'Chateau Rigaud', nr. St Emilion, France.

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'Chateau Rigaud', Mouliets et Villemartin, nr St. Emilion, France.

Location ...

Overview...

Blurring the lines between a boutique hotel and a private home rental, Anna and Aib Barwick have transformed this crumbling medieval pile a few miles from St Emillion into a relaxed yet chic chateau of the highest order. Accommodation is flexible and can be booked by the room, as a private wing or the whole place for an unforgetteble celebration or holiday with friends. Which ever option is booked, breakfast and housekeeping are always included as the Barwicks firmly believe that you should never have to make your own bed or breakfast whilst on holiday. If that doesn't make you feel spoilt then the stunning interiors, grand scale and fabulous contemporary additions to the Chateau most certainly will. From interiors that belong on the pages of a style journal to facilities like the cosy private cinema with huge velvet sofas and fake fur throws, the sleek outdoor pool, which is heated year-round and the funky bar in the former old chapel and the bonhomie of the owners and staff, everything conspires to make Chateau Rigaud a joy to discover and very hard to leave.

Special Features ...

Bedrooms come with huge wooden beds, four-poster or bateau-style, indulgent bath tubs, REN toiletries and IPOD docks. Some have fabulous retro chandeliers. Along with the glamorous private cinema (three metre projected screen and THX sound quality) and chapel bar with 42" plasma TV (SKY sports for major events), communal areas include sociable dining room, five lounges and ten acres of grounds with numerous furnished terraces for eating, drinking, reading or simply relaxing, plus the sleek contemporary pool. Amongst the stylish furnishings, taffeta curtains and contemporary luxuries, are tonnes of original features including 16 stone fireplaces, acres of terracotta tiled floors, huge thick stone walls and medieval beams on the high ceilings. More recent additions include free wireless broadband for those with their own laptops, a Sony XBox and disco gear for celebration bookings. Families will appreciate the huge playroom filled with good quality, toys, books and arts materials, as well as the pre-bookable nanny or babysitting service. Rigaud also offers special 'house party' weeks for families on selected dates.

Local Knowledge...

Chateau Rigaud is set amongst vineyards and chateau wineries just moments from St Emilion, and forty minutes drive from Bordeaux or Bergerac airports. The Barwicks and their team are happy to arrange local activities such as winery tours, canoeing, horse riding and can pre-book a beauty and massage therapist for treatments at the Chateau.
Bordeaux city itself is well worth a day trip and has a growing reputation for great shopping to match it's high regard for food and, of course, wine. For the best boutiques, head for the streets around the Place des Grand Hommes. The best bet for antiques is the former wine merchant's district of Chartrons and its Rue Notre Dame, although you may be lucky and bag a bargain at the Saturday morning market around St Michael's Basilica (Saturday mornings). Le Regent on Place Gambetta is possibly the best cafe for people watching. For unbeatable river views, contemporary interiors and great food, try L'Estacade on Quai de Queyries.

Essentials...

During July and August the chateau is only available for booking as a whole sleeping up to 16 adults in eight double bedrooms and up to six children in a further three rooms. Prices are from €10,000 per week. At other times it's possible to book just a room on a chambre d'hote basis (B&B with optional dinner) from €150, or the wing with between three and seven bedrooms from €500 per adult per week and €300 per child per week. House Party events for family bookings are from €240 per room per night and are fully catered package with activity based childcare.

Contact...

For more information visit www.chateaurigaud.co.uk, call +33 (0) 5 57 40 78 59 or use the enquiry form below

Boutique