



Amid 12th-century turrets and a rich tapestry of family history: wonderful hosts, delicious food and flowing wines, authentically French
3 rooms
Rooms sleep 2 – 3
Children welcome
The Experience
A jewel in the forest, a fairy tale haven. Creak along the parquet, swan around the salon; sleep in one tower, wash in another. The castle has been in the family for 800 years, and the traditional rooms have furnishings worthy of the troubadours who once sang here.
Philippe and Martine are nurturing the castle as their parents did, with joy – and updating a bit. Breakfast on brioche, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and honey from their hives, stroll from peaceful lawn to sweeping view, settle in to sociable dinners at the delicious, candlelit table.
Closed half the year – it’s too vast to heat between November and April – the welcome is warm. Philippe recommends châteaux: d’Aulteribe for romance, Chassaigne for rose gardens. Swim at the local grand lac, borrow bikes, explore the Auvergne countryside. Summer brings music concerts: rock in Thiers, classical in Vollore.
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We think you'll love
- Staying in an authentic castle, getting a taste of original France
- Philippe’s home cooking
- Exploring the acres of forest that surround you

You should know
- Not a place for those who love new and modern things
- Lots of breakables – small children would require a close eye
- WiFi only available downstairs
Essentials
- 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
- Spa
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Bar
- Barbecue
- Licensed premises
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- 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
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Information
& pricing
Booking information
- Booking restrictions
- Arrival from 5pm.
- Closed
- November - April.
- No smoking
- Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property
- Meals
- Dinner with wine, €30.
Pricing
- Nightly price
- from €80
- Surcharges
- Extra bed/sofabed available €30 per person per night.
- 1 Family room for 3
- From €100
- 2 Doubles
- From €80
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Accommodation
Reviews
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One of my very favourites. Peaceful, charming, eccentric and very welcoming... there is much to discover in this little known corner of France.
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Hidden gem in the middle of nowhere, but a beautiful nowhere - with views across rolling Auvergne countryside. Once upon a time a twelfth century farmhouse with "chateau towers" added in the nineteenth century. Dark inside. Very spacious bedroom accommodation but thickness of walls means good wi-fi only available downstairs (there is a communal sitting room). Philippe is a very welcoming energetic host and cooked an excellent communal supper, with local wine supplied. Wonderfully authentic experience. Other guests were locals on their third stay - quite a powerful endorsement. Near Thiers.
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What can I say! If you want to step back in time and experience what feels like "real France" then this is for you! Phillipe welcomed us like old friends and couldn't have done more for us. What a delightful smiley man. He cooked us a delicious dinner to. It's in a wonderful setting and more peaceful than anywhere I've ever been . Book it!
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An interesting character property, and Philippe was a considerate and cheerful host. His wife Martine was ill at the time, but he still went to some trouble to find gluten-free food for my son, and post items to England that I left behind. Good evening meals, too.
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A secret hideaway of childhood fantasy. Turrets and moats and an interior that holds all sorts of family treasures and furnishings. A very kind and attentive host eager to speak English and provide for all needs. We had a turret bedroom, overlooking the wooded valley, that was extremely comfortable. It formed just an overnight stop en route for Provence but we wished that we'd made a longer stay.
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Made very welcome from the moment of arrival - cold beers & wine, then aperitifs and local nibbles before great dinner followed by local liqueurs etc - all in the €30. And the chateau itself is well worth the visit anyway - lovely!
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What an incredibly beautiful and tranquil place. We stayed here for 2 nights on our trip through France and will definitely be making a return visit. Philippe and Martine are wonderful hosts, the food is fabulous and the setting perfect
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We showed up when closed (booking mixup) Phillipe and Martine took us in, cooked us dinner in the kitchen and made us feel like family. Beautiful home and great host and hostess. (Stay was 11/2011 - n available on calendar)
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Every year, we stay at least 4 times at Vaulx driving from Belgium to Spain. We went there for the first time more than 10 years ago, when the B&B was still in the hands of Guy and Régine. Since they have retired, her daughter Martine and son in law Philippe are taking care of the place, assuring the continuation of this B&B as a splendid place to stay offering a extremely warm wellcome and very good regional kitchen. Philippe is a passioned cook and Martine makes desserts to die for. A lot of U.K. people stay at Vaulx and this gives us the opportunity to exercice or english. It's TOP !!!
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This place could easily be the setting of a movie: Forest all around, a house like from a fairy tail and the interior very romantically furnished. Philippe and Martine are very nice hosts. While they were preparing the meals we had very hearty aperitif-gatherings in their big kitchen together with the other guests. You can really feel that they are doing the chambre d'hôtes and table d'hôtes not only because it's their business but also because they like talking to people. We had two highly entertaining dinners there and felt very comfortable in this place.
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Location
The neighbourhood
Tiny St Agathe is 4km away – population: 200. For more excitement you’ll want to head to Thiers (10km), perched upon a rocky spur with restaurants and shops – it’s famous for its hand-crafted cutlery, and each year there is an annual knife show. Half-timbered Billom has a one of the region’s best markets (Mondays) and the August garlic festival is worth catching. Vichy is a 40km drive, while the Michelin museum is a little further in Clermont-Ferrand. The area was largely undisturbed by the French Revolution, so historic treasures are more concentrated than elsewhere in France.
Introducing
Guy & Régine Dumas de Vaulx, Philippe & Martine Vast
Martine and Philippe welcome you like long lost friends. The château was one of the first to join the Sawday’s collection and has been a mainstay for years – first with Guy and Regine, who have now handed the reins to their daughter and son-in-law. Philippe is the chef – inventive, energetic – and has a nose for local wine.
This was certainly a unique and wonderful experience for us staying at an 800 year old chateau in a beautiful area of France. Our room was spacious and warm with fascinating furniture and amazing views. Our stay was made all the more perfect by our host, Philippe who was incredibly friendly and interesting,also cooking us a delicious evening meal accompanied by a generous amount of wine. We thoroughly recommend a stay at Chateau de Vaulx.