About this property
Château Gaillac is a late Napoleonic, belle époque style extravaganza of opulence, situated in the valley of the Tarn River between the historic cathedral cities of Albi and Toulouse, with easy access to the Autoroute.
The Vignerons of Gaillac have tended the fertile fields in the Tarn valley for the past millennium with loving care in a landscape of viridian, terracotta and ochre reminiscent of Tuscany. Once the centre of this vast wine making domain, Château Gaillac enjoys views over neighbouring vineyards, of which guests receive a complimentary case upon arrival.
Resplendent in its park-land arboretum setting of lofty cedars, the château sits just back from the banks of the river Tarn, and also enjoys access to the adjoining rolling countryside. All the while, the facilities and popular attractions of the historic market town of Gaillac are just four minutes away.
Bright, warm and charmingly decorated in traditional Lime-wash, Château Gaillac is an enchanting home away from home in one of France’s oldest wine growing regions.
Château Gaillac rests on the edge of a hamlet, around 4km away from the small town of Gaillac and between the historic cathedral cities of Albi (25km) and Toulouse (60km) with easy access to the Autoroute. There is also a train station in Gaillac with a good railway services.
The surrounding region of Gaillac is both scenic and vibrant. Whether you’re wine tasting around the local vineyards, either exploring the hill top citadels of Cordes-sur-ciel and Bastides des Albigois or visiting one of the 5 “Plus Beaux Villages de France” like Castelnau de Montmirail, Puycelsi, Bruniquel, Lautrec, Monesties all located less than half an hour away, there’s plenty to see and do.
The actual town of Gaillac is but a short cycle away. Once there you’ll find a mix of beautiful architecture from many periods, and a real old world charm. Make sure to drop by the Musee des Beaux-Arts, and leave plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of the adjoining French gardens and park.
Gaillac is abundant in heritage within its winding streets and tree lined esplanades, but also benefits from a modern shopping centre, open-market and restaurants to suit all tastes. There are several markets, the Friday market is the biggest.
The unesco world heritage city of Albi lies just 20 minutes from the château and boasts Europe’s largest brick building; the magnificent Cathedral of Albi – a masterpiece of Southern Gothic architecture, and a must see in the region. The Toulouse-Lautrec museum recently refurbished is well worth a visit. Children may also like to pay a visit to the water park “Atlantis” located half an hour away.
Out in the peaceful surroundings of Château Gaillac it is easy to forget that you’re only an hour from Toulouse, a bustling twin university city. Fourth French city by its size, Toulouse is a hub of technology within Southern France. It even has its own space visitor centre, and yet it still maintains a simplicity and romanticism that is true to the region. Bisected by the River Garonne, it is often referred to as La Ville Rose (the Pink City) due to the attractive pink terracotta bricks that make up many of the historic structures in the city.
Accommodation
Château Interiors (600m2)
- 2 entrance halls
- Large salon / TV room
- Dining room
- Manoir-style kitchen, well-equipped including large gas range, two microwaves, two coffee machines, large fridge and two dishwashers. Double doors lead to dining room or out to terrace overlooking swimming pool
- 2 x separate WCs
Ground Floor Bedrooms (some steps)
- Bedroom with double bed (140x190cm) and en suite shower room with WC
- Bedroom with double bed (140x190cm), single bed (90x190cm). Bathroom and separate WC
- Bedroom with double bed (140x190cm), single bed (90x190cm) and doors leading to terrace
- Small bedroom with small single bed (70x190cm)
First Floor Bedrooms
- Large landing
- Bedroom with double bed (140x190cm) and single bed (90x190cm). En suite bathroom with WC
- Bedroom with two small double beds (130x190cm each)
- Bedroom with double bed (150x190cm) and single bed (90x190cm)
- Bedroom with two single beds (109x185cm and 80x200cm) and en suite shower room with WC
- 2 x bedrooms with double bed (160x200cm)
- 2 x shared bathrooms with WC
- Additional small bathroom with WC (in corridor)
Outside Grounds
- Swimming pool (11x5m, depth: 1.5m) with safety gate and pool toys
- Poolside sun-loungers
- Al-fresco dining terrace (overlooking pool)
- Barbecue area and herb garden
- Portico terrace at front of house
- Upper first floor terrace
- Parkland
- Tree look-out (with ladder)
- Bikes and children’s bikes
Facilities
- Heating
- Air-conditioning (3 bedrooms only)
- TV and DVD player
- Bikes
- Washing machine and dryer
Reviews (16)
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Jolie
We booked this property for a week in August to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with 15 friends. I cannot say enough about the quality of the property itself, the area, or the support we received from the owners and their team. We were absolutely thrilled. Our group of 15 adults ranged from folks who have “been everywhere” to some who have never visited France before; wine afficionados to non-drinkers; and avid cyclists to the minimally active. All were thrilled with this very authentic “deep France” region. Essentially, everyone we met was French and we were immersed in French culture, rather than surrounded by tourists and tourism. And although it was August, nothing we arranged was impossible to book or ridiculously crowded. Apart from the (lovely) town of Cordes sur Ciel, there was very little “designed for tourists”, and we loved it. Good restaurants in Gaillac, Cahuzac and Penne; good catering arranged at the chateau itself (by request); nearby grocery stores and a FANTASTIC kitchen where 15 people could cook together; lovely pool area; every bedroom prettier than the next. The wineries blew us away with the quality of the wine, the friendliness of the greeting, and the fact that almost everything is small production, hand harvested, and organic. The small, quiet roads are ideal for biking and there is a terrific bike shop in Gaillac itself that will rent road, hybrid or e-bikes. We also really appreciated that there is a caretaker right next door – we did manage to blow a fuse one night, and someone came almost immediately to set us right. The house is exceptionally well appointed, with beautiful areas indoors and out, and impeccably clean. Although we worried initially that not every bedroom had air conditioning, the strategy of opening the windows in the evening and closing up shutters in the heat of the day absolutely works and everyone was comfortable. We hope to return one day!
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Susan
We spent our family August summer holiday here as a group of 19 4 - 70years olds. The Chateau is beautiful, well presented, with everything required for a comfortable, relaxing vacation. The pool was very welcoming as the weather was super warm. It is situated in a perfect location in the countryside with close by supermarkets, restaurants, and shops. The owner Marie was lovely and was on hand to answer any queries we had and even helped us to book a medical appointment that was needed in the local town. Nothing was too much trouble. We all had a fantastic time.
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Ron
We spent a fortnight at Chateau Gaillac in August of this year, our party ranging in age from 4 months to 69 years and everyone came away having had the most fabulous time and with a host of great memories. Marie, our host, could not have been more obliging, even surprising us with roses and bubbly when she discovered that it was our anniversary ! The chateau is beautiful, everything we could have hoped for and everyone realised that they had not really thought about home while there, such was the welcoming feel about the place. Nobody was really inclined to venture further afield due to this very fact and apart from walking our dogs in nearby vineyards, we personally only left to go to the nearby supermarket (which is huge, and caters for just about everything). .