Château du Rayet

Villereal, Lot-et-Garonne
Self-catering
+44 (0)7958 233827
Visit owner's website

Per night
€629 - €1110
Per week
€4400 - €9700

9 beds

Bedroom

7 bedrooms

Sleeps

Sleeps 14

Children welcome
Pets welcome
Babies welcome

Elegant historic house set in acres of grounds transports you to a bygone belle époque (with all mod cons)

Per night
€629 - €1110
Per week
€4400 - €9700

Visit the owner's site and book direct with them. No fees or fuss from us.

What part does Sawday’s play?

Use our quick form to drop the owner a line asking anything you need to know.

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€629 - €1110 per night

€4400 - €9700 per week

The Experience

What a beauty. This pretty château, with its moat and grand courtyard reached across a little bridge, serves up an elegant slice of French history (it was built in 1763 by a royalist parliamentarian) with a generous dollop of modern comfort.

There’s heating in the winter, air con all summer, Versailles parquet flooring throughout and huge windows that flood the house with light. Upstairs are six generous bedrooms with pillowy beds and amazing ensuites (one has a rolltop bath in the room).

Cooks will love the swish kitchen with every conceivable bell and whistle (and a private chef if you want one). Squashy sofas in three (!) sitting rooms call to the idle. But for the rest, there’s a swimming pool for those morning laps and a fully equipped gym, plus games galore – cricket, badminton, ping-pong and snooker – and miles of meadows and woodland to explore. The world seems very far away.

Château du Rayet - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • Having space for everyone to come together and room enough to find a quiet spot alone
  • The huge choice of things to do, inside and outside. Seeing roe deer, foxes and hares in the evening is a special treat
  • Shopping in the local market and coming back to cook in the amazing chef's kitchen
Château du Rayet - Gallery

You should know

  • There are some sections of the moat which are unfenced
  • Only the first floor rooms and the office have air conditioning - the ground floor rooms with their thick walls remain cool in the summer

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Self check-in
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Oven
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Barbecue
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • Microwave oven
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Electricity included
  • Dishwasher
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price
from €629
Weekly price
from €4400
Damage deposit
€1000
1 House for 14
From €6299 beds7 bedrooms

Information

Booking information

Check in
10am
Check out
4pm
Other details
Minimum stay: 7 nights. Availability from July 2025.
Closed
Never.
No smoking
Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Dogs

Pets welcome by arrangement, max. 2, €150 per pet per stay.

Reviews

One gasps in delight at first glimpse of this moated château through its intricate iron gates. The owners have created a truly wonderful spot for groups to escape to for rest and relaxation, as well as a brilliant base for exploring the marvels of the Dordogne. It would be an unforgettable place for an important event, or a perfect holiday with a group of family and friends.
Inspected Nicky Sawday's Inspector

Nick, Sheen, UK

We had the most wonderful time. We were five families, all with small children, so we were naturally a little worried about being on top of each other and general chaos. But the chateau is so sizeable, so well appointed and there’s so much to do that there were no issues at all - just a fantastic time had by all. It’s a magical place, a huge amount of thought has gone into the design and the little touches all around the place (fridges by the pool, easy sounds systems, top of range dishwasher and washing machine) just make it such a joy to visit.


Philip, Tonbridge

We had a wonderful stay! As three families (7 adults and 6 kids) the house was the perfect size - lots of space for everyone, and the older kids loved getting to stay in the atelier as their own space. They also loved the freedom around the grounds, the games room and of course the pool. The house is beautifully refurbished and very comfortable and well equipped. The owners and Luc, the housekeeper, were super helpful and provided loads of information about the local area. The house feels private and secluded but is also walking distance to Villereal, which has lots going on in the summer.


Emily, England, Scotland, US & Australia

Sublime! We have just enjoyed the most precious reunion gathering family. We could not have asked for a more wonderful location. The house and setting are magnificent. We were bowled over when we arrived: walking over the moat, through the main gates and into the courtyard was an impressive start.Wonderful art, fabulous spaces to congregate and a terrific kitchen supplied with everything. The bedrooms are utter luxury with beautiful bedlinen and gorgeous bathrooms. the fabulous swimming pool area was the highlight. Luc was on hand and attentive to the smallest question or request.


Jesse, Belgium

We spent an unforgettable week! It’s beautifully renovated with great attention to detail, blending historic charm with modern comfort. The property is fully equipped. The gym and play barn were absolute highlights! The chateau is also very child friendly, with plenty of space to play, explore, and enjoy safely—our kids had an amazing time! It’s located in a gorgeous region, surrounded by cozy villages that are perfect for exploring, dining, and soaking up the local atmosphere. And to top it all off, the owners and local property manager were incredibly kind and helpful!


Location

The neighbourhood

Nearby Villeréal (five-min drive) is one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages de France' and has an amazing food market (Saturdays) and an antique market (every second Sunday). Lots of lovely places to stop – Fromage et Plus is a pretty wine bar and Zio Enzo does great pizza. There's no shortage of spectacular houses in this area – Château de Biron and Château de Bridoire both have lots of fun activities for kids.

Local points of interest from Becky & Gareth Rees

  • The château is less than 5 minutes to Villeréal, one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages de France' with a great variety of restaurants, cafés, boulangeries, an amazing butcher, two supermarkets and a petrol station.
  • There are two amazing markets in Villeréal which you should visit - the weekly food market which is very popular, and a brocante on the second Sunday of the month which we love to visit. Both markets snake around the covered market in the central square.
  • Staying in a stunning 18th century château is made even more fun by the moat encircling the château and the courtyard. If you have children or pets, don't worry as there are walls, buildings and gates enclosing the courtyard from the moat.
  • Our amazing private chef can fill the fridge before you arrive, leave a buffet dinner for your first evening, and come and cook lunch and/or dinner for you and your guests. So you can just sit back and relax!
  • This property is made for enjoyment - with seven reception rooms, a gym with a Peloton bike, rowing machine, weights and much more, lots of games inside and out. You certainly won't be bored staying here!