France, South of FranceOctober 13, 2026, by flowererman

Château de Montcaud: the better French country life (Sabran, France)

Accommodation, Sleeping wing
France, South of France, October 13, 2026, by flowererman

Château de Montcaud: the better French country life (Sabran, France)

Five hectares of pristine land. Filled with centuries-old trees, roses, winding paths, a historic grotto, and seating areas here and there. A swimming pool, tennis court, pétanque, beehives for their own honey, and for the little ones a small football pitch and playhouse? All present. And as the icing on the cake: a nineteenth-century château. Voilà: welcome to Castle of MontcaudThe good news? You can stay overnight. In one of the 29 rooms and suites. There are also two restaurants and, recently, a spa.

And all this while there is at least as much to experience outside the gates. Château de Montcaud is situated in Sabran, on the border of Provence and Occitania, with wine mecca Châteauneuf-du-Pape practically in the backyard. Orange, Avignon, Uzès, and Nîmes are within reach, as are four villages bearing the coveted designation. The Most Beautiful Villages of France: Aiguèze, La Roque-sur-Cèze, Montclus and Lussan. Drinking wine, browsing flea markets, hopping from terrace to terrace. In short: a packed schedule. Or no schedule at all, because that château isn't there for nothing, of course.

Moreover, behind that beautiful facade lies quite a story. In 1848, silk merchant Alexandre Eugène Collain purchased the estate and had a château built there. Business was clearly booming for the man. The mansion passed from father to son, from son to godson, experiencing both golden times and faded glory along the way. Until a complete overhaul took place and Château de Montcaud rose again as a five-star hotel in 2018. The silk past has not been forgotten. Above the beds hang beautiful works of art featuring colorful silk panels. Lovely to look at, and a nod to the silk trade of yesteryear. Killing two birds with one stone.

Each room has its own unique charm. One has a claw-footed bathtub, another overlooks the beautiful gardens, and yet another features a painted ceiling that reveals the history of the château. Just try choosing. What do they have in common? High ceilings (long live the château!), plenty of light, vast amounts of space, and large, soft beds. Suitcases can also be spread out generously here. And then there is the service. Towards evening, a soft knock sounds on the door. Housekeeping, checking if everything is to your liking and if anything is needed for the night. An extra towel? A bottle of water? You ask, they deliver.

And then there is Julien. The cheerful concierge who sees everything, knows everything, and arranges everything. An asset to the château, that much is certain. Because a Julien like him? You just have to be lucky to find him.

Feeling hungry from all that doing nothing? You don't have to leave the estate for that either. Château de Montcaud boasts two restaurants: Bistro de Montcaud, with a particularly inviting terrace, and Le Cèdre de Montcaud, where chef Matthieu Hervé has held a Michelin star since 2024. We settled down at the bistro, where regional wines grace the menu. The dessert, in particular, made an impression: a chocolate financier with delectable chocolate cream, wafer-thin, airy tuiles, and coffee ice cream. A real treat for chocolate lovers. Breakfast is also excellent. You just have to manage to get out of that lovely bed first.

Castle of Montcaud

And to think that the surroundings still need to be discovered as well. Oh well. We will see tomorrow.

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