The castle grounds & gardens

The castle of Launay in France comfortably sleeps 16 people in the château and 2 in the guest house.

Enjoy the large heated swimming pool from May until October.

Explore the many castles of the Loire Valley during your stay and return to the castle each night.

The chateau is in exquisite condition and is decorated with a combination of contemporary and period style furnishings. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom.

See Accommodations for full details and photos.

Do make your Reservation Request for the Château de Launay today.

Breakfast by the housekeeper

Every morning you will wake up to a table laid out with fresh croissants, pains au chocolat, baguettes, selection of cereal and other breakfast fare as well as local jams and honey with of course great coffee, teas and juice. These aren't the tired croissants found in Parisian hotels, they're picked up each morning from the village bakery. Each room will also be remade while you’re enjoying yourself. If desired, arrangements for a chef or a cook can easily be made.

Pool

The 14 meter long heated outdoor pool has an advanced purification and filtration system that does not require addition of chlorine or other toxic chemicals. Instead it is lightly salinated. That way swimmers don’t come out smelling of chlorine or suffering of dried and itchy skin. Enjoying an outdoor hot shower nestled within natural tall bamboos is a delightful and relaxing finish to a swim. The pool is long enough to swim links while the T shape offers a shallow swim platform for small children.

Bicycles

On the lower floor of the Square Tower you will find ten bicycles that can be used to explore the beautiful surrounding area. You will discover charming villages, farm fields and pastures, wooded areas and numerous creeks and ponds.

Game room for kids

On the top floor of the Square Tower is the game room, perfect for children and adults as well. A table tennis and fuss ball await you. Since the tower is separate from the main structure, the kids will be free to make as much noise as they want! There you will also find fishing poles, badminton, croquet and boules games for your use.

History

The Château and Seigneurie de Launay is a historic 14th and 18th century castle, which has been thoroughly restored. The exact date of the oldest sections is unknown and a much earlier and smaller castle can be found in the heart of the current one (where the current library is, and the attached tower). However, archetectual clues signal that the latest possible date was during the 100 Years War. It would very soon find itself on the frontline, with the territory becoming hotly contested; a motte and bailey castle only one KM away was swept away by the war. Making the chateau's moat, towers, and walls very real and necessary defensive structures intended to keep it safe. While the curtain wall was drastically lowered and the drawbridge removed in the renaissance, the wall and many other clues from the chateau's fortified past still remain. Its renaissance architecture of enlarging windows and adding detailing that did not fully erase a defensive past is typical of many châteaux of the Loire region.

Château de Launay is also the home of a scandalous romantic story that involved the Seigneur de Luce - Charles de Coesmes - and Gabrielle d’Harcourt. Their marriage in 1523 was initially disapproved by François 1er following the abduction of Gabrielle (a willing party) by Charles de Coesmes, who was aided by Pierre de Bernay, Seigneur de Launay. The couple took refuge at the Château de Launay and subsequent events are known in great detail including quotes from the angry mother trying to fetch her daughter outside of Launay in the night.

Alone, the mother was unable to force her daughter to come to her, so she turned to the King. She succeeded in obtaining a royal decree (François I) condemning both men to public decapitation and it was specified that their corpses should remain on display in front of the gates to her castle (the nearby Château de Bonnétable). But by 1527, because of services rendered by the seigneur and some say because of Gabrielle's remarkable beauty, the couple often joined the court of François 1er at Amboise and Chambord.

A full history can be read on this wikipedia article.

Charming chateau

"We attend the legendary Le Mans 24 hour race every year with our guests and have been lucky enough to stay at this wonderful chateau for many years situated just 20 minutes from the circuit. After the hustle and bustle of the race track it is wonderful to return each evening to the tranquil surroundings of this beautiful chateau. The owner has been very accommodating with our many requests which are often quite demanding at times. The chateau is steeped in history and has been lovingly restored keeping many original features - be sure to look up the charming stories attached to the chateau, many references of its history can be found in documents in the chateau's library."

-Aston Martin. Every June

Beyond belief

"This place was more than I expected. The location was perfect, the grounds were amazing and the house itself was beyond belief. Very comfortable for a place so large. [The housekeeper] was wonderful and was more than willing to help our group with anything we needed. I would recommend this vacation to anyone looking for a one in a life time experience!"

-Sandra F. June 2017

Wonderful stay!

"This project is simply stunning with lovely grounds, lake, 36 acres of land behind to explore and best of all your very own moat! There is also a black swan we dubbed Jean Pierre who patrols the lake and most and will not say no to some fresh bread. The chateau itself was delightful with en suite bedrooms with gorgeous views and a homey charm that did not make you feel too nervous sitting on the furniture. A special mention must be made to the housekeeper who was just fabulous and made you feel so welcome in this majestic home. I am already planning my next trip to this lovely house and could not recommend this property and area enough! 6 stars for the owner, staff, property and area!"

-Brett P. May 2017