15 of the Best French Chateau Wedding Venues
From rosè receptions to private pools, our collection of French château wedding venues is simply magnifique!
A French château wedding is the solution to planning the perfect destination wedding that isn’t too far from home, but still promises some Mediterranean sunshine on your big day.
And whether you dream of tying the knot overlooking a blossoming vineyard or overlooking the French riviera, a château wedding is always a good idea.
Elegant and romantic, French château wedding venues lend themselves perfectly to outdoor ceremonies and al fresco dining. They also allow all of your friends and family to stay together in one place.
If you choose a venue in a quintessentially French town, your guests will have the option to make a weekend out of the event to explore, eat, and sample the local produce.
Planning château weddings in France may seem like a daunting prospect, but it’s actually not as tricky as you might think. Oh, and hassle-wise, the venue’s expert teams are often on hand to sort everything from flowers to cakes and catering. Sounds trés chic, oui?
French Château Wedding Guide: The Best Château Wedding Venues in France
So, if your heart is set on saying “I do” in the home of pastry, fine wine and sunshine, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, you'll find a round up of the best French château weddings, some expert tips on the average cost of a wedding château in France, and some styling tips on what to wear.
Oh, and we’ve also included a round-up of the best wedding locations in the South of France to tie the knot!
Ready to be inspired?
- The Best French Château Wedding Venues
- Popular Wedding Locations in the South of France
- How Much Does a French Château Wedding Cost?
- Can You Legally Get Married in France if You Are English?
- What to Wear to a French Château Wedding?
The Best French Château Wedding Venues
From French châteaus with lake views, and ones nestled in the mountains, to castles with private pools and some tempting French château wedding packages, here are our pick of the best places to say 'I do' in France.
1. Couvent Notre Dame des Prés
Comprised of a chapel, a gallery, a park, a cocktail area and even a catering space, Couvent Notre Dame des Prés has everything you need for a spectacular Provencal wedding.
Surrounded by weeping willows and century-old oaks, this breathtaking estate provides the most stunning backdrop for wedding photographs that you won't forget.
Nestled in the heart of Provence, couples can find privacy within the venue's historic walls, and carry out their entire wedding - from ceremony to the reception - on the same estate.
With tables, chairs, decorations and lighting available upon demand, this venue is completely customisable and can be tailored to reflect the style and taste of each individual couple.
- Location: Reillanne, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
- Capacity: 150
- Accommodation: Sleeps up to 8 people
2. Château de Tresserve
Located in the much sought-after region of the Riviera of the Alps is Château de Tresserve, a breathtaking wedding venue with a truly luxurious feel. Not only do you get unspoilt lake views here, but what's inside is just as impressive.
The French château has a number of indoor spaces for you to host your event, but our favourites are the Tresserve and the Salle du Lac which are located on the upper level and have a veranda which can accommodate up to 220 people for al fresco drinks.
There is also a terrace on this floor which is enormous and has the most wonderful scenic views of Lake Bourget. Practicalities here are just as impressive too, with a huge car park that has space for up to 50 cars, making it easy for guests to commute there, and five luxurious bedrooms for you and your immediate family to stay over.
Here, you have a choice of French château wedding packages, which offer a range of different amenities and services including a personalised guest book, use of the many rooms in the castle and access to the wine cellar. There are also a number of optional extras you can add on to your package including champagne service, a car park security guard, cloak room and a Rolls Royce Phantom rental.
- Location: Savoie near the Lake Bourget
- Capacity: 30-300
- Accommodation: Five luxury bedrooms
3. Château Du Val
Steeped in neo-Gothic architecture and boasting a huge park, Château du Val offers an idyllic setting for your wedding celebrations.
With three lounges and an oak-paneled dining room, as well as elegant salons and a marquee, there is enough to space to make everyone feel at home.
This particular venue offers a steady hand when it comes to weddings, as it works closely with experienced professionals to make sure that your day goes off without a hitch. Couples who get married here often choose to work in collaboration with a local caterer who specialises in working with fresh, local produce.
So, for couples searching for a French wedding venue that will make the hard stuff simple, this is the venue for you.
- Location: Saint-Just, Ille et Vilaine
- Capacity: 20-200
- Accommodation: Sleeps up to 15 people
4. Domaine Le Grand Belly
If you're the kind of couple that dreams of hiking, kayaking, and possible even renting a sailing boat during your wedding weekend, then Domaine Le Grand Belly is the French wedding venue for you.
Complete with an infinity pool, a beautiful beach with deckchairs, a ping pong table as well as over a thousand hectares of land to explore, guests will be spoilt to choice when it comes to entertainment.
As for the wedding itself, the reception area is nestled in between lavender fields, vineyards and olive trees to capture that classic Provencal atmosphere. With room for up to 300 guests, this venue is capable of hosting a wedding to go down in history.
- Location: Rocheford-du-Gard, Gard
- Capacity: 50-300
- Accommodation: Sleeps up to 50 people
5. Château La Tour Vaucros
Located in the heart of Provence (just think about the rosè!), Château La Tour Vaucros is an elegant wedding château with an enormous capacity.
There are two reception rooms in the château both steeped with refined character and interior decor, and both can accommodate 350 people for a sit-down meal, and an impressive 600 guests for a drinks reception.
As well as indoors space, there is also extensive exterior room for al fresco soirees, and an abundance of picturesque backdrops for sunset pictures and evening cocktails. Once the day draws to a close, 49 of you can be housed within the wedding château's accommodations across a variety of guest houses - all with luxurious rooms for you to enjoy.
The venue is also just one hour from Marseille, so you or your guests could extend your stay in France and continue to explore in the nearby towns and cities.
- Location: Vaucluse in the heart of Provence
- Capacity: 30-600
- Accommodation: Space for 49 overnight guests
6. Abbaye Du Grand Gigognan
Once a place of passage and rest for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela, the Grand Gigonan Abbey has been reimagined as an exquisite wedding venue for those wanting to tie the knot in the sunny South of France.
Boasting a festive reception room, the venue is equipped with 15 bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, communal areas rand plenty of outdoor space. Surrounded by lavender and olive trees as well as a large swimming pool, it's a the perfect setting for an idyllic wedding in the sun.
And if the temperature gets a little too hot, head down to the large vaulted room which stays cool throughout summer. Known as the Salle des Ecuries, it contains authentic architecture and provides a dramatic setting for an evening meal.
- Location: Soegues, Vaucluse
- Capacity: 1-300
- Accommodation: Space for 30 overnight guests
7. Château de Courcelles Le Roy
Romantic and quintessentially French, Château de Courcelles Le Roy is a dreamy wedding venue located in the Loiret district of France. Here, you can host weddings of up to 180 guests and the château itself can house a large fraction of that with 55 beds across 19 beautifully decorated bedrooms.
The magical atmosphere of the château's interior continues outside int othe vast gardens and lawns. There are also three outbuildings for wedding celebrations, as well as the grand château itself - you really do have so much choice here!
The château encourages guests to spread their celebrations out across an entire wedding weekend, and you won't risk running out of things to do. As well as the beautiful grounds and interiors, the venue also has its very own bowling alley where you can bowl and play petanque with your guests. There is also a pool to relax by and garden paths to walk through the park on.
- Location: Beaulieu-dur-Loire in Loiret
- Capacity: Up to 180
- Accommodation: 19 bedrooms with 55 beds
8. Château de Villerambert
Built in the 16th century, Château de Villerambert is a beautiful castle that is flanked by 4 towers and located between scrubland and vineyards. Just 15 minutes from the historic city of Carcassonne, it's the perfect suburban escape.
Couples that tie the knot here can host their guests in the Orangery, and endless access to the vast countryside setting. In the case of rain, there is also a hall a vaulted cellar available at no extra cost.
For guests bringing little ones, there is also a Chapelle which can double as a children's area. The venue is incredibly well connected and has a host of DJs, florists, caterers and photographers at its fingertips, and would be more than happy to help couples organise their big day.
- Location: Caunes-Minevois, Aude
- Capacity: 90-240
- Accommodation: 8 bedrooms that sleep up to 16 people
9. Château de Bézyl
Château de Bezyl is a wedding château in France that couples rave about - and we can see why. With an excellent location and close proximity to Rennes, and the perfect combination of historic features and modern styling, it's the perfect backdrop for couples to plan a quintessentially French château wedding.
For overnight accommodation, you and your guests have the choice of the five bedrooms within the château - three of which are premium, as well as an additional 30 beds across a range of cottages in the Domaine de Bezyl. As well as this, there's also the possibility of having an additional 15 guests stay in motorhomes or tents on the estate - glamping anyone?
As far as French château wedding packages go, Château du Bezyl give couples plenty to choose from. They have three different levels of package, classic, premium and excellence. Hire prices range from €5,000 to €7,000 in low season, and €7,000 to €9,000 in high season.
- Location: Ille et Vilaine in Beston
- Capacity: 10-190
- Accommodation: A total of 35 beds across the château and Domaine de Bezyl
10. Château de La Colaissière
Nestled just six kilometres from the Loire Valley, Château de La Colaissière is a breathtakingly romantic wedding château in France. This dream-come-true castle is surrounded by a medieval moat and can accommodate the utmost extravagant, grand entrances such as arriving by hot air balloon, carriage or helicopter.
Built in the 14th century, Château de La Colaissière was once the seat of the Dukes of Brittany. It has been fully renovated for contemporary living, but is still awash in luxurious furnishings that evoke its noble past.
The surrounding Anjou region is brimming with wineries and is wonderful for exploring. You and your guests can enjoy slumbering in any of the château's 45 bedrooms whilst making the most of a weekend in the French countryside.
- Location: Maine et Loire on the border of Brittany and Anjou
- Capacity: 10-300
- Accommodation: 45 bedrooms
11. Château de la Roque Forcade
If an infinity pool, delicious food and locally produced French wine sounds like your thing, then you're going to love Château de la Roque Forcade. Located in the heart of Provence, it offers couples the chance to tie the knot surrounded by miles of vines, whilst still being just a stone's throw from major cities like Marseille and Aix en Provence.
Perfect for couples that want the tranquility of the countryside without being too far from nearby airports, this vineyard venue has a talented team that is at your disposal throughout your wedding planning process.
From the chef and the photographer to even the florist, the venue can take care of all your wedding-related requirements. And during your stay, guests can even sample local wine, olive oil and honey whilst learning about the venue's devotion to sustainable agriculture.
- Location: Peypin, Bouches-du-Rhône
- Capacity: 80-250
- Accommodation: Nearby accommodation recommendations available on vendor website
12. Domaine d’Essendiéras
If thoughts of getting married in the beautiful Dordogne make your heart sing then consider Domaine d’Essendiéras, a beautiful French château wedding venue set at the top of one of the highest hills in the region.
This venue is made up of two French châteaus that date back to the 16th and 19th centuries, and around every corner there’s something new to see. Domaine d’Essendiéras exudes class, history and elegance.
There are a range of indoor spaces that would be perfect for your big day (that's if you don’t choose to celebrate outside). The Clubhouse, a reception room with space for up to 250 guests, boasts a private terrace, wooden beams and panoramic views across the golf course and surrounding countryside.
If you’re after something with a little more character, choose The Carousel – it sits at the heart of the two castles and has space for up to 200 of your friends and family. It has been restored to its former beauty and features a large mezzanine overlooking the reception room.
- Location: Dordogne, in the Aquitaine region
- Capacity: 25-250
- Accommodation: Space for 200 overnight guests
13. La Grange de Javon
Located in the heart of Luberon, just 20 minutes from Gordes, La Grange de Javon is a 40 hectare estate surrounded by lavender fields and forests, making it the perfect venue for couples seeking a breathtakingly beautiful place to tie the knot amongst nature.
Couples that get married here will be assisted by the venue's on-site team, who are at your disposal to create the wedding of your dreams. Equipped with a little black book of trusted partners, from florists to catering, you'll have everything you need.
- Location: Sault, Vaucluse
- Capacity: 2-200
- Accommodation: A bridal suite and 4 additional bedrooms, sleeping 10 in total
14. Château de Lerse
For nearlyweds who want their wedding to capture the magic of a music festival, look no further than >Château de Lerse. Surrounded by 150 hectares of parkland, this venue offers so much charm and natural beauty for guests to enjoy.
The wedding party can enjoy an outdoor reception in the courtyard, and roam underneath a custom-built tent complete with tables, chairs and heaters for cooler evenings.
A glamping area, luxury safari tents, and on-site showers and toilets will also be at your disposal, in addition to a barn with a bar, a dance floor and even a kitchen! To top it off, a large swimming pool with a pool house will offer endless fun and unforgettable moments to your French wedding day.
As for food and drink, the venue's on-site chefs are there to make your day as delicious and stress-free as possible.
- Location: Pérignac, Charente
- Capacity: 35-250
- Accommodation: Can sleep up to 40 people (including glamping)
15. Château de Crémat
Constructed on 1906 Roman galleries, Château de Crémat is not only a gorgeous wedding venue - it's first and foremost an organic and Aop wine estate,
Newly renovated with a smart red finish and nestled in the Nice countryside, it boasts a breathtaking view of the ocean and stunning neo-Tuscan architecture that will take your breath away.
Couples that choose to wed here will enjoy access to the Antoine Mari room, which offers the most picturesque spot amongst stained glass windows for guests to enjoy their meal before taking to the dance floor until 3am.
The venue is wrapped in vast gardens and terraces, offering endless opportunities for moonlit walks and stunning wedding photography.
- Location: Nice, Alpes-Maritimes
- Capacity: 20-250
- Accommodation: Enquire with the vendor for details.
Popular Wedding Locations in the South of France
Any type of French wedding can be gorgeous, whether you're eloping to Paris for a chic city break or gathering with your nearest and dearest in a vast vineyard. However, celebrations in the South of France tend to be the most popular type of French wedding, as they tick the essential boxes: sunshine, great food, and stunning views.
For nearlyweds beginning their destination wedding planning journey, we'd recommend looking at some specific areas in the South of France. The most popular spots are:
- Aix-en-Provence
- Nice
- Cassis
- Avingon
- Provence
- Carcassonne
- Biarritz
How Much Does a French Château Wedding Cost?
It's often a myth that getting married abroad is cheaper than getting married in the UK, but this isn't always the case. As always, the cost of a French château wedding will depend on so many factors, but we can give you a pretty good idea of the average spend.
According to research by French wedding planning website Mariages.net, the average cost of a wedding in France is €20,100 compared to £20,700 in the UK, making the average wedding cost in France pretty comparable to the UK.
You could see yourself getting more of a deal if you found a French château wedding package that included several vendors. Their average also takes into consideration all types of wedding venues and styles, not just those taking place in a French château .
With that breakdown, you'd be looking at spending between £6,000 - £10,000 on your venue hire, which is fairly in line with French château wedding venues such as Château de Bezyl who charge between €5,000 and €9,000 for venue hire depending on the package level and whether it's low or high season.
Senior Weddings and events Consultant at Oliver's Travels, Evie Carrington explains the flexibility that French château wedding venues tend to have on packages and pricing, "Our top-selling properties, mainly unique and characterful dry-hire châteaus, offer total freedom and flexibility when it comes to planning your special day.
"No cookie cutter packages and no unnecessary inclusions here, you can really choose what you want to spend and where. This means we can cater to clients with all kinds of budgets. Venue rental can range anywhere from £5,000 to £50,000 plus, our portfolio is designed to appeal to the masses. Our enquiries cover intimate celebrations of 20, as well as huge three-day dos with upwards of 150 guests in attendance."
Whilst we can't give you an exact figure on the cost of a French château wedding, we can outline a few things that will impact the price of one.
The Time of Year
As we know from some of the French châteaus in this roundup, venue hire prices will always vary depending on whether it's high or low season for them. This is very much in line with UK wedding venues, where Saturdays in August will see you pay sometimes double (or more!) than a week day in low season.
Here, we have a guide to the most and least expensive wedding dates, and while this was based on UK weddings, it can be applied to many European countries with similar seasons to us.
The time of year you get married will also impact the cost of travel. Flights in school holidays and summer will always be more expensive than those in low travel season so be sure to take this into consideration when choosing your date.
What Costs You Cover
Hiring French château wedding venues and inviting all of your friends and family is of course fun in theory, but you need to make a decision early on about what costs you are willing to cover for those who are invited. If your château has accommodation, who is staying in the rooms, and who pays for that?
Some châteaus will include rooms in the overall hire fee, but others will charge additional amounts for the hire of cottages and bedrooms on site, and you and your partner need to decide whether you will cover these costs, or if you will pass these onto the guests.
You also need to consider meals on the additional days - if people are staying the night before and after, are there facilities nearby or will you need to provide meals for them?
Transport is also another consideration, if your château is in the middle of the countryside and taxis are hard to come by, you may want to arrange busses for guests to and from your venue if they aren't staying on site.
Additional Activities
Most French château weddings include celebrations that span across more than one day - this is often the case with most destination weddings because people have usually traveled much further than they would for a UK wedding.
Because of this, you need to think about additional activities that could incur extra costs. Hiring a château that's a bit more expensive, but has a pool and garden games set up could actually save you money in the long-run as the activities for the days after will be completely free and already covered by your hire fee.
Can You Legally Get Married in France if You Are English?
Yes! English couples can get legally married in France, but it's a bit complex.
Non-residents who do not have a parent living in France require a special dispensation to get married in the country, and this is very rarely granted. What’s more, getting legally married in France is only possible through a civil ceremony, which has to take place in a French Mairie (Town Hall).
Once a French civil authority has officially married you, you can follow up with a religious ceremony or a secular service in a location of your choice. This is also the case for LGBTQ+ couples, as same-sex marriage was legalised in France in 2013.
Most couples prefer to have their civil ceremony in the UK before holding a second, religious or humanist, ceremony in France.
The residency requirements are slightly different to those in the UK. One of you will need to be a resident of France for 40 days immediately prior to a civil ceremony taking place. You will need to provide proof of address, and then submit an application to the city hall, which will also need to include a number of legal documents, such as a birth certificate and passport.
As above, it’s for this reason that many couples who get married in France choose to legally wed back at home first.
What to Wear to a French Château Wedding
When it comes to wedding guest dresses at a destination wedding, you can feel much more confident that you are going to have good weather, so summer wedding guest dresses and summer suits are an absolute must.
If you're planning on wearing a dress, consider designs that reflect the setting. We love a floaty floral moment for a French château wedding, so flowery maxi dresses are always a good idea.
Strappy sandals, bright heels or even some designer wedding shoes are all perfect for a French château wedding, but be mindful that many château celebrations are outdoors, so you may find yourself partying on stone-washed gravel or grass - some heel protectors or a block heel could be a good idea.
For suits, summer wedding suits are your best bet. With good French weather on your side, we'd recommend paler colours matched with bright accents on your tie or pocket square to act as a nod to the sunny climate.
Does a French château wedding sound like it could be for you? Check out our guide to getting married abroad – from the legal stuff to how to transport your wedding dress, it tells you everything you need to know.
