Just a few minutes from the Pont du Gard and Uzès, overlooking the Gardon Gorges, the Château de Collias is one of the most beautiful castle rentals in the Gard region and in the South of France. Nîmes is 30 minutes away, Avignon 45 minutes, and yet, as soon as you step through the gate, the outside world fades away.
A beautiful, thousand-year-old residence available for exclusive use, the château is nestled in the heart of a superb landscaped park overlooking the gorges, in an exceptional natural setting. Its nearly thousand-year history is revealed through unique architecture blending 11th-century foundations, a medieval section, Renaissance influences, and an 18th-century façade—a rare heritage gem, carefully restored since 2019.
The château features 14 bedrooms, all with private bathrooms, offering accommodation for up to 28 guests.
Its spacious reception areas can accommodate up to 80 people indoors and 200 people outdoors for weddings, seminars, and private celebrations. It offers an exclusive experience blending heritage, nature, and the Mediterranean art of living.
Since its complete restoration in 2019, the château has combined heritage authenticity with contemporary comfort, offering private stays, exceptional weddings, seminars, or family celebrations in an extraordinary setting.
Rent
Château de Collias
30min from Nîmes
45min from Avignon
Accommodations for up to 28 people
Seating for up to 80 guests
(200 guests outdoors)
A 4-hectare landscaped park overlooking the Gardon Gorges
Large panoramic terrace
Swimming pool
Discover the property of Château de Collias
Located in the village of Collias, in the heart of the Gard region, the Château de Collias is one of the few castle rentals in the South of France offering a complete immersion in a setting steeped in nearly a thousand years of history. Overlooking the Gardon Gorges from a rocky promontory, the estate boasts an exceptional natural setting: limestone cliffs, garrigue scented with thyme and rosemary, olive trees, and holm oaks bathed in Mediterranean light.
The estate is entirely private for each stay. Designed as a place for living and gathering, it is ideally suited for hosting weddings, seminars, family reunions, or private celebrations.
The Pool
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Nestled in the park, the pool invites you to relax in an intimate setting, surrounded by stone, greenery, and open sky. A natural refuge from the summer heat of the Gard region.
Acquired in 2019 by Christophe Tailleur and Philippe Huber, the château underwent a comprehensive and ambitious restoration: roof repairs, restoration of the historic facades, renovation of the salons and 14 guest rooms, redevelopment of the grounds, and the planting of nearly 2,000 trees. After a period as a five-star hotel and Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, the château now focuses on private stays and events, offering its guests the rare experience of living in an exceptional setting.
The Terrace
Built atop the castle’s ancient fortifications, the large terrace offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Gardon Gorges and the landscaped park. It is the perfect setting for cocktail parties, outdoor ceremonies, and dinners under the Languedoc stars. The site’s natural acoustics, framed by stone walls and open skies, make it a memorable setting for any event. For large receptions and weddings, the outdoor spaces—combining the terrace and park—can accommodate up to 200 guests.
The landscaped park
Designed in the 18th century by landscape architect François-Joseph Bélanger—architect of the Château de Bagatelle and favorite of the Count of Artois—and later reinterpreted in the 19th century in the style of the English Romantic garden by landscape architect Cordioux, the park has now been fully restored. Ornamental ponds, winding walking paths, open views of the Gardon Valley, and Mediterranean plantings create a setting of rare beauty, to which nearly 2,000 trees were added in 2021.
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Principal living and reception rooms
Collias Castle features spacious living and reception areas spread across several levels, designed to accommodate both large celebrations and more intimate gatherings. Its generous spaces can accommodate up to 80 guests indoors for meals, in a setting that blends ornate ceilings painted by Italian artists in the 19th century, terrazzo floors, fireplaces, and period furniture.
The Grand Salons
The château’s salons offer versatile spaces for your receptions, cocktail parties, or indoor ceremonies. Heirs to the interior design work carried out under Joliclerc in the early 19th century, they retain a unique atmosphere where history is evident in every detail: wood paneling, painted ceilings, and the collections of the historic library.
The Library
Established by Joliclerc in the early 19th century, the château’s library houses several hundred volumes as well as historical archives dating back as far as the 14th century, including manuscripts, correspondence, and historical documents. A unique space within the residence, it invites contemplation and exploration of the château’s history through its own archives.
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Our bedrooms
Château de Collias offers 14 guest rooms, each with its own private bathroom, accommodating a total of 28 guests. Each room features a 180-cm king-size bed and offers a level of comfort befitting a luxury hotel, the result of a complete renovation project undertaken since 2019.
Each room tells a story of the château’s history. The Tower Room, situated within the 11th-century medieval tower across several levels connected by an interior staircase, opens onto a panoramic terrace offering a spectacular view of the Gardon Gorges—one of the most striking experiences the property has to offer. The other rooms, distributed throughout the main body of the château and its wings, open onto the grounds, the terrace, or the surrounding hills covered in garrigue.
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History ofChâteau de Collias
Collias Castle is one of the few estates in France with a history spanning nearly a thousand years, from the 11th century to its modern-day revival in 2019. Each era has left its mark on the stone—from the 11th-century medieval tower to the 18th-century classical façade, including the Renaissance spiral staircase and the ceilings painted by Italian artists in the early 19th century.
Ancient Origins
Long before the castle was built, the site was already inhabited. The Gardon Valley, near the Roman city of Nîmes and the Pont du Gard, had been occupied since ancient times. In the 5th century, the Gallo-Roman writer Sidonius Apollinaris mentions a place named Colleivacum—which some historians associate with Collias. During recent work in the castle’s west wing, fragments of amphorae, shards of ancient pottery, and a Roman stone from a stele dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite were discovered, suggesting that the site has been occupied for over two millennia.
The 11th-Century Medieval Tower
In the 11th century, a tower was built on the rocky promontory overlooking the Gardon Valley to monitor the roads connecting Uzès, Nîmes, and the Rhône Valley. It remains the historic heart of the castle today and is one of its most exceptional rooms, featuring a panoramic terrace at the top.
The Wars of Religion and the Renaissance (1584–1614)
In 1584, the fortress was captured by Protestant troops and then recaptured by the Catholics, at the cost of the roofs being set ablaze. This transformation marked the transition from a military castle to an aristocratic residence: mullioned windows were installed, a monumental stone spiral staircase was built, and a portico bearing the date 1614 was erected, still visible today.
The Visit of Louis XIII (1629)
In 1629, King Louis XIII, accompanied by Cardinal Richelieu, stayed at the castle during his campaign against the Protestant strongholds of Languedoc. It was from Collias, which had remained loyal to the Catholic side, that he ordered the destruction of the walls of Uzès. That same year, the Peace of Alès was signed, bringing an end to the Wars of Religion in France.
The Golden Age in the 18th Century
The Fournier de La Chapelle family, having amassed a fortune from sugar plantations in Saint-Domingue, transformed the château into a grand aristocratic residence. The grand classical façade was constructed, the apartments were redesigned, and a vast landscaped park was entrusted to landscape architect François-Joseph Bélanger—the architect of Bagatelle and a favorite of the future King Charles X, who was one of the pioneers of the picturesque garden style in France. The French Revolution brought this brilliant era to an abrupt end: the Marquis de La Chapelle was guillotined.
Napoleon, Joliclerc, and the Cadoudal Affair
In the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte acquired the château and presented it as a gift to François-Xavier Désiré Joliclerc, in recognition of his services in dismantling Georges Cadoudal’s royalist plot (1804). Appointed prefect in Italy in 1806, Joliclerc returned to Collias in 1815 with Italian artisans who adorned the château with painted ceilings, terrazzo floors, and marble bathtubs with swan-neck faucets—features still visible today. As mayor of the village, he financed the construction of a bridge over the Gardon River from his own fortune and requested to be buried in the village’s communal grave in 1836.
The Romantic Garden by Numa Ausset (1866)
In 1866, Numa Ausset acquired the château and entrusted the design of the gardens to landscape architect J. Cordioux, a specialist in English gardens. An ornamental pond, a rock garden, an artificial stream, and winding paths lined with rare species were created in front of the façade, a setting meticulously described during a botanical tour by the Gard Horticultural Society in 1902.
Decline and Rebirth (20th–21st Centuries)
Sold at auction in 1911 and gradually divided up during the 20th century, the château entered a long period of decline. In the early 2000s, a wing collapsed and the roofs were severely damaged. In 2019, Christophe Tailleur and Philippe Huber acquired the property and undertook a complete restoration: reconstruction of the damaged sections, repair of the roofs and facades, renovation of the 14 bedrooms and salons, redevelopment of the grounds, and planting of 2,000 trees. The château became a five-star hotel and then a gourmet restaurant that earned a Michelin star, before transitioning to its current focus on private stays and events.
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Activities around Château de Collias
The Château de Collias enjoys an exceptional location in the heart of one of France’s regions richest in ancient heritage, natural landscapes, and the Mediterranean way of life—a major draw for both French and international visitors.
The Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Just 5 minutes from the château, the Pont du Gard is one of the most impressive monuments of Roman engineering and one of the most visited sites in France. This 1st-century aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, towers 50 meters above the Gardon River in an unspoiled natural setting—a must-see for all guests at the château, whether French or international.
Uzès, France’s First Duchy
Just a few minutes away, Uzès charms visitors with its medieval streets, Place aux Herbes, its Provençal market on Saturday mornings, and its duchy, which is open to the public. One of the most charming “Cities of Art and History” in Languedoc, it is particularly popular with European and North American visitors.
Nîmes and its Roman Amphitheater
Just 30 minutes away, Nîmes boasts one of Europe’s most beautiful ancient sites: the Amphitheater, the Maison Carrée (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023), and the Jardins de la Fontaine. The city also hosts bullfights, exhibitions, and cultural events throughout the year.
Avignon and the Palais des Papes
Just 45 minutes away, Avignon and its Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a premier cultural destination for international visitors. The city is easily accessible by TGV from Paris in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The Gardon Gorges and Mediterranean Nature
Surrounding the castle, the Gardon Gorges, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offer an exceptional natural playground: hiking, swimming in the Gardon River, canoeing, rock climbing, and exploring the garrigue. An ideal setting for active getaways with family or friends.
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Practical information
Address: Château de Collias, Village of Collias, Gard (30)
Directions:
- Pont du Gard: 5 min
- Uzès: a few minutes
- Nîmes: 30 min
- Avignon: 45 min
- TGV stations: Nîmes and Avignon
- Airports: Montpellier and Marseille, less than an hour’s drive away
Accommodation capacity: 28 guests (14 rooms)
Reception capacity: up to 80 guests indoors · up to 200 guests outdoors
Facilities: 14 rooms with private bathrooms · 180 cm king-size beds · large terrace with views of the gorge · landscaped grounds · swimming pool · Wi-Fi
Our team will be at your disposal for any question you may have.
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