Chateau de Goudourville

• Magnificent deluxe accommodation in a modernised medieval castle
• Up to 23 guests can stay in a castle dating from 11th Century
• Available all year round
• 14m x 7m exclusive swimming pool
• Summer rates from £4,150 per week for 23 people
• Also available for weddings, courses and conferences

1000 years of History'

888 years before Man walked on the Moon.....

Up to 23 guests can enjoy a stay to remember in historical surroundings, or equally Chateau de Goudourville is a peaceful place to base a course, conference or other gatherings in unique spacious surroundings.

Weddings are especially welcomed, with space for 300 guests for outdoor events, or 120 seated indoors. Please see our 'Weddings in France' page for further details.

Climb the wide stone spiral staircase to one of the spacious top quality bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom and separate WC. Take breakfast outside on the 'Cour d'Honneur' just outside the Castle's own 11th Century Chapel under the watchful gaze of a number of 17th Century Venetian carved gargoyles, or eat outdoors in the evening in the Rampart Gardens overlooking the Garonne valley as the sun sets in the west.

Chateau de Goudourville has a history including Kings, Popes, sieges, love affairs, duels and more besides, starting from the time of the Domesday Book and the Norman Conquest of England - 400 years before Columbus discovered America, and 500 years before the Dutch discovered Australia. Well researched by the Owners, a summary of the fascinating history of the Chateau de Goudourville can be read HERE

The total floor space is around 900 square metres together with 40 hectares (100 acres) of land gives guests plenty of space and freedom indoors and out during their stay. A 14m x 7m private swimming pool (fenced and alarm protected) with a sun terrace, showers and toilets complete the picture for guests.

Located just under 1 hour from Toulouse, and around 1hr 20 min from both Bordeaux and Bergerac airports, Chateau de Goudourville is close to many other important sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage site at Moissac ( around 15km), the river Garonne and the Canal de Garonne at nearby Valence d'Agen, and Auvillar and Montauban, picturesque towns on the River Garonne.

To the west is the fertile rolling countryside of Gers and to the east and north the land of fruit and wine which runs all the way to Cahors with acres of soft fruit, grapes and many other crops growing with historic medieval villages dotted around the countryside.

Approaching the Castle along its own private road, off-road parking is available.

Guests approach the Castle in the same way as visitors have for 950 years - across the bridge over the moat to the large front door, above which is the date plaque with the date 1081.

Through the main door, Guests enter Le Salle de Gardes - The Guard's Room. This is an impressive large reception hall with a large stone fireplace at one end, and a 16th-century suit of armour on display. Crests of the various families who have owned the Castle adorn the walls.

From here steps up access a bar/lounge area with a display of authentic weaponry.

A second door leads to the bottom of the fabulous wide spiral staircase leading to the upper storeys and the bedrooms.

A few steps down brings you onto the 'Cours d'Honneur', a grassed east-facing courtyard with a balustrade on one side and a well in the centre. From high on the battlements an impressive pair of 17th Century Venetian gargoyles stare down.  A small door opens into the Castle's chapel, an intimate and very peaceful place.

Steps down take you to a passage through to the West Rampart Terrace.  Off this passage is the entrance to the Dining Rooms and Kitchen. The small Dining Room - described as the Prison on the Castle plan - is an ideal second room or break out room for a conference, The Main Dining Room is a proud brick-vaulted room from the 16th Century with a large stone fireplace at one end, and with a period 'potager' - a stand built to keep food and plates warm during a feast.

The Kitchen beyond is equipped for large scale catering, and no family party need to worry about inadequacy in that respect: A gas range is backed up with a range of equipment including ovens, microwaves, dishwashers and a very large refrigerator. 
If you don't wish to cook, or would like a celebration meal prepared for you, your hosts have a number of local chefs who will come to the Castle and prepare and serve your meal for you: They will be more than pleased with this kitchen.  Please arrange this before your stay.

First Floor

Climbing the gentle spiral staircase, the first floor has six of the seven fabulous bedrooms. The only other room on this level is the 100m2 'Grand Salon d'Honneur' which can accommodate up to 90 people seated or 120 people standing for a meal or celebration.

Set away from the other bedrooms is the 30m2 Chambre Clement V bedroom. Finished in dark wood and burgundy fabrics, the room has a double bed, and a single bed can be added. There is an ensuite bathroom and a separate WC

Across the Grand Salon is the Chambre Henri IV (48m2) which has two double beds, and two single beds, accommodating 4 or 6 people. There is a large ensuite bathroom with WC.

The remaining four bedrooms on this level are accessed off a corridor from the main spiral staircase. In order leading away from the staircase they are:

Chambre Gasques (28m2) with one double bed, an en suite bathroom with shower and separate WC (Below left)

Chambre Durfort (32m2) with a Queen size double bed: A supplementary bed is available if required. Ensuite bathroom and separate WC (Below Right)

Chambre Diane D'Andoins (49m2) with a Queen size double bed: An ingeniously hidden supplementary bed is available if required. En suite bathroom and separate WC. (below left)

Chambre Caumont (35m2) A medieval-style room, with a Queen size double bed, and fold away supplementary bed if required. En suite bathroom and separate WC. (below right)

The final bedroom, the splendid Chambre Charles IX (55m2) is on the next level up and boasts a King size bed, and a supplementary bed available if required. Ensuite bathroom and separate WC. This bedroom also has an unusual feature: As seen in the images, on either side of the arched window are stone benches, known as 'coussieges' 

All bedrooms are furnished to a very high standard, with ample occasional furniture, and plenty of storage. Views are mainly to the west, across the vale of the Garonne river, apart from Clement V which has views to the north across the moat to the swimming pool and the countryside beyond.

Within the Castle are two secure grassed areas: The 'Cours d'Honneur' - an east-facing sheltered lawn tucked in the 'V' of the Castle's layout with a fine stone balustrade on the open side. With outdoor furniture provided, this is an ideal place for outdoor breakfasts, and also sitting outside in the shade of the high castle walls during the heat of the day. Fine views to the east.

The narrow passage connecting the central Tower to the Dining room also opens onto the Rampart Garden, running the whole length of the castle and around 20m wide. This is seen below during a recent wedding at Chateau de Goudourville. Fine views to the south.

Leaving the secured parts of the original stronghold, Guests can explore the original moat, and the bridge over it, and a little further is the Swimming pool. All around is stonework from the various phases of the Chateau's history, including original wells. Statues and other garden ornaments enhance the beauty of the surroundings.

Measuring 7x14m, the pool is protected by both a fence and an alarm, and there is a good-sized sun terrace around it. A large grassed area suitable for ball games is also within the pool enclosure. There is also a pool house containing showers and toilets, Sun loungers, sunshades, chairs and tables are also provided.

Chateau de Goudourville sits in an area rich in other histories, with the UNESCO World Heritage site at Moissac just a few miles away with its world-famous cloisters and abbey, and a little further up the river Garonne is Montauban with wonderful buildings made of the local rose coloured bricks. The main square of the town, La Place National, is 18th-century architecture at its finest, and the warmth of the bricks brings warmth and tranquillity to the town as a whole.

To the east is the country of bastide villages - medieval fortified towns, many on hilltops, and Lauzerte, Montcuq, Montaigu de Quercy, Pujols and Tournon d'Agenais all have slightly different characteristics among their medieval buildings.  The building shown is the Templars Hall at Dunes, a short drive to the north of Chateau de Goudourville.

The River Garonne with its canal is also nearby, and for an easy cycle, the path beside the canal offers great scenery. Watersports and boating are available at various points along the canal.

The regional capital, Toulouse with a rich history of ancient and modern is an hour drive away, or the same time by train from the nearest SNCF station at Valence d'Agen.

The region is rich in food and drink production, and fresh produce and many other good things can be purchased at markets which are held on most days of the week: A list of markets is under the Area information above. Regional specialities include Pruneaux d'Agen - the finest dried plums and Toulouse sausages, which are made with pork and strong hints of red wine and garlic.