Château de gudanes warmly and cordially invites you to discover her 2025 spring and summer private experiences...

Bienvenue

We are delighted to announce that, in the summer of 2025, Château de Gudanes will once again open its gates and its heart to welcome guests for a series of unparalleled experiences. Set amidst the tranquil beauty of the French countryside, these unique stays promise days filled with restful repose, relaxation, and, of course, a touch of enchantment. Each experience invites you to immerse yourself in the living history of a working Château, as it undergoes its remarkable restoration. With a carefully curated group of no more than 15 guests, we ensure an atmosphere of elegance, exclusivity, and privacy for each stay.

It is our sincere hope that this dossier provides you with all the essential information you need about the Château and the upcoming experiences, including details on how to reserve your place.

Should you choose to join us, we will be pleased to provide further guidance to assist with your travel arrangements once your reservation is confirmed.

And so without further ado, we are delighted to share with you what awaits...

YOUR STAY

In 2025, each Château Experience offers a uniquely curated itinerary, filled with a range of exclusive events and activities. However, the true essence of your stay lies in the pleasure of immersing yourself in the Château itself, its rich history, and serene surroundings.

The atmosphere at the Château is one of relaxed elegance, inviting you to enjoy your days as you wish. You are welcome to partake in as many or as few scheduled activities as you desire. Perhaps you will find joy in exploring the sprawling grounds, or perhaps you may prefer to delve into the delicate art of restoring the Château's magnificent 18th-century frescoes. For those with a passion for culinary arts, you might relish the opportunity to join our talented chefs in the kitchen, expanding your skills and discovering new techniques. Alternatively, a peaceful afternoon could be spent in the Salon de Rose, where you can enjoy a quiet read, indulge in a game of cards, or simply unwind with a puzzle or a brushstroke. For a more active experience, the Château offers a variety of outdoor pursuits - whether it's basking in the sun by the pool, playing a match of tennis, taking a leisurely bike ride, or embarking on a gentle hike through the picturesque landscape.

The choice is entirely yours…

As you may know, the Château is still undergoing restoration and, while it continues to honor its 18th-century heritage, some modern comforts have been thoughtfully integrated. In 2025, the Château is fully electrified, with lighting and power outlets available in each bedroom to accommodate your devices. Wi-Fi is accessible in the common areas, and we have designated charging stations where you can conveniently power your devices during the day, ensuring that you can stay connected while fully embracing the timeless charm of the Château.

the experiences

Bookings are now open for our private luxury stays.

This year’s program offers the following options…

3 - 10 May 2025 Grand Châteaux Tour of the Ariège (7 nights)

16 - 23 May 2025 Châteaux, Decorative Arts & Design Tour (7 nights)

7 - 10 June 2025 Bric-A-Brac Away (3 nights)

14 - 19 June 2025 Cooking In The Cuisine (5 nights)

We warmly invite you to click below for further details,

pricing and the itinerary of each stay…

bedrooms

Upon your arrival, each bedroom at the Château is thoughtfully adorned with freshly cut flowers from the gardens, while the warm glow of Trudon candles gently illuminates the fireplaces, filling the space with an inviting fragrance. The delicate scent of lavender lingers in the air. The beds are draped in vintage, monogrammed linens, with ruffle-trimmed pillowcases and floral sheets. Antique furnishings and heirloom wares grace the rooms, creating a sense of history and refinement. All bedrooms feature windows that offer stunning aspects over the surrounding mountains and valleys, allowing nature’s beauty to complement the interior’s elegance.

During your stay, it is possible that Claude the Cat or Bruce the French Bulldog might take a liking to you and enjoy a peaceful nap on your bed… should they find their way inside your room!

For your comfort, we arrange accommodations so that two guests share each room (or three, should traveling companions wish to do so). Couples or friends will share a bedroom, while solo travelers may find themselves paired with a new companion. Despite the shared arrangement, each room is generously sized, spanning up to 70 square meters (775 square feet), offering ample space and privacy. We typically welcome between 8 and 12 guests on each stay, with a maximum set at 15 guests. In the event that fewer guests are in attendance, we make it a priority to offer solo travelers their own private room, rather than shared occupancy.

BATHROOMS

The bathrooms at the Château have been meticulously renovated to reflect the grace and grandeur of the 18th century, with elegant fittings and fixtures that exude timeless charm. Delicate floral wallpaper graces the walls, and sumptuously textured towels provide the perfect finishing touch.

As a Class I historically listed building, the Château is bound by preservation regulations, preventing us from installing ensuite bathrooms within the bedrooms. To maintain the integrity of the original wallpapers, plaster, and stonework, we are unable to alter the structure of the bedrooms in this way.

Instead, the Château offers three shared but thoughtfully appointed guest bathrooms, each featuring a shower, toilet, and washbasin. One of these bathrooms is also equipped with a freestanding bath for added indulgence. In addition to these shared bathrooms, there are two separate powder rooms - one located on the ground floor and another on the first floor - providing further convenience.

We have recently completed the restoration of a charming dressing area, located just outside the bathrooms. This elegant space is furnished with soft lighting, comfortable seating, and a vanity, creating the perfect setting for hair and makeup and adding an extra layer of luxury to your stay.

DINING

At the Château, each new day unfolds the promise of a unique setting, a distinct menu, and a fresh dining experience. From relaxed breakfasts to delightful picnics on the estate, alfresco dining in the gardens, a Marie Antoinette-inspired afternoon tea, evening aperitifs, and formal candlelit dinners, the culinary offerings are designed to delight the senses. During your stay, the Château Chefs will prepare an array of meals, ranging from family-style shared dishes to traditional plated French fine dining, as well as servez-vous style spreads. Our Culinary Team takes pride in crafting authentic French cuisine, with a focus on regional specialties inspired by seasonal produce and enhanced by the Château’s signature botanical and floral influences.

The majority of the fresh ingredients we use in our cooking are sourced directly from the Château’s Vegetable Gardens and Fruit Orchards. When this is not possible, we carefully select produce from local markets, ensuring that it is cultivated by trusted regional growers and artisans. Our team is well-versed in accommodating a variety of dietary preferences, requests, and allergies, so please feel free to inform us of any specific needs you may have.

The region surrounding the Château is renowned as the oldest wine and sparkling wine-producing area in France, and so it is only fitting that much of the Château’s selection of beverages is locally crafted. Each evening during aperitif hour, we offer a different signature drink, with both alcohol and no-alcohol options, and each meal is complemented by carefully selected wine pairings, as well as a choice of paired no-alcohol beverages.

In the Château Bar, you will find an assortment of wines, sparkling wines, aperitifs, and liquors, alongside water, juices, sodas, Château-made botanical syrups and of course France’s favourite soda - Orangina!

We also offer a dedicated tea and coffee station in the bar, featuring exquisite Mariage Frères teas, along with a selection of locally sourced teas and coffees. To accompany your beverages, we present homemade sweet and savory biscuits, as well as seasonal fruits, allowing you to indulge at your leisure throughout your stay. We invite you to serve yourself as you would in the comfort of your own home.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

On the first day of your experience, we look forward to meeting you at 10:00 AM (or 9:00 AM for those participating in the Cooking In The Cuisine experience) at the carousel in Place Wilson, Toulouse. We kindly ask that you arrange your flights and arrival to Toulouse to accommodate this timing. And so, we recommend arriving in Toulouse the day before your chosen experience begins.

Karina, the owner of the Château, will be wearing a bright red cardigan. Once we are all gathered together we will put our luggage into the Château Bus and then travel to Gudanes (or in the case of our 7 night experiences to stay first at Château de Sibra). We respectfully request that you arrive five to ten minutes early to ensure a timely departure from Toulouse.

At the conclusion of your experience, we will depart from the Château at 11:00 AM, with water and freshly made French biscuits packed for your onward travels. We anticipate arriving in Toulouse around 1:00 PM. We kindly ask that you arrange your subsequent travel plans to accommodate this timing. In Toulouse, we are able to bid you farewell at the airport, train station or Place Wilson (if you are remaining in Toulouse following your stay with us we unfortunately unable to drop you directly to your hotel as the size of the Château Bus prevents us from navigating many streets. We thank you dearly for your understanding).

Should you require transportation to or from the Château or Toulouse outside of these designated times, we are happy to assist in arranging a private driver for you, in advance and at an additional cost. Please kindly note that, as the Château is situated in a petit, country village nestled in the mountains, there are no resident taxis or local car services available. A private service must be booked ahead of time.

INCLUSIONS & amenities

Each Château Experience includes the following:

Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, and indulgent desserts, all lovingly prepared by a team of both international and local chefs at the Château, alongside dining throughout the region during your stay,
Unlimited Château beverages, including house sparkling wine, house wines, spirits (the drinking kind!), local house beer, and a selection of no-alcohol beverages,
Double-occupancy accommodation (or triple-occupancy if preferred) with access to shared bathroom facilities,
All activities as detailed in the itinerary, ensuring a curated and enriching experience,
Full use of the Château’s amenities, including the tennis court (pickle ball is possible), pool, and wi-fi (as well as access to the facilities at other châteaux properties during our 7-night stays),
Complimentary laundry facilities at Château de Gudanes for your convenience,
Transfers to and from Toulouse at the designated times. Should you require transport outside of these times, we are able to assist in arranging a private driver at an additional cost,
The rare opportunity to contribute to the Château’s ongoing restoration by assisting with the preservation of the 18th-century frescoes in the Château’s original dining room,
And, of course, many delightful surprises along the way to enrich your stay!

Please kindly note that the cost of the experience does not include flights to and from Toulouse, personal spending money or travel insurance.

payment & TRAVEL INSURANCE

To join us, we require a 30% deposit made by credit card at the time of booking. This amount will be charged in Euros and the exact currency conversion will be calculated based on the rates of your bank.

The remaining payment will be due on April 2nd 2025. You are welcome to pay in instalments at your discretion. All bookings made after March 3rd 2025 will require full payment at the time of booking.

All amounts paid are non- refundable and we kindly ask that you request any refunds through your travel insurance, which is compulsory as per the terms and conditions laid out below. We sincerely appreciate your understanding.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

We kindly ask that you follow the link here to view the important terms and conditions of staying at Château de Gudanes and being part of a Château Experience. Please note that by booking a place on a Château Experience you are agreeing with these terms and conditions laid out.

We also kindly wish to share that the Château is home to six cats, two dogs and chickens. Should you have animal allergies we would strongly suggest packing appropriate medication.

MERCI BEAUCOUP

Should you you require any further information please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email.

We look forward to hearing from you and no matter if you decide to join us at the Château this year or not, we sincerely thank you for your support and encouragement along the restoration journey.

We welcome any further questions that you may have about the Château Experiences and invite you to contact us at experience@chateaugudanes.com

If you would like more information about the Château itself or have a general enquiry we kindly ask that you contact us at ariege@chateaugudanes.com

Merci beaucoup!