Christmas in a Castle

Spending Christmas in a castle? Oh my! Can you picture it?

How dreamy that would be to spontaneously pack our bags a week before Christmas and fly to this enchanting castle, located in southern France...to explore a new country, castle, and grounds...to stay amongst beautiful, rich antique furnishings, to enjoy the warmth of a roaring fire, and wonderful conversation...maybe even a book or two? To have a simple yet glamorous Christmas – with your loved one or family. Like a breath of fresh air, taking off from your local (and often thoroughly insane) Christmas hustle and bustle, and celebrate. I have a large family and Christmastime is so joyful, exciting and fun, but I'm quite loving the idea of perhaps trying this, even if just one year...

















Isn't this castle amazing? "Château de Bagnols is the finest five–star deluxe château hotel in France and is regarded by many as the finest vineyard chateau hotel in the world. Discovered by Lady Hamlyn in 1987 in a derelict state, she painstakingly restored the château with much energy and vision, to its former glory, revealing Renaissance wall and ceiling paintings created during the château's finest period when nearby Lyon was one of Europe's great Renaissance cities.

Dating from the 13th century, the chateau features impressive towers, the original dry moat, honey–coloured stone known as pierres dorées and a dramatic entrance across a drawbridge. The Château de Bagnols is one of France's major historic monuments as well as a unique luxury hotel with 21 of the most superb rooms and suites in France.

Château de Bagnols is set among vineyards, forests and green hills in the heart of the beautiful Beaujolais countryside in south–east France, just 17 miles from Lyon which has an international airport." Hmm...sounds delightful to me!

/image 01 link/image 02 to 05 by Mario Sierra/
/the reamaining images are via the castle's site/