Known fondly as ‘Sleeping Beauty’s castle’, Château De La Belle has undergone a stunning renovation and is now a beautiful holiday home in southern Burgundy with a heated swimming pool set within 13 hectares of parkland. Perched above a tiny village with views of the valley and distant mountains, you are well located for visiting the medieval gem of Saint-Gengoux-le-National, gastronomic Tournus and the wines of Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Côte D’Or.
This historic château dates as far back as the 14th century, then became a monastery from 1600s until the French Revolution. A Dutch artist and furniture maker bought the castle in the early 19th century before an aristocratic French family took over in 1866. More recently in 2021, its current owners poured all their love into this exquisite residence and renovated it to create a fine holiday home with elegant living and dining spaces and eleven en suite bedrooms, ideal for extended family or group of friends.
Relax back in the vast living room with its stylish sofas around the 16th century fireplace, play games on the professional poker table in the tower or spend evenings in the billiard room. Admire the wonderfully restored Renaissance ceilings in some of the living spaces and bedrooms alongside the parquet flooring, period windows and graceful décor. The huge kitchen has been carefully designed to make cooking a joy and there is ample space for dining both indoors and out.
Find the eleven gorgeous bedrooms on the first and second floor, each one with an en suite bathroom and most with king-size beds (some of which can be split into twins). The five upper floor bedrooms also benefit from air-conditioning whilst there is a wellness area (with sauna, massage and steam room) alongside a fitness room with gym and bodybuilding equipment.
As well as table football and darts downstairs, head outside for the heated swimming pool alongside plenty more activities from table tennis and the large trampoline to pétanque by the façade of the château. As evening nears, sit back with a glass of Burgundy wine and gaze down towards the village below and valley beyond.
From the village there are numerous marked walking trails through the forest as well as ample hiking and cycling opportunities close by. Make the most of the four adult bikes (further bikes can be hired nearby) and follow the Voie Verte greenway cycle path which connects nearby Saint-Gengoux-le-National to Buxy and Chalon-sur-Saône or Cluny and Mâcon.
Medieval Saint-Gengoux-le-National is just a five-minute drive away, home to good restaurants, a bakery, butchers, supermarket, tourist office and small weekly Farmer’s market on a Sunday (as well as a larger twice-monthly market on a Tuesday morning) whilst other fantastic towns within easy reach include Buxy and Tournus, the gastronomic capital of southern Burgundy with its Michelin starred restaurants.
Historic highlights include the famous L’Abbaye de Cluny only 23km away and the romantic 17th century Château de Cormatin even closer. Further afield, explore the vineyards and wineries near Mâcon and Beaune, visit the vibrant Sunday morning market of Chagny and you could even take the train or drive to Lyon for yet more gastronomic experiences in this captivating part of central France.
Features:
Château Interiors
Main Floor (via steps)
- Large living room with TV and fireplace
- Tower room with professional poker table
- Dining room
- Kitchen-diner, well-equipped including two dishwashers, American fridge-freezer, ice-cube dispenser, electric oven, gas hobs, microwave, toaster and Nespresso machine
- Billiard room (experienced adults use only)
- Guest WC
First Floor
The Bedroom numbers start at ‘2’ – there are 11 bedrooms (and an adjoining children’s bedroom) in total for up to 21 guests + one additional child + up to 3 babies.
- Bedroom 2 with king-size double bed, desk, TV and en suite bathroom with large shower, sink and WC
- Bedroom 3 with king-size double bed (can be split into twins) and en suite bathroom with large shower, sink and WC
- Bedroom 4 with king-size double bed and en suite bathroom with shower, sink and WC
- Bedroom 5 with king-size double bed (can be split into twins), TV and en suite bathroom with large shower, bath, sink and WC
- Bedroom 6 with single bed and open en suite bathroom with large shower, sink and WC
- Bedroom 7 with king-size double bed (can be split into twins), sink and en suite bathroom with large shower and WC. Connecting children’s bedroom with child’s bed (200x90cm) and baby bed with wooden bars
Second Floor
- Bedroom 8 with king-size double bed/twin beds, air-conditioning and en suite bathroom with large shower
- Bedroom 9 with king-size double bed/twin beds, air-conditioning and en suite bathroom with large shower
- Bedroom 10 with king-size double bed/twin beds, air-conditioning and en suite bathroom with large shower
- Tower bedroom 11 with king-size double bed, air-conditioning and en suite bathroom with large shower
- Bedroom 12 with king-size double bed/twin beds, air-conditioning and en suite bathroom with large shower
- Wellness room with sauna, steam room, massage room, fitness room and body-building equipment
Outside Grounds
- Heated swimming pool (11x5m, depth up to: 1.5m) with mobile glass safety shelter (which can also be used for cooler periods). Open approximately beginning-April to end-October
- Al-fresco dining area
- Charcoal barbecue
- Boules pitch
- Giant trampoline
- Table tennis
- Adult bikes (x4)
- 13-hectare parkland (including 9-hectare forest)
- Car parking (up to 10 cars)
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning (five bedrooms only – second floor)
- TVs
- DVD player and DVD library
- PS4
- Fitness and workout room
- Sauna, massage and steam room
- Board games, poker and chess
- Billiard table (adults only)
- Table football and darts
- Table tennis
- Boules
- Adult bikes (x4)
- Washing machine and dryer
Location:
On the edge of a tiny village, set within 13 hectares of parkland (including a 9-hectare forest), this fairytale southern Burgundy castle in the Saône-et-Loire department enjoys breathtaking mountain and valley views from its raised position overlooking the village below.
The nearest restaurant (recommended by the owner) is in another small village just under 2km away and there is a gastronomic restaurant in Saint-Gengoux-le-National (4km). The medieval town of Saint-Gengoux-le-National is also home to a supermarket, boulangerie, butchers, bank, florist, tourist office, bars and other restaurants as well as a small Saturday morning Farmer’s market and a larger twice-monthly market (on the first and third Tuesday morning of the month).
The château is a great base for hiking with marked tracks through the forest and it is popular with cyclists as well – make the most of the four adult bikes available for guests to use or hire electric/classic bikes for adults/children in Saint-Gengoux-le-National. A Voie Verte (greenway cycle path) runs between Buxy, Saint-Gengoux-le-National and Cluny (with the route continuing further towards Mâcon or Chalon-sur-Saône and beyond). There are two tennis courts in Saint-Gengoux-le-National, horse-riding can be found around a 10km drive away and there are fishing opportunities across the area (licenses are available to buy in Saint-Gengoux-le-National).
Other markets to consider visiting include Buxy (16km) on a Thursday morning, Tournus (26km) on a Saturday morning, Chalon-sur-Saône (30km) on a Sunday morning and Louhans (54km) on a Monday. Also look out for flea markets taking place across southern Burgundy on Sunday mornings. Gastronomes note that Tournus, on the Saone River, is also home to Michelin starred restaurants as well as an attractive medieval centre and impressive 12th century abbey. There are also good wine tasting opportunities in Tournus (and even closer to home near Saint-Gengoux-le-National).
Further highlights in the area include L’ Abbaye de Cluny (23km), one of France’s most significant abbeys and listed as a ‘National Monument of France’, as well as the very beautiful 17th century Château de Cormatin (9km) and its exquisite gardens. The vineyards and wineries of Mâcon (45km) can be reached in under an hour whilst Chagny’s Maison Lameloise (three Michelin stars) and vibrant Sunday morning market is 40km by car.
Elsewhere, venture north to the famous vineyards and wine villages around Beaune (60km) and the Route des Grands Crus or continue on towards the handsome city of Dijon (99km). Another wonderful day out is Lyon (112km) which is either a 90-minute car journey away (depending on traffic) or you could take the hourly train (taking 45 minutes) from Tournus.
Terms & Conditions:
?
3.00 - 5.00 p.m.
9.30 a.m.
Yes.
Yes, changed once for stays of more than 7 nights.
Not allowed.
Air-conditioning is featured in five bedrooms only (on the second floor).
Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are not allowed.
Two extra cots and two highchairs can be requested.
Monday.
2025: Yes and mid-stay cleaning for stays of more than 7 nights also included.
2026: Yes and mid-stay cleaning on Thursday from 9am - 4pm approx. plus 1hr of maid service in the kitchen before check-out.
This for a standard changeover clean. 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.
Outside only.
7 nights.
Yes, including wood for fire in low season.
Included. The pool is heated via an aerothermal heat pump. Please note that like all heated pools, pool heating and water temperature are reliant on weather and outside temperatures.
French Visitors Tax is included.
High speed fiber internet is due to be installed in September 2023. In the meantime, there are 7 Wi-Fi antennas to distribute free Wi-Fi throughout most of the Chateau and the pool terrace.
2025: No, but can be rented at an additional cost with advance notice.
2026: Yes, 20 pool towels provided at check-in.
The pool is open approximately beginning-April to end-October. 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.