍♀️ Swimming pool

🪵 Open fire

🍽 BBQ

🛶 Lake & lake house

📽 Cinema room

This traditional 17th century property is split into two sections. The North Wing, the older section of the property, and the South Wing, which is the more modern, luxurious section, featuring a games room, home gym, and bar. The exterior of this beautiful home is bursting with a range of entertainment, including a hot tub, large open spaces to explore, a large pool with stunning views, and even a Japanese-style lake and lake house, which doubles as a massage room should you wish to book a couple of hours of pure relaxation. Found in picturesque Saint-Cyprien, you’ll find yourself in a great location to explore this region of France, and just just 3km from the pretty town of Meyrals, with a host of cafés and eateries to explore.

10. Le Manoir, Charente, Near Dordogne, France

Le Manoir offers the wow factor from the minute you approach the property, and as soon as you step inside you’ll be blown away by the stunning interiors. There is a perfect mix of large, sociable gathering areas, alongside cosy areas for a little bit of peace and quiet. Head outside to the large terrace to get together for a family BBQ or sundowner, a game of tennis, or a dip in the large pool, or enjoy a bit of you time in the dedicated treatment room. You’ll also discover an outdoor kitchen, perfect for whipping up a quick family lunch while the kids play. With the local town of Blanzac just a few minutes drive, offering supermarkets, a pharmacy, boulangeries and a tabac, and a 30 minute from the historic city of Angouleme, you’ll enjoy the peace and quiet of a countryside location, without feeling cut off from sightseeing opportunities.