Chateau St. Victor La Coste: Endless Charm in the South of France
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The walkway leading to Chateau St. Victor La Coste, where you will be greeted by your hosts upon arrival
It all started with a photograph- a courtyard view of a stairway winding through a blooming garden and leading down to a glistening pool from a stone-walled cottage above. I had bookmarked the image and more importantly committed it to memory, constantly revisiting it and wondering when I would have the opportunity to see it for myself. With all of my wishful thinking that opportunity came rather quickly, and while I was spending a month in Paris I thought to inquire about availability at Chateau St. Victor La Coste. I was in luck and booked a train ticket for the following weekend.
I set out to photograph the grounds and capture the magic of this extraordinary place, but I will readily admit that I failed. It is simply impossible to convey the magic of Chateau St. Victor La Coste with only pictures, as you really won’t be able to understand it until you step foot there yourself.
Chateau St. Victor La Coste is a special place. It’s not a hotel, and it’s not a bed-and-breakfast, and though it technically could be considered a ‘vacation rental’, it feels much more inspiring than that. Though you arrive as a guest, you truly feel as you are personally welcomed into a private home and given an opportunity to experience what life is like in one of the most charming and enchanting corners of the globe. Quite literally, you are personally greeted by the hosts when you arrive and will be offered the first glimpse of the Chateau’s magical garden. Upon my arrival, I somehow felt both excited and at ease, emotions that lingered throughout the entirety of my stay.
In this article, I aim to describe my experience in a way that’s hopefully helpful as you plan your visit, including information on the layout of the grounds, descriptions of the accommodations, recommendations on how to enjoy your stay, and some details on how to book your reservation and arrive to the property. I welcome any questions about my experience in the comment section at the bottom!
The view of the garden and pool upon entering Chateau St. Victor La Coste
Chateau St. Victor La Coste: About the Property
Built in the 16th century, the Renaissance-era Chateau is both impressively constructed and impressively furnished, with walls and rafters adorned with original murals and painted details. Unassuming doorways lead to remarkable drawing rooms, and large windows let in glowing sunlight while offering views of the surrounding gardens or across the horizon over the French countryside.
The most memorable fact that I learned about the property is that it was maintained for centuries as a holiday home, with each guest over the years contributing to its rich history serving as a place where people were in a joyful and light mood.
Built around a central garden and pool, the property consists of a Main Chateau on the west side, and three private Cottages on the east side. The Main Chateau is home to La Suite as well as the communal salon and communal kitchen that guests are able to access on the ground floor. The Main Chateau also features a number of private bedrooms, living and dining rooms, a kitchen, and large terraces on its upper levels. Guests are able to rent any of the Cottages or La Suite, or can have access to all of the rooms by renting the entire property.
Important to note- for the sake of better managing your expectations, WIFI is only available in the communal areas located in the Main Chateau and is not available in the cottages. Rather than being an inconvenience, I saw it as a blessing and an opportunity to disconnect from online distractions and truly take the time to appreciate my exceptional surroundings.
Accommodations at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
Between the three Cottages and La Suite, Chateau St. Victor La Coste can accommodate a maximum of ten guests to maintain a restful and idyllic ambiance. For individuals, couples, or friends, you have the option to rent the Cottages or La Suite, separately. For larger groups up to 18, it is possible to rent the entire property- I’ve written more details on this below (including how to make an inquiry) in the section of this article titled “How to Book Your Stay at Chateau St. Victor La Coste”. Though I stayed in Cottage Three, I also had the opportunity to view the newly decorated La Suite, both of which I will describe below.
Cottage Three at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
I can say with absolute certainty that the bed in Cottage Three (unofficially known as “The Princess Suite”) is the most beautiful and plush bed I’ve ever slept in. During my stay the line between reality and fantasy became blurred, as I would truly wake up each morning and feel as though I was still dreaming. On my first night I fell asleep with the curtains of the east-facing windows left open, and the next day was pleasantly awoken by the warmth of the sun’s rays across my face- in true princess fashion.
Apart from the obvious ethereal decor that makes Cottage Three incredibly charming and inviting, it’s also worth noting that the cottage is very spacious, comes furnished with a number of comfortable seating options as well as a chest and armoire for storing your belongings, has a large tub and handheld shower, and is positioned in upper corner of the property which gives it the feeling of being the most private of the accommodation options. For a view of Cottage Three in relation to the pool and garden, scroll down to the last image the very bottom of this article.
La Suite at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
Located on the ground floor of the Main Chateau and through an unassuming doorway just off the communal salon, La Suite is a spacious and newly yet classically decorated space that is available to be rented. Equipped with a desk, sofa, and extensive library of books, La Suite would comfortably suit many types of travelers- from families looking for a fun getaway, to writers looking for a quiet space to focus and feel inspired, and anyone in between.
Though La Suite may feel like the ‘least’ private of the four accommodations, it offers a direct view to the pool, an enclosed terrace, a large dressing room off its spacious and private bathroom, and convenient access to the communal salon and communal kitchen, both of which are located within the Main Chateau.
a view of the pool from a window of La Suite, in the Main Chateau
Slow Living: The Beauty of Taking Your Time
A visit to the South of France is a reminder to savor life’s simple blessings. Though the region has plenty to offer and you could easily fill your day jumping from one activity to the next, I suggest easing your pace and making few plans. Reading a book in a comfy chair, taking your coffee in the garden, soaking up the sunshine, or walking to the nearby market to source ingredients for your next meal are all remarkably fulfilling activities when done in a place as beautiful as Chateau St. Victor La Coste.
I was craving warmth after a long ski season and surprise springtime snow in Paris, so I opted to enjoy every bit of sunshine I could. On the warmest day of my stay, I chased the sun around the pool in the slowest, most leisurely way possible: by occupying a lounger until the shade shifted, at which point I would gather my few things and reposition on another lounger that was still in the sunshine. I was fortunate enough to have such glorious, sunny weather during my stay in April, and learned I was the first of the season to take a dip in the pool. Though it was still quite cold, I imagined how refreshing it would be on a hot summer day. Regardless, the title was an honor to receive, and between that and having circled the entire pool and inadvertently trying out every lounger, I was feeling rather accomplished at the end of that day.
Between the birdsong, sunshine, glittering pool, and vine-covered stone walls in the garden of Chateau St. Victor La Coste, there is much to appreciate. Though my stay was only a few days, I was able to witness vibrant colors emerging in the garden as springtime flowers began blooming. I imagine the garden only becomes more beautiful over the course of the open season from March to November each year.
How to Book Your Stay at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
You can view availability for The Cottages and La Suite on Chateau St. Victor La Coste’s website: https://www.chateau-st-victor-la-coste.com/, as well as read more information about the sizes, occupancy allowances, and seasonal nightly rates for each. The Cottages and La Suite can be rented for a minimum of two nights, and some have space for additional cots or sofas to accommodate families. Also on their website, you can learn more and make an inquiry about renting the entire property (which includes the Main Chateau with several of its own bedrooms, all Cottages, and La Suite, sleeping a total of 18). If renting the entire Chateau is something you may be interested in, I suggest making your inquiry as far in advance as possible for the greatest chance at finding availability.
Another interesting opportunity to enjoy a stay at Chateau St. Victor La Coste is by attending one of their “Taste of Provence” or cycling events which will combine your accommodation and meals with the best of what the region has the offer in regard to local wines, seasonal fresh market shopping, antique shopping, and cycling (should you choose this active adventure!). If you are interested in renting the entire property to design your own event or retreat or are considering a wedding at Chateau St. Victor La Coste, you can use this form to make a direct inquiry.
The Cottages and La Suite of Chateau St. Victor La Coste can also be found on Airbnb, but you will get a better rate (and avoid having to pay Airbnb’s service fee) if you book directly on the Chateau’s website. Though if you are interested in reading more glowing reviews of the property and seeing more pictures of each cottage, you can view each of the Airbnb listings here:
Cottage One at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
Cottage Two at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
Cottage Three at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
La Suite at Chateau St. Victor La Coste
How to Get to Chateau St. Victor La Coste
The easiest and most recommended way of reaching Chateau St. Victor La Coste is by car. Located just 30 minutes from Avignon, 1.5 hours from Marseille or Montpellier, or 2.5 hours from Lyon, the village of Saint-Victor-La-Coste is easily accessible as a stop along a road trip through the South of France or as a singular destination for a getaway from anywhere within France. My visit to Chateau St. Victor La Coste was a weekend getaway while I was living in Paris, and I took the TGV (2.5 hour high-speed train) to Avignon where I conveniently picked up the Getaround car I rented for a few days.
Though the center of Saint-Victor-La-Coste is within walking distance from the chateau, the village is expectedly small with its few markets and restaurants operating on what some may consider “limited” hours. For this reason, I would highly recommend to have your own car to drive to the surrounding towns of Uzes, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbes, Laudun-l’Ardoise, among others, to experience their charm and have more options for dining in restaurants and shopping in markets.
Though I made an attempt with this article, my experience at Chateau St. Victor La Coste is truthfully difficult to put into words. Describing a place that somehow felt both other-wordly and so much like home at the same time is not an easy task, so if there is one piece of advice I can leave you with, it's this: just go. Its magic must be felt to be understood, and once you do go- if you are anything like me- you will be planning your next visit before your stay ends.
Are you planning a stay at Chateau Saint Victor La Coste and have any questions about my experience? Let me know in the comments below!
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