Chateau Rigaud, Near Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, France Hotel Reviews

Rooms

They're not short of space at Rigaud: 16 original stone fireplaces, 4 staircases, 2 kitchens, 4 lounges and terraces - see Floor Plans. With ancient wooden beams, soaring ceilings, and long cool passages you don't expect any of the bedrooms to be poky. What you find are 8 large bedrooms where original features mix with contemporary boutique style: floors of dark wood or ancient terracotta, retro crystal chandeliers and big comfy wooden beds - either four-poster or sleigh - with high thread count cotton sheets and maybe a faux-fur throw. Colours are moody Farrow and Ball - perhaps dark blue in the Ballroom or more earthy tones in the Maroc room. All have en suite bathrooms - some with roll-top baths, others with walk-in showers; all have lovely organic Ren products, hairdryers and bathrobes. Additional children's beds and cots can be provided.

Ballroom: one of the largest rooms with giant 4-poster bed and double aspect windows with views over meadows and vineyards. Vast curtains made of midnight blue silk and velvet work well with dark blue Farrow and Ball paint and white Mies Van der Rohe Barcelona chairs. We found the super king size deliciously comfortable. No shower, but a roll-top bath perfect for soaking (though you can hear some noise from the kitchen beneath).

Tower: arguably the best room in the house as the owners used to live here. It has a large double aspect room with super king size de L'Esparda bed. The room is dominated by a magnificent 16th Century fireplace. The bathroom features pretty ancient terracotta tiles with another fireplace and a roll top bath and this leads on to the tower: three metres in diametre the tower is the largest walk in shower to be found in the Gironde.

Aquitaine: dark grey silk shot curtains with walls painted light grey. It has a large king size bed overlooking the garden plus an ensuite bathroom with tub and shower. It can connect with the Boudoir room.

Boudoir: has a large double bed with aqua and grey colour scheme. As it can be joined with Aquitaine, it makes it a good family option. The window overlooking the garden is slightly smaller than others making it a tad darker but we liked its bright shower room (one of the few bathrooms with a view)

Dauphin: has a 4-poster bed and roll top bath set into an alcove, original brick tiled floors and brown silk and velvet curtains.

Bourgie: has a 4-poster bed and roll top bath, special 17th century fireplace, shower unit in a cabinet, light grey and brown silk curtains and writing desk.

Maroc: is the largest of them all with a 4-poster bed, fabulous bathroom with chandelier, roll top bath and huge mosaic-tiled shower. Colours are earthy reds. It also has a small separate bedroom which can fit two children's beds.

Jardin: is the only room on the ground floor and has a large double bed, walk-in shower, grey silk curtains and fuchsia velvet cushions.

Dormitory: when taken as a private house rental, there's also a room for kids which has 3 double bunks which sleeps 6 and has an ensuite bathroom.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Central heating
• Cots Available
• Dishwasher
• Extra beds
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Internet access
• Microwave
• Oven
• Phone
• Washing machine