The Three Chateaus Tour
'Fantastic trip, great drives, fabulous chateau, good wine and making new friends. What's not to love?' - Linda, Chateau TVR 2023
* * * The Three Chateaus Tour will be taking place between the 28th September and 04th October 2025, and is now open for entries. If you'd like to reserve a place on the trip, get in touch using the email address below * * *
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We've been running chateau trips for a few years now, with every year's venue more ambitious than the last. But 2024's stay in the rather marvellous Chateau du Courtomer presented us with a conundrum - how on earth do we improve on it? Because the chateau was an absolute gem, from its finely landscaped grounds to its lovingly restored interior - we weren't going to be able to find better, that's for sure. So, we were faced with two options - either give up on chateau runs entirely or, go all in on the concept. And you know the answer to this already - for 2025, we're taking our chateau tours to the next level.
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How, I hear you ask? Simple. What's better than one chateau? Three chateaus, that's what.
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For 2025, we'll be spending no less than four nights staying in Chateau de Courtomer, arriving Monday and not leaving until Friday. And bookending this visit are two further chateau stays, on the way to and from the main event.
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First up after crossing the channel is the quirkily named Chateau de Sissi, a stone's throw from the Normandy coast. This 18th century edifice of magnificence is the former summer residence of Empress Elizabeth of Austria, and luxuriates in eleven hectares of grounds, just down the road from Normandy's Alabaster Coast. But as a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll stop wittering you now, and let you see the place:​
After our stay in Sissi, it's time to head to the main event - Chateau de Courtomer, a magnificent venue tucked away in the Normandy countryside. We will have exclusive use of this delightfully elegant chateau for the duration of our stay, which has a history dating back to the 11th century, and a current form which was inspired by none other than the Chateau of Versailles itself. The chateau is set in glorious grounds which stretch to 360 acres - in other words, there's plenty of space to park as many fine automobiles outside as we can muster, as the pictures from our 2024 visit prove. And inside the chateau, the wonder continues. All of the living spaces have been sympathetically restored in recent years, and retain their classical charm, and as with all the chateaus on this trip, every bedroom is en-suite, and all of the rooms are spacious and unique; just what you'd expect from the height of renaissance luxury, in fact.
​​We'll be spending four nights in the chateau, which is located in southern Normandy, to the north east of Alencon. This means there will be plenty of time to both relax in luxury, and get out and explore this delightful region, which is surely one of the most underrated and beautiful corners in all of France.
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But all good things have to come to an end eventually, and after four nights and five days at our own private chateau, it'll be time to hit the road again - to one last chateau - the Chateau Corneille, tucked away near the banks of the Seine not far from Giverny, and Monet's gardens. As you can see from the photos below, this third chateau lives up to the standards set by the previous two, and aces things when it comes to its on-site restaurant, tucked away in the former stable block.​
So there you have it - a seven day trip to Normandy, with every night of the trip spent in a beautiful chateau. Yep, we've put together something special here, if we say so ourselves. But don't think we'll be resting on our laurels when it comes to the trip planning - just as with our other trips, this drive will be fully documented in a comprehensive itinerary, which will give various options for things to do, places to see and restaurants to eat at during each day's drive, allowing you to shape the week into your perfect journey. Additionally, various drive-outs, tours, activities and other suggestions will be available during the chateau stay - for every trip we run, we spend weeks trawling the route with a fine tooth comb to find the most interesting and unusual diversions to include in the itinerary, so rest assured, you won't be disappointed.
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So, what's the price of this most glamorous of Pub2Pub trips? A mere snip at £1,550 for a car and two people, which covers channel crossings, all of the nightly accommodation, breakfast every morning and of course, the run of your own private chateau for the best part of a week. Additionally, the fee also gives you the trip itinerary with fully integrated full sat-nav routings, and the peace of mind to know that Pub2Pub's Classic Volvo will be along in a support role, loaded with tools, spare parts and a wealth of experience, and on call to assist should you have any issues.
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So, a week touring France in the fresh late summer air, in the company of fellow car enthusiasts, with stays in no less than three different chateaus thrown in for good measure - do holiday plans get any better than that? Of course not. Places are limited, but to book onto the trip, feel free to drop us an email at ben@pub2pubadventures.com and we'll get you booked onto the Three Chateaus Tour.
