Set in the undulating countryside of the glorious Lot-et-Garonne, Chateau Romance is an authentic family castle where you can stay in real comfort in beautiful surroundings. Dating back as early as the 17th century, the chateau used to be a hunting castle, visited by the King of France and is now listed as a ‘Patrimonie de France. The chateau has preserved much of its original character and charm and has been beautifully preserved by the owners allowing guests to feel a great sense of history around them alongside subtle modern comforts. Elegant silk wallpapers, sumptuous fabrics, grand paintings and many other original 18th and 19th century features add to the sense of historic grandeur at Chateau Romance. Imagine sipping your morning coffee from the elegant salon looking out of the triple-aspect French windows leading to the glorious gardens. Or preparing breakfast in the recently refurbed kitchen-diner with its sleek kitchen island and characterful fireplace. Theres also a formal dining room with historic artwork adorning the walls, the perfect place for a candle-lit feast with loved ones by the roaring fire. Eight bedrooms, six of them with king-size beds, have each been thoughtfully decorated and individually styled. The second-floor master bedroom is especially impressive with its canopied bed and free-standing claw-foot tub in the ensuite bathroom. This room is fit for royalty with a true sense of romance as you gaze out of the tall windows towards endless landscapes of the Lot-et-Garonne. This is a special place where you can find tranquillity and privacy, whether strolling through the vast enclosed parkland or finding a moment of peace amongst the colourful flowers in the beautifully maintained gardens. Admire the backdrop of the historic chateau from the deep salt-water swimming pool or relax poolside with the summer scent of rosemary and lavender. There are wondrous views of rolling countryside and vineyards around you; this is an idyllic escape. Yet you are only a five-minute drive from a lovely village with a boulangerie, butchers and supermarket as well as a handful of cafes and restaurants. In July and early August you can swim from the river beach or drive a little further to a neighbouring village on the River Lot to hire pedalos and canoes. A wonderful way to explore local villages and towns is by visiting on market day to pick up local produce in this amazing gastronomic region; the night markets in July and August are particularly atmospheric. Head to the historic town of Agen to try prunes steeped in local Armagnac whilst wine-lovers also have a great choice of vineyards to visit across the Lot-et-Garonne. Other great places to explore include Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Nerac, Pujols and even as far as Bergerac and Bordeaux. That said, you may simply prefer to stay close to Chateau Romance, a beautiful holiday home with a truly historic ambience and glorious surroundings. #### Features Chateau Interiors (700m2) Ground Floor - Entrance hall - Living room - Dining room - Main kitchen - Summer kitchen - Office - Games room with book corner - Shower room - 2 x WCs First Floor - 3 x double bedrooms - Shower room - 2 x WCs - Laundry room Second Floor - Master double bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath tub - Living room with TV - Dining room with kitchen in the open tower Third Floor - Double bedroom with en suite shower room and WC - 1 x twin bedroom - 2 x double bedroom One of the larger bedrooms on the third floor has an interconnecting door with a smaller bedroom on this floor Outside Grounds - Salt-water swimming pool (12mx5m). Open approx. May to September. Alarm safety mechanism - BBQ - Al-fresco dining area - Hammock - Gardens (1000m2) - Parkland (enclosed) Facilities - Wi-Fi - Heating - TV - DVD player - Laundry facilities #### Location Chateau Romance is located in the Lot-et-Garonne region in south western France, south of Bergerac and south-east of Bordeaux. Theres a lovely little village within a 5-minute drive where you can pick up your morning pastries and fresh bread from the excellent boulangerie and theres also a butchers and a supermarket. Youll also find a handful of cafes and restaurants. By the River Lot, the village has its own beach where theres supervised swimming in July and most of August. There are other beautiful villages dotted along the River Lot, such as Castelmoron-sur-Lot, around fifteen minutes away, where you can hire canoes, pedalos and motorboats in the height of the summer and Villeneuve-sur-Lot, just over half an hour away, a village popular with hikers who can follow the stunning (yet hilly) walking route south to Pujols, one of Frances ‘Plus Beaux Villages. Indeed, this region offers beautiful countryside for walking, hiking and cycling, horse-riding nearby and a choice of golf courses within a 30-minute drive. Lovers of great food can explore many authentic morning markets selling wonderful local produce in villages and towns across the Lot-et-Garonne including Aiguillon and Castelmoron-sur-Lot, both within fifteen minutes as well as Pujols (30km), Nerac (38km) and Agen (40km) a little further. In July and August many villages come alive with their atmospheric night markets where you can watch food being cooked at market stalls and enjoy live music and local wine with locals and tourists alike. Other wonderful places to visit include the 13th century castle-like mill in Barbaste (32km), the pretty village of Nerac (38km) on the River Baise and the pleasant and historic town of Marmande (24km), especially great on market day. Agen (40km) is another great day out with its historical highlights, boat trips on the Canal de Garonne, great parks and even a theme park for the kids! Make sure you try the famous Agen prunes, preferably steeped in Armagnac. Further afield, you can be in Dordogne in under an hour with Monflanquin (50km, near the border of Dordogne) and Monpazier (68km), two more of Frances ‘Plus Beaux Villages, near enough to visit as well as the famous wine-town of Bergerac (70km) which can be reached in just over an hour. Heading west the mighty city of Bordeaux (108km) and its glorious vineyards are around 90 minutes away or you could be enjoying chilled white wine and oysters in the bay of Arcachon just two hours by car.