5 French Chateau Wedding Venues for a Weekend Celebration
Imagine spending a whole weekend with your family and friends in a French chateau in south‑west France.
You can soak up the real French lifestyle and truly be present with the people you love. Your French chateau wedding becomes a mini holiday.
For a bride travelling from a different country, it turns your day into a relaxed destination wedding experience: everyone arrives, settles in and celebrates together, without the stress of changing venues or tight timings.
Content:
- Why a chateau wedding weekend?
- 5 French chateau wedding venues in south-west.
WHY a chateau wedding Weekend ?
- Exclusive use chateau wedding venue.
Renting a venue for the whole weekend means welcome drinks, pool time, brunches, and a farewell lunch all in one beautiful place just for you. You feel it's more like a private house party in the French countryside than a formal, one‑day event.
- More time, less pressure.
With 2–3 days together, you’re not cramming arrivals, ceremony, photos, and goodbyes into a few hours.
You can actually breathe, enjoy quiet moments with your partner, and be fully present with your guests.
- Less logistical problems
Having accommodation and the wedding celebration in the same French chateau removes the worry about transport and taxis. The guests can party longer and will not be stressed about travelling. When your guests are unfamiliar with the area, being in one place is a major advantage.
5 French chateau wedding venues in south-west France
Chateau de Lerse
Perignac, Charente
Description:
Chateau de Lerse is a romantic 15th‑century chateau set in rolling Charente countryside.
Why you will like it:
It has a pool, lake, inside dining hall and wide open views that feel peaceful and very private for a wedding weekend. You’ll love the authentic feel, the covered courtyard with its own evening bar, and the option to stay on site in chateau rooms, a gîte (a guest house), the pigeonnier, or even stylish safari tents by the lake. It's perfect for gathering those closest to you for three days of wedding.
Things to consider:
Sleeps 40. Hosts up to 250 people for a wedding.
Catering services by a talented in‑house chef are included. Very friendly French team, who speak fluent English. A typical wedding weekend package (3 nights, exclusive use of chateau for a wedding with on‑site accommodation in rooms and tents).
Price: from €18,500
Contact: Joss
Phone: +33 (0)5 45 25 95 90
E-mail: contact@chateaudelerse.com
Chateau de Puyrigaud
Leoville, Charente-Maritime
Description:
Chateau de Puyrigaud is a 15th‑century estate in the Charente‑Maritime countryside, surrounded by four hectares of gardens, trees and views that feel peaceful and very private. You’ll immediately fall in love with the romantic, flower‑filled grounds, the white‑stone reception room with beams and character, and the way different spaces naturally shape your weekend: ceremony in the gardens, cocktail near the magnolia tree, dinner and dancing in the stone chai, and a relaxed brunch by the pool the next day.
Why you will like it:
Because the whole domain opens to you, your guests can wander through French gardens, relax by the heated pool, and enjoy cosy corners, games and lounges that make it feel like a relaxed country house rather than a formal hotel.
Things to consider:
Sleeps 60 +. Hosts up to 250 people for a wedding.
The estate is quite large and offers a number of different options (indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, multiple reception areas, pool, gardens), so you’ll want to be ready to make a few clear choices in advance with the owners’ guidance to keep everything flowing smoothly.
Price: from 6,000€
Contact: Veronique Lassalle
Phone: +33 (0)6 08 61 21 03
Email: contact@chateaudepuyrigaud.com
La Cannonerie
Reaux sur Trefle, Charente-Maritime
Description
La Cannonerie is a peaceful 16th‑century countryside estate near Jonzac. It's surrounded by vineyards and sunflower fields and set around a beautiful stone courtyard. It offers several characterful spaces for a ceremony, drinks and dinner, plus seven charming cottages and a pool.
Why you will like it
You’ll like the feeling of total privacy. The whole domaine becomes yours, so your guests can move from courtyard ceremony to barn reception to late‑night dancing without ever leaving the property. The cottages allow around 36 of your favourite people to stay on site. The pool and open views create a relaxed “holiday with our friends and family” vibe that couples often dream of for a destination wedding in France.
La Cannonnerie owners are seasoned hosts for weddings. They will be happy to contact you with local wedding planners if you need it.
What to consider
Sleeps 36. Hosts up to 120 people for a wedding.
Because La Cannonerie works best as an exclusive‑use venue with on‑site stays, it suits couples who want a full weekend celebration. It's possible to organise extra nearby accommodation for additional guests. You’ll also want to think about travel logistics from Bordeaux or La Rochelle airports. You can arrange shared transfers or give very clear travel information on your wedding website.
Price: from € 12,500
Contact: Anne-Sophie and Clément at info@lacannonerie-events.com
Phone: +33 (0)7 85 07 03 91
Domain de Mauprie
Lusignan, Vienne
Description:
Domaine de Mauprie is a charming, family‑owned countryside estate near Poitiers.
Why you will like it:
A chateau, large gardens and a beautifully renovated 200‑year‑old Poitevine barn designed for weddings and receptions. Guests can wander through the castle gardens for cocktails and outdoor moments, then move into the barn where up to 280 people can be seated together in one welcoming space.
The property has a mix of charm and practicality: covered courtyard for drinks if it rains, a dedicated children’s room for play and sleep, nearby parking lit by the barn, and modern facilities including equipped kitchen, cloakroom and contemporary bathrooms.
For international weddings, the on‑site accommodation is a real comfort, with four chateau bedrooms, five apartments with sixteen bedrooms, and four dormitories (9, 12, 6 and 6 beds) so that around 70 guests can sleep at Mauprie. Easy access is another plus, with regular Ryanair flights between London Stansted and Poitiers, plus connections via Bordeaux or Tours for guests who want to combine the wedding with sightseeing in wine regions or Loire chateaux.
Things to consider:
Sleeps 70 +. Hosts up to 250 people for a wedding.
Domaine de Mauprie is ideal if you are planning a larger celebration or a full wedding weekend where many of your guests stay on site.
Decide if you want to arrange shared transport or give very clear travel instructions. The closest town to explore before or after the celebrations is Lusignan.
Price: from 6 000€
Contact: Lionel Houssiaux
Phone: +33 (0)6 80 13 36 84
Email: contact@domainedemauprie.com
Le Chateau Pontet d’Eyrans
Eyrans, Gironde
Description:
Chateau Pontet d’Eyrans is a charming countryside estate near Bordeaux with a renovated 150 m² reception room.
Why you will like it:
The old stables have been transformed into a bright reception room with a “starry sky” ceiling. It gives your dinner and party a warm, romantic atmosphere without feeling too formal.
The park with its century‑old trees offers several outdoor spots for a non-official (laïque) ceremony, cocktail and photos, including views of the chateau, willow trees and even a rustic grange.
With up to 70 beds on site, the chateau will easily accommodate the wedding party, family and friends. It’s a perfect location when travelling from abroad.
Things to consider:
Sleeps 70. Hosts up to 100 people for a wedding.
The chateau is in the countryside but still close to Bordeaux, so think about how your guests will arrive (airport, trains, transfers) and whether you want to organise group transport or add clear directions on your wedding website.
There is a list of trusted local partners (caterers, DJs, bands, photographers, etc.), which can make planning easier but of course, the final decision is yours.
Price: from 3 500€
Contact:
Phone: +33 5 57 64 71 07
Email: info@chateaupontet.fr
If you’re dreaming about this kind of celebration but planning everything from another country, I’ve written a separate guide .
"Planning a south of France wedding from abroad".
It walks you through the practical steps, and things to watch out for.
In addition, you are welcome to view my list of trusted English-speaking vendors in south-west France. I hope it might be useful for you. Feel free to leave your comments or any suggestions for improvements.
I’m Lana, a wedding photographer based in the south‑west of France, specialising in cinematic, non‑posed storytelling. I’m very experienced working with camera‑shy people. Alongside wedding photography, I also create social content for couples. If you’d like to see more of my work, you’re very welcome to explore my portfolio.
