Chateau de Fontager

Me and my wife went to Château de Fontager, as part of our 2024 summer vacation. Everything about this magnificent place was an experience, and we simply loved the atmosphere there. Much to praise about the castle itself, the beautiful suroundings and history of the place, but the main reason we had an amazing stay was the staff, and due to them our stay will be something we’ll carry with us for many years. The chef and his crew spoiled us with their amazing cuisine, the superb team of waiters and sommeliers all gave us very high level of service, and all of it done with warmth, presence, a smile and awareness to every guest. These amazing people made me and my wife feeling extremely relaxed, and not least, amused and entertaint. We would not hesitate to go back there again.

You get more than you pay for! We were visiting this place for a couple of nights on our way going south to the Cote d azur. Perfect!! Come here for the food, the pool, the rooms and the hospitality! The pool is a paramount, it’s literally huge and has a lot of space to chill around. Newly renovated. Towels are readily available. You can order drinks and the likes poolside from the friendly staff. The vibe at this pool is so chilled, and it still has room for children and their banter, because of its sheer size. Food on the terrace restaurant: prices are REALLY fair, and the danish couple that manages this restaurant has got a great grasp of the concept of quality: Dishes with few local components, but with very high quality and very fresh bite to it. Choose between fish and meat. That’s it. Every bite is marvelous, but if you want a big plate stuffed with fries and garnish to fill you up with carbs, go elsewhere. We loved the food. The home baked bread is out of this world. We drank their 4 euro pastis also, as well as the Kir, which’s was a neat starter drink. The rooms are newly renovated with beautiful decor, they feel very clean. Rooms are very hot, but this is south of France and you get a fan, not air condition (I don’t know any castles that can give you air con, for this price, so that’s that). Service is also great. Everyone will go out of their way to help you. And make you feel like… you’re staying at a real chateau. Which you are!!! My recommendation: Try this place!

The main reason for the terrible score is the falsely advertised pool. It looks fabulous on the photographs but not in reality, the pool is being completely refurbished so not only unable to use but very noisy too. There wasn’t anywhere to get a meal even though they advertised the restaurant as open from Wednesday to Sunday. Why should these businesses be able to falsely advertise their facilities. People should be made aware when booking. We were just being fobbed off with lame excuses. We decided to leave and move on somewhere else and were promised a full refund but we will see what happens. Almost ruined our lovely holiday.

Château de Fontager is a stunning French castle located just an hour from Lyon. This château offers breathtakingly beautiful and historic surroundings that make you feel truly royal. The peaceful environment provides the perfect setting for relaxation and immersion in the charm of château life. The service was exceptional, and the food in the restaurant is outstanding, crafted from fresh, local ingredients. The château’s own wine pairs wonderfully with the meals. Highly recommended – Château de Fontager is an unforgettable experience and perfect for me to take a break from everyday life.

Booked last minute. Staff super accommodating, Emil made our stay comfortable and informative. Beautiful grounds, clean room and recently updated chateau. Pro tip: check if there’s a party going on because it will greatly affect the noise level. We loved the party atmosphere on Saturday night, but we knew ahead of time so the noise level was not a problem. Sundays the chateau serves brunch which was plentiful. And Sunday was a very peaceful and relaxing day. Every single staff member was working super hard to ensure our comfort so we will definitely return.

Great experience for a long week-end with friends. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Dogs are also welcome. We stayed for 2 nights, enjoyed dining at the restaurant and tested a one star restaurant (les Cedres), located 20 minutes away. Nice surroundings, with a couple of walking and bicycle paths, also great vineyards nearby (Saint Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Cornas, etc.) and Valrhona headquarters for chocolate fans !