Château de Mirambeau

Located 55 minutes from Bordeaux, between the vineyards of the Bordeaux region and Cognac, the Château de Mirambeau is one of the most beautiful châteaux available for rent on the Atlantic Coast. This thousand-year-old estate, which is entirely private, combines French elegance with the relaxed lifestyle of the Charente region.

First mentioned in 1083, the castle belonged to the most prominent families of Saintonge and France, from the Pons family to the Dukes of Bouillon. Around 1826, Count Duchâtel and his wife—a lady-in-waiting to Empress Joséphine—carried out one of France’s very first “ideal restorations,” blending Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, and Neo-Louis XIII styles. The chapel was added in 1865. A venue for receptions for two centuries, the château continues to uphold this tradition of hospitality today.

Perched on a hill in the heart of an 8-hectare park, it features 40 rooms and suites, all with private bathrooms, offering 80 beds and up to 90 with extra beds—enough to bring family and friends together under one roof. The rooms are divided between the château (22 rooms) and the Orangerie (18 rooms), and 4 of them are accessible to guests with limited mobility.

Its reception areas, comprising nearly 500 m² of event spaces, can accommodate up to 80 people seated and 130 standing. A tent in the park allows for even more guests.

For relaxation, the resort features a heated outdoor pool, a spa with an indoor pool, a Turkish bath, and a sauna, as well as two tennis courts—everything you need to make the most of your stay, whether playing tennis or spending afternoons in the sun.

Heritage, fine dining, and the art of hospitality: the Château de Mirambeau offers an extraordinary setting for private stays, weddings, seminars, or family celebrations.

Located in Charente-Maritime, between the vineyards of Bordeaux and Cognac and 55 minutes from Bordeaux, the Château de Mirambeau offers a rare immersion in nearly a thousand years of history. It is perched on a hill overlooking the village, in the heart of an 8-hectare wooded park, and the ocean is just 45 minutes away.

The property is exclusively reserved for each guest during their stay. Designed as a family home where people gather, it is ideal for hosting weddings, seminars, family reunions, or private celebrations.

Swimming pools
In the heart of the park, the 16 x 8 m heated outdoor pool invites relaxation on sunny days, with its sun loungers and garden furniture. In all seasons, the spa takes over with its approximately 8 x 8 m heated indoor pool, hammam, and sauna.

Tennis courts
Two tennis courts host matches between friends or family, for a morning exchange or a rematch before dinner.

The chapel
Added in 1865 by the Duchâtel family, the small neo-Gothic chapel on the estate lends itself to intimate ceremonies and blessings, in the calm of the park.

The park
The château stands on a vast terrace, in the middle of an 8-hectare wooded park overlooking the village. Lawns, mature trees, and shaded pathways create a verdant setting ideal for walks, receptions, and secular ceremonies. A marquee can be erected for larger events.

The castle offers nearly 500 m² of reception space, all located on the ground floor. You can host up to 80 seated guests for dinner and 130 standing guests for a cocktail reception.

• The Grand Salon (80 m²): the heart of the château, perfect for cocktail parties or evening gatherings.
• The Veranda (64 m²): bright and opening onto the grounds, beautiful in every season.
• The Library (54 m²): perfect for an aperitif or a small dinner party.
• The Cognac Room (42 m²): perfect for a tasting or an after-dinner digestif.
• The Chapel (34 m²): built in 1865, perfect for an intimate ceremony.
• The Cognac and Bordeaux Rooms (45 m² each): for business meetings and seminars.
• The restaurant and bar: for your dinners and late-night outings.

The castle provides a professional kitchen for your chefs and caterers, as well as tables and chairs for 40 people. For more than 80 seated guests, a tent can be set up in the grounds. Professional sound and lighting equipment can be rented from a local partner.

The 40 rooms and suites at Château de Mirambeau can accommodate 80 guests on-site, and up to 90 with extra beds. They are located in the château (22 rooms) and the Orangerie (18 rooms), and all have their own bathrooms.

There’s something for every guest. The hotel offers Classic Orangerie and Superior Orangerie rooms, Superior and Deluxe rooms, Junior Suites, four Galerie Suites that can each accommodate four people, and a Grand Suite, perfect for the bride and groom.

The estate has 4 rooms accessible to guests with limited mobility. Wi-Fi is available throughout the château and the Orangerie. A crib and high chair are available upon request. Bed linens and towels are provided and laundered by a professional laundry service.

The Orangery

Next to the castle, the Orangerie offers a second place to stay on the estate. It features 18 rooms, in the Orangerie Classic and Orangerie Superior categories, all with private bathrooms and Wi-Fi.

It’s the perfect place to host your friends, families with children, or part of your team during a seminar: everyone can enjoy their privacy while still being right in the heart of the action. Bedding and towels are provided, and cribs and high chairs are available upon request.

In total, the château (22 rooms and suites) and the Orangerie (18 rooms) can accommodate 80 guests on site, and up to 90 with extra beds.

The Château de Mirambeau stands on the site of a medieval fortress first mentioned in 1083: that year, Lord Artaud de Mirambeau—who gave his name to the town—donated the nearby Church of Saint-Sébastien to the Abbey of Savigny. Over the centuries, the stronghold passed through the hands of the most prominent families of Saintonge and France: the Mortagnes, the Clermonts, and then the Harpedannes of Belleville. Heavily contested during the Hundred Years’ War, it fell in 1415 to Jean II Harpedanne, chamberlain to the King of France and seneschal of Saintonge. Damaged during the Wars of Religion, the castle was rebuilt in the 17th century by the Count of Pardaillan, but the work came to a halt upon his death in 1657. It subsequently belonged to the lords of Pons, then to the princes of Lorraine-Marsan, and finally to the dukes of Bouillon.

In 1813, Count Charles-Jacques-Nicolas Duchâtel and his wife, a lady-in-waiting to Empress Joséphine, acquired the estate. Beginning in 1826, they had it almost entirely rebuilt on the vaulted foundations of the former fortress. This was one of the very first “ideal restorations” in France: a central wing in the Louis XIII style, flanked by two pavilions and two wings, one inspired by the Renaissance and the other by the Neo-Gothic style. The chapel was added to complete the complex in 1865. Their son, Tanneguy Duchâtel, who served several times as a minister under Louis-Philippe—notably as Minister of the Interior—founded an orphanage there and bequeathed his art collection to the Louvre Museum. Charles Tanneguy Duchâtel, mayor of Mirambeau for 25 years, was the last of the line.

In 1907, the château passed to the Duke of La Trémoille, who donated it to the government in 1914 to be used as a military hospital. After being fully restored, it later became a luxury hotel. Today, it opens its doors exclusively to those who wish to write their own story there.

In the surrounding area

Located between Saintonge and Gironde, the Château de Mirambeau is an ideal starting point for exploring the region. Spirits enthusiasts can visit the major Cognac houses (45 min), while wine lovers can set out to explore the vineyards of Blaye, Bourg, and Saint-Émilion. Just 30 minutes away, the Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, overlooks the Gironde estuary. A little further away, Talmont-sur-Gironde, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France,” charms visitors with its flower-lined streets and its church perched above the water.

On sunny days, the beaches of Royan and the ocean are just 45 minutes away. For a wellness getaway, the thermal baths and casino in Jonzac are 17 km away, and Saintes awaits you with its Roman heritage. Golfers can choose between the Montendre Golf Course (20 min) and the Royan Golf Course, and the trails around Mirambeau are perfect for walking or biking.

For dining options, you’ll find Le Cheval Blanc in Saint-Ciers-du-Taillon (10 min) and La Quincaillerie in Montendre, recommended by the Michelin Guide (20 min).