It’s such a majestic sight as you approach Château du Patrimoine and stroll towards its impressive moat and grand entrance. With a fascinating history spanning over nine centuries, this is a wonderful and atmospheric place to stay, only 46km from the beautiful city of Le Mans.

This unique and inviting château in the Sarthe department of France, just south of Normandy, dates back to the 12th century and is set within a 100-acre of estate of rolling fields and woodland, perfect for long hikes embracing the surrounding countryside. From the château itself, wander past the rose garden, cherry trees and lavender to reach the tennis court and spend leisurely summer days by the heated swimming pool with ample space for sun-lounging and socialising.

Whether a group of friends or extended family, play badminton, football, table tennis or croquet with loved ones, before gathering by the fire pit in the evening for barbecues as stars shine brightly in the clear skies above you.

The château itself is steeped in heritage and has been charmingly restored by its current owners who have created such a warm and welcoming holiday home. From the rustic kitchen with its historic open hearth and stone walls to the elegant salon and dining room, soak up the French character as you explore the château’s interiors. A billiards room and TV lounge is the perfect place to kick back on cooler days, there’s also an office and intricately tiled hallway as well as a gym up on the second floor.

Follow secret steep steps and curving staircases to discover one of the sixteen bedrooms across the château and its annexe, many of which feature their own private bath or shower room. For smaller groups needing fewer bedrooms, there are flexible pricing options across the year.

Beyond the château’s vast estate, visit picturesque villages and towns dotted along the Sarthe River, starting off with Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, 8km by car, with its pretty restaurants and market place. The idyllic village of Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei is also close by, officially classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and a great inspiration to artists, whilst historic Alençon, famous for its lace-making traditions, should be visited on a Thursday or Saturday morning for its delightful market.

Set off for long walks through nearby woodland, canoe along the Sarthe River, ride horses through the Perche Regional Natural Park and discover cycle rides across the Parc Naturel Regional de Normandie-Marne. Le Mans is another brilliant day out, such an impressive city with its medieval quarter and cathedral, also famed for its 24-hour classic car race in mid-June.

Further afield, choose between the iconic châteaux and vineyards of the Loire valley to the south or the many Normandy gems to the north including Mont Saint-Michel, Bayeux and the incredible D-Day Landing beaches reached in less than two hours by car.

Features:

1) Main Château only– 14 bedrooms across all floors of the château (21-person price)
2) Main Château and Annexe House – 16 bedrooms across all floors (31-person price)

Château Interiors

Main Floor

-    Living room
-    Dining room with seating for 18-20 guests
-    TV room
-    Office with WC and sink
-    WC
-    Billiards room
-    Bedroom 1 with double bed and en suite bathroom with shower and sink. Separate WC (opposite bedroom 1)
-    Kitchen, well-equipped including ovens, hob, fridge, ice-machine, microwave and historic fireplace
-    Pantry
-    Washing machine and dryer

First Floor (via kitchen stairs)

-    Bedroom 2 with double bed and shared bathroom 2 (shared with bedroom 3)
-    Bedroom 3 with double bed and shared bathroom 2 (shared with bedroom 2)
-    Bedroom 4 with double bed and sink (shares bathroom 5 with bedroom 13)

First Floor – Little House (via stairs near Bedroom 1)

-    Bedroom 5 with double bed (can be split as two single beds)
-    Bathroom 3 (shared between bedrooms 5 and 7)
-    Bedroom 6 with double bed and en suite bathroom 4
-    Bedroom 7 with single bed

First Floor (via main staircase)

-    Bathroom 5 (shared between bedroom 4 and bedroom 13)
-    Bedroom 8 with double bed and en suite bathroom 7
-    Master bedroom 9 with double bed and en suite bathroom 6

Second and Top Floor (via main staircase)

-    Bedroom 10 with double bed
-    Bedroom 11 with two single beds and a single trundle bed with a pull-out drawer bed underneath (can sleep 4 in total, best suited to children)
-    Bedroom 12 (via spiral staircase) with single bed
-    Bathroom 8 (shared between bedrooms 10, 11 and 12)
-    Bedroom 13 (split-level between first and second floor) with single bed (shares bathroom 5 with bedroom 4)
-    Gym with elliptical, exercise bike and Bowflex resistance machine

Second Floor (via kitchen staircase)

-    Kid's bedroom 14 with two single beds and en suite bathroom 9

Annexe House Interiors (detached from the main château)

-    Ground-floor kitchen
-    First-floor bedroom 15 with double bed and en suite bathroom 10
-    First-floor bedroom 16 with double bed and en suite bathroom 11
-    Large space (for seminars, on request)

All doubles are either standard or queen-size. Bathrooms feature bath and/or showers.

Outside Grounds

-    Heated swimming pool (12x6m, depth: up to 2.4m) with jacuzzi feature and electric safety cover. Open approximately June to end-September
-    Tennis court
-    Various terraces, courtyards, areas for al-fresco dining and relaxation
-    Barbecue and fire pit
-    Vast manicured gardens
-    Outdoor play area with slide and swing
-    Bikes
-    Badminton, football and croquet
-    Moat (low walls)
-    Water features
-    Chapel
-    100-acre estate (gardens, fields, forest, hiking trails)

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    Fireplaces (November to March only)
-    TV
-    DVD player and DVDs
-    Board games and puzzles
-    Sauna
-    Gym
-    Tennis court
-    Bikes
-    Pool table
-    Table tennis
-    Outdoor games

Location:

Château du Patrimoine is in the Sarthe department of the Pays-de-la-Loire region, just south of Normandy and a 45-minute drive from historic Le Mans, known for its 24 Heures du Mans, one of the most famous car races in France that usually takes place in mid-June.

Find the nearest supermarket and bakery in a little village around a 4km drive away or head straight to picturesque Fresnay-sur-Sarthe (8km) on the banks of the Sarthe River, home to a small handful of restaurants and a weekly market on the main square.

Further north, Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei (10km), officially classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, also lies on the banks of the Sarthe River, crossing into the Orne department of southern Normandy. Its church features frescoes dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries with tiles most likely from the same kiln as part of the château and there are gorgeous views of the river below. The village is such a pretty place to stop off for lunch, perhaps followed by a potter around the art studios, then a visit to the impressive gardens and teashop just outside the village at Les Jardins de la Mansonnière.

Alençon (15km), the region’s main town, has a rich history of lace-making which you can learn all about at the Musée des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle. A visit to Alençon’s bustling market on a Thursday or Saturday morning is a must whilst the town also boasts two excellent chocolatiers.

Canoeing along the Sarthe River is a fantastic way to admire the local landscapes whilst there are many marked trails for keen walkers across the region. Discover cycling, mountain biking and horse-riding opportunities as well, especially across the vast Parc Naturel Regional de Normandie-Marne and the Perche Regional Natural Park near La Perrière (40km) and Bellême (50km).

Spend time in the beautiful city of Le Mans (46km) with its medieval quarter perched above the city alongside the incredible Cathédrale Saint Julien. If staying in July or August, look out for the spectacular light show that takes place across the old town and if you can’t make it in June at the time of Le Mans 24-hour car race, then visit the fascinating Musée des 24 Heures du Mans.

Other brilliant day trips include Mont Saint-Michel, just over a 2-hour drive away, the university city of Caens (119km), Bayeux (150km) and its tapestry as well as the D-Day Landing beaches slightly further north.

To the south, the iconic châteaux and vineyards of the Loire valley are also waiting to be explored with the wonderful cities of Tours and Angers around 90 minutes by car.

Terms & Conditions:

Security deposit?
€2000 charged to client’s credit card as a pre-authorisation one month before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.

Arrival time?
5.00 p.m.

Departure time?
10.00 a.m.

Energy costs included?
Yes.

Heating costs included?
Yes. Please note that the fireplaces are not in use April to October.

Linen & towels included?
Yes, changed once for stays of over one week.

Pool towels included?
Yes.

End of stay cleaning included?
Yes and mid-stay cleaning for stays of 7+ nights also included. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.

Pets welcome?
Not allowed.

Smoking Allowed?
Outside only.

Pool opening dates?
The pool is open approximately June to end-September. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.

Pool heating charge?
Included. Please note that like all heated pools, pool heating and water temperature are reliant on weather and outside temperatures.

Changeover day?
Saturday in July and August. Flexible during all other periods.

Minimum stay?
7 nights from May to September. 4 nights from October to