Château de Marçay ★★★★

A very precocious child, my dreams of being a fairytale princess were very contemporary and (almost) realistic. I saw myself residing in a central London townhouse rather than an extravagant castle, boasting a wardrobe of LK Bennett and Giuseppe Zanotti rather than glass slippers and ball gowns, and swapping my horse and carriage for a chauffeur-driven Jaguar. Sadly, none of these were to be realised, but I still revelled in the dream. So, when VeryChic offered to send me to the famous, sublimely beautiful Loire Valley, the Valley of Kings, I grabbed my prince and his four-wheeled steed and we hastily decamped to the country.

Surrounded by lush, immaculately manicured gardens, the white stone chateau shone brightly in the warm autumn sun. It was almost as if we had taken a step back in time, as we were greeted on the front step by the proprietor. Having arrived just in time for lunch on the terrace, we then spent the afternoon larking about in the vast grounds: we had a hit on the tennis court and took a dip in the large, well-heated pool, before pretending to joust on the chateau’s bikes in the more rugged parkland. The chateau has been home to a variety of families during its long history, each of whom added a different aspect to the large estate: the fifteen hectares surrounding the main house feature a manicured cour d’honneur, a well-stocked kitchen garden, and a vineyard, as well as rustic parkland perfect for frolicking.

As the heat of the late afternoon sun started to wane, we returned to our room in the principal chateau building to unwind and get ready for dinner. Each of the rooms is unique, decorated in the haute époque style; heavy floral curtains, traditional tapestries, and antique furniture. Extremely comfortable beds with thick pillows and soft linens are inviting to rest weary limbs, but more so is our immense sunken bath in our spectacular bathroom. With exposed beams in a sunburst pattern, and neat marble fittings, the bathroom is the perfect balance of historical charm and contemporary comfort. Occupying the corner tower, it is vast: with a bath big enough for two and a standalone shower, as well as twin sinks in front of a mirror that proved ideal for perfecting my “who is the fairest one of all...” His villainous cackle interrupted my attempt at a theatrical soliloquy, and hand in hand we descended the staircase, then into the wine cellar.

Here, a knowledgeable sommelier hosts tastings or guides you to any one of the 12,000 bottles available for consumption with your dinner upstairs. The dining room is quiet but atmospheric, and waiters dressed in black are simultaneously attentive yet discreet. We opted for the weekend tasting menu, because why not? Chef Romain Thevenon whipped up seven courses using seasonal produce either grown on the farm, in the vegetable garden, or local to the region. Our delicious, exquisitely presented meal inspired us to book a cookery lesson with the head chef. The next day, after a leisurely lazy morning in our regal suite, we made our way to the chef’s kitchen, where I enjoyed sampling our creations and my partner enjoyed talking about extra-sharp knives with Romain himself. Jokes aside, the experience was unforgettable, and an essential item on any foodie’s itinerary for the Loire.

Extremely comfortable and wonderfully staffed with charming, happy personnel, and combining a love of the great outdoors with a love of great cuisine, the hotel stands out as an outstanding vacation destination. Either for exploring everything the beautiful Loire Valley has to offer, a family getaway, or a romantic weekend retreat, the Chateau de Marçay is fit for a prince(ss).