Rialto
Aix-en-Provence

Château de la Gaude

Rialto Score 9+

A Relais And Chateaux hotel. Rialto is a Virtuoso agency and can provide VIP access and offers.

Experience the hospitality of French aristocracy as guests of Count and Countess de Vanssay at Château de la Barre, their family estate since 1404! Two hours from Paris, at the entrance to the Loire Valley, Château de la Barre offers five en suite bedrooms and suites, replete with antiques and designer fabrics, without compromising on comfort. This elegant château is the ideal place for a multigenerational family get-together or destination wedding. Tailor-made airport/city transfers, guided sightseeing, winetasting, and many other exclusive visits can be arranged by the Countess de Vanssay, who is fluent in English.

3959 Route Des Pinchinats, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
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Château de la Gaude

About Château de la Gaude

Insider tip

Don’t miss having a Grand Siècle dinner with the Count and Countess in the amazingly elegant dining room in their château. –Deborah Crockett-Rice Portland, Maine

In the hotel’s own words

Home to the family of Count & Countess de Vanssay for more than 615 years, staying at Château de la Barre is more than just a luxury accommodation: it is a unique and immersive experience, like travelling into a forgotten world, full of the gracious hospitality, joie de vivre, elegance and informal authenticity of French aristocracy: The world of Eternal France: Some things remain timeless…

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The Château is located less than 2 hours from Paris at the beginning of the Loire Valley, with its famous castles: Chambord, Cheverny, Amboise, Chenonceau. Transfer arrangements (private chauffeurs, Audi rental cars, knowledgeable guides etc...) can easily be arranged.

It lies secluded in the midst of a 100 acre private park, with meadows, woods, a pond, fortification walls, its’ own family chapel, a 5000 m2 fragrant garden and a large, heated swimming pool.

Besides 4 lavish reception rooms, Château de la Barre offers 7 double rooms and suites, plus 2 single rooms, all decorated with designer fabrics and important XVIIIth century antiques, without compromising on modern comfort.

Château de la Barre is a family château equally well suited for privatisation, for a wedding, anniversary, house party, classic car club or golfing tour, and can accommodate up to 20 guests (when the adjacent 3 en suite bedroom cottage is included as well.)

The warm and international welcome extended by Count and Countess Guy and Marnie de Vanssay who personally greet their guests– he is French, she is Anglo-American – is complemented by special suggestions such as : a balloon flight over the Loire Valley, race car testing on the legendary 24 Hours le Mans track, discovering the famous as well as private chateaux, (upon request, possible VIP after hours visits and even lunch or dinner with the owners themselves) hidden gardens, gourmet restaurants, golf courses, farmer’s markets and local artisans, horse back riding etc …

A stay can only be requested by a Virtuoso travel agent or someone already known to the owners, who will then issue a personal invitation.

Thus at Chateau de La Barre, they enjoy a private view of France and the Loire Valley. Countess Marnie de Vanssay can also work closely with you and your clients in organizing not only their stay at the family Château, but by helping coordinate their travel plans in France, transfers, special insider tips etc. so you can offer them a truly unique experience overall.

VIP Hotel Program · Invitation-only

Virtuoso benefits, included

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Virtuoso is an invitation-only network of luxury travel agencies. VIP rates generally meet or beat the hotel's website rates and include this hotel's own Virtuoso amenities below.

  • Room upgrade on arrival, based on availability
  • Daily breakfast for two per bedroom
  • Personal welcome drink upon arrival with Countess de Vanssay
  • Fresh flowers from the fragrant chateau garden
  • Complimentary visit and tasting at local winery
  • A private visit of the Chateau with the Count de Vanssay
  • Stays of 3+ nights will also receive complimentary "Skip-the-Line" tickets to three major Loire castles: Cheverny, Chenonceau and Clos Lucé, da Vinci's home
  • Stays of 7+ nights will also receive complimentary dinner for two guests, wine included, once during stay
  • Early check-in and late check-out, based on availability

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Rooms and suites

8 room types, as described by the hotel.
Rooms
Size
1Chambre Turquoise
Chambre Turquoise an elegant double room with turquoise coloured boiseries, embroidered silk Rubelli fabric from Venice, precious Louis XV furniture and a juliet balcony overlooking the garden and park. Ensuite shower and dressing room. King size double bed, can be made out as twin beds, 90x2m.
280 ft²
2Chambre Rose
Chambre Rose, a double room queen size bed (1m60x2m), in the XIVth century part of the château, with beams and a fireplace with trumeau. Ensuite bath
—
3Chambre aux Oiseaux
Chambre aux Oiseaux or Birds room Emperor size double bed (2x2m) or twin bedded ensuite room, juliet balcony, period George II antiques, Paul Marot fabric, view over the garden and park. Ensuite walk in shower and small dressing room
Members only
4Chambre aux Fleurs
Chambre aux Fleurs, cosy double room king size bed (or twin beds upon request) with period George III English antiques, bright Braquenié fabric forms a striking setting for the luscious patina. En suite Italian marble bathroom with Jacuzzi & WC, built into the former watch walk tower.
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5Chambre Jaune
Chambre Jaune, an elegant double room with a King size double bed (1m60 x 2m), precious Louix XV antiques and an early XVIIIth century large Aubusson tapestry, mustard yellow toile de Jouy fabric and a large window overlooking the garden and park. Ensuite bath with large bath and shower
Members only
Suites
Size
6Suite Esprit de Jouy
Suite Esprit de Jouy, a very romantic double room, with a king size four poster bed, emerald green toile de Jouy fabric, period Louis XVI antiques and oil paintings, a juliet balcony and window overlooking the garden and park, and an ensuite bath with small dressing.
Members only
7Suite Marin
Suite Marin de Vanssay Suite Marin, a prestigeous double room with king size canope bed, important XVIIth century furniture and oil paintings, gold and royal blue silk embroidered Rubelli fabric, three windows overlooking the garden and park and a large en suite bath with a sitting area, a walk in shower and a jacuzzi…
Members only
8Suite Esprit de Jouy Verte & Bleue
Magnificent, romantic suite of two rooms each ensuite, the Chambre Esprit de Jouy Verte, with a king size four poster bed, period Louis XVI antiques and oil paintings, emerald green toile de Jouy fabric and a juliet balcony and window overlooking the garden and park. Ensuite bath and small dressing room.
Members only

Room type data is subject to change and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does booking through Rialto cost more than booking with the hotel?

No - VIP rates under Virtuoso always meet or beat hotel's public, flexible rate, and provide valuable amenities and possible upgrades. Rialto also provides the hotel's non-VIP and corporate rates, so you can compare with full transparency.

What is the value of the VIP benefits?

Daily breakfast for two comes with every stay at this hotel - which could add $50-100/day in value, not counting any other VIP program benefits like room upgrades.

How does this compare to other programs, like through AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, or Chase Edit?

Using a hotel's own VIP program may provide higher upgrade priority, additional VIP benefits and promotional rate offers, and a direct relationship with the hotel for special requests. Rialto offers more VIP hotels than any credit card program. In addition, Chase Edit rates can be substantially more expensive as they rarely run promotions whereas AMEX rates are often comparable but do not offer programs such as Upgrade at Booking.

Can my AI assistant book this hotel?

Yes. Connect Rialto to Claude or ChatGPT and ask for rates. You finish the booking on a secure Rialto page. Card details are not sent through the AI chat, so either you would approve the final checkout step and reconfirm all the information, or if you authorize your agent with Computer-Use permissions, it can fill out the checkout form as well.

Rates are shown to members

Rialto is invitation-only. Apply for access and hear back within 24 hours.

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