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 turn your wedding into a little holiday together.
You can slow down, enjoy real French food, wine and countryside life, and actually be present with your guests instead of rushing between venues and timelines.
I’ve personally visited all of these lovely places for you. Their teams are warm and welcoming, ready to host you for a special, relaxed wedding weekend in south-west France.
I’m Lana Dowling, a wedding and elopement photographer based between Cognac and Bordeaux, creating cinematic, emotional images across south‑west France. Whether you’re just starting to dream about a wedding in south‑west France or already know exactly where you want to say your vows, I’m here to share everything I’ve learned from a decade of photographing couples in chateaux, vineyards and by the Atlantic coast. So you can plan your day with confidence and feel completely at ease in front of the camera.
Content:
- Why a chateau wedding weekend?
- 5 French chateau wedding venues in south-west France.
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 XV 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
La Cannonerie
Reaux sur Trefle, Charente-Maritime
Description
La Cannonerie is a peaceful XVI 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. The wedding venue is just a short drive from Jonzac, where guests can enjoy local restaurants, markets and pretty town squares around the wedding.
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
Chateau de Puyrigaud
Leoville, Charente-Maritime
Description:
Chateau de Puyrigaud is a XV 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, and large the white‑stone reception room with beams and character: 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. There are 15 individually designed ensuite bedrooms, each with its own unique character.
This chateau has a great location for guests who want more than “just” the wedding day. It is only 10 minutes from Jonzac, a pretty town with markets and cafes that guests can enjoy before and after the celebration. Being so close to the Les Antilles de Jonzac spa resort also means everyone can turn the trip into a mini‑holiday, relaxing in the thermal pools and spa.
Things to consider:
Sleeps 67. Hosts up to 250 people for a wedding.
The estate is large and offers a number of different options (indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, multiple reception areas, heated pool, gardens), so you’ll want to be ready to make a few clear choices in advance with the owners’ guidance. Friendly owner and her team will welcome you for a long weekend.
Price: from 6,000€
Contact: Veronique Lassalle
Phone: +33 (0)6 08 61 21 03
Email: contact@chateaudepuyrigaud.com
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
Le Pontet, Gironde
Description:
Chateau Pontet d’Eyrans is a charming XIX century estate near Bordeaux, with a grand entrance, swimming pool, on‑site hotel and cosy gites for your guests.
Why you will like it:
Chateau Pontet d’Eyrans sits in the quiet little town Le Pontet. It has its own spa, plus offers wine tastings through local partners. Bordeaux is around 30 minutes away, so guests can easily add a city visit to their trip.
Famous Medoc, with its many wine chateaux, lies just across the estuary from Le Pontet.
It takes around 40–50 minutes to get there by car and ferry, depending on your route and timings.
The Chateau Pontet d’Eyrans old stables are now 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, pool area and barbecue zone. With the on‑site hotel rooms and gites, the chateau can comfortably host your wedding party, close family and friends for a long weekend.
Things to consider:
Sleeps 70. Hosts up to 130 people for a wedding.
The chateau close to Bordeaux, so think whether you want to organise group transport or add clear directions on your wedding website.
Chateau Pontet d’Eyrans can provide turn‑key wedding packages, using a trusted network of local partners (caterers, DJs, bands, photographers and more). You stay in control, and the final choice of every supplier is completely yours.
Price: from 4,000€
Contact: Marina Peitrzak
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.
