Portrait view of Old castle at Chateau du Rivau Interior of bedroom with a king bed at Chateau du Rivau Interior of a bedroom with a king bed at Chateau du Rivau Close up of the flower garden at Chateau du Rivau

Château du Rivau The Originals Collection

Château du Rivau The Originals Collection

The fields surrounding the small town of Lémeré, in France’s Indre-et-Loire department, conceal an incredible jewel. Château du Rivau – a medieval masterpiece whose turrets, high fortified walls, rampart walk and (still working) drawbridge continue to enchant visitors. At night, let yourself be immersed by a stroll in the gardens of the castle which invite you to dream and relax. You will appreciate being able to enjoy it alone in the peace and quiet. A unique experience to discover in this hotel in the Loire Valley.
When Laigneau's family bought the site in 1992, the castle was in a very poor state of repair. “For 18 years, my father devoted himself to restoring the building, while my mother took care of the 6 hectares of gardens, which now enjoy ‘Remarkable Garden’ status.”  tell us Caroline Laigneau. While the château and the estate have been open to visitors since 2000, Caroline has only been offering accommodation since 2018, with 7 luxurious rooms featuring period décor, “but with all the comforts of the 21st century!”. Two different catering options (“brasserie” and “gourmet”) are also available. And to aid relaxation, the estate has its own wellness area. 

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Meet our hoteliers

Sleep in a fairy-tale castle, hotel spa centre Val de Loire
“Offering you a unique experience that will immerse you in the ‘luxurious, relaxed and pleasurable’ life of a castle.” 
  • WiFi

    WiFi

  • Free hotel car park

    Free hotel car park

  • Restaurant

    Restaurant

  • Seminar rooms

    Seminar rooms

  • Whirlpool

    Whirlpool

  • Golf course nearby

    Golf course nearby

  • Treatments

    Treatments

Rooms

Château du Rivau, The Originals Collection

King René, Henri II, Catherine de’ Medici… each of the seven rooms of the Château du Rivau is inspired by a great Renaissance figure. Located in the estate’s outbuildings, they are all furnished in a historic style combining period refinement and the requirements of modern comfort. And as well as adopting design cues from the castle, they also showcase a number of contemporary works of art. A uniquely peaceful setting for tranquil nights and genuine refreshment in the morning. 

  • Air-conditioned room
  • Safe-box
  • Hairdryer
  • Coffee machine
  • Non smoking room
  • Family/communicating rooms
Prestige double room

Prestige double room

King René Suite

King René Suite

EXPERIENCES

Couple laying on a bed & having champagne at Originals Hotels
Romantic Experience

Romantic Experience: The price of the stay includes a breakfast for two, a tasting of a local cru * and a late check-out **.

 

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DINING

Château du Rivau, The Originals Collection

And when dining at the Château du Rivau, you’ll be spoiled for choice. While the hearty, varied breakfast (sweet and savoury) is served upstairs in the old stables, lunch and/or dinner features a change of scenery. Beautiful natural surroundings for the brasserie menu; a veranda in front of the château for the semi-gourmet option. The common theme? The splendid setting, of course, but most of all, home-made products produced using local, seasonal ingredients, offering a full range of authentic flavours. 

Chairs & tables with outside view at The Originals Hotels

Le Jardin Secret

On the Château du Rivau’s semi-gourmet menu, creative and refined cuisine is king. Amid the verdant setting of the castle courtyard, with its vines and rose bushes, enjoy the chef’s innovative cuisine inspired by nature and local products. The menu showcases vegetables, aromatic and edible wild plants straight from the six-hectare garden. 

People in La Table Des Fees restaurant at The Originals Hotels

La Table des Fées

Simple, fresh, healthy products (large salads, quiches, etc.) are on the menu for this bucolic dining experience. The journey from the estate’s vegetable garden to the plate is broken only by a detour via the chef’s kitchens which, on occasion, feature produce from neighbouring farmers at times when home-made products are not available. Here, the fairies eat local. 

DON’T MISS THIS MONTH’S OFFERS!

Start planning your next getaway with our latest travel packages and exclusive hotel discounts.

A couple enjoying champagne on a balcony at Originals Hotels

Short Break

With the Short Break offer, you can benefit from a discount up to 30%.

A breakfast meal served with fruits at Hôtel de l'Europe

Bed & Breakfast

Breakfast is included in the price of the room.

Kid enjoying with parents in the garden at The Originals Hotels

Liberty offer

Go on holiday in complete freedom at a reasonable price.  And if you have any unforeseen circumstances, you can change or cancel at any time.

A group looking at a city map near Hôtel de l'Europe

Smart Deals

With the Smart Deals offer, you get a discount up to 15%. Offer valid for all bookings made up to 29 days or 14 days before your arrival at the hotel.

Couple laying on a bed & having champagne at Originals Hotels

Romantic Experience

Romantic Experience: The price of the stay includes a breakfast for two, a tasting of a local cru * and a late check-out **.

 

HOTEL INFORMATION

Payment Methods:

  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • Annual Closure: 01/03 >31/03

Château du Rivau, The Originals Collection

9 Rue du Château 37120 Lémeré, France

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

"Excellent! "

This place is magical. We had a great visit and Thomas was very helpful. Thank you!

  • Meagan M.
  • United States
  • May 19, 2022

"Just wonderful! "

We had a lovely couple of nights staying here as a stopover, helped by gorgeous weather! The service provided by Thomas and the team is second to none, and the attention to detail in our room and all around the chateau was excellent. Unfortunately the restaurant wasn’t open during our stay but we enjoyed the breakfast, with plenty of quality local produce. We were fortunate to have the gardens to ourselves and had a quick look around the chateau to admire the diverse and quirky of traditional and modern art! We hope to visit again later in the season.. best wishes Sarah and Marko

  • Marko K.
  • United Kingdom
  • Apr 03, 2022
Closeup of ongoing hot-stone massage in Spa at Originals Hotels

Tips from your hotelier

WELLNESS AREA

The Château du Rivau’s relaxation area is an invitation to enjoy some truly meditative moments. On the agenda: a menu of on-site massages (mainly Japanese) and facial treatments with products made from the garden’s own plants. 

Tulip field in the Magical Gardens near the Originals Hotels

Tips from your hotelier

MAGICAL GARDENS

Fourteen gardens, covering six hectares and inspired by the wonderful legends of the Middle Ages, comprise this magical green space created around the Château du Rivau in little more than a decade. As you wander through this green paradise, which has enjoyed “Remarkable Garden” status since 2004, you can breathe in the scents of more than 460 varieties of roses, admire the ancient local vegetable species grown here, lose yourself in a labyrinth and stroll between leafy groves and flowerbeds, dotted with impressive contemporary works of art. 

Exterior view of the Castle Virieu near the Originals Hotels

Tips from your hotelier

VISIT THE CASTLE

A jewel of medieval architecture, the Château de Rivau also provides a showcase for contemporary works of art. Past and present blend into one, enriching your visit, as you explore each room in turn. On the large spiral staircase, have fun trying to decrypt the various items of 15th-century graffiti – while, from a historical point of view, you may remember that Le Rivau is mentioned by Rabelais in Gargantua, and Joan of Arc and her companions came here in search of horses in 1429. 

Long shot of Chinon Castle near the Originals Hotels

Tips from your hotelier

Visit the castles of the Loire Valley

Located between Chinon and Richelieu, the Château du Rivau is the ideal place to radiate and visit the castles of the Loire Valley, the gardens and taste the Loire wines.

View of The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud near the Originals Hotels

Tips from your hotelier

THE ABBEY OF FONTEVRAUD

Europe’s largest monastic complex is well worth a detour. The site is made up of historical and architectural wonders (12th-century church, recumbent Plantagenet figures, extraordinary Romanesque kitchens, etc.), and has also welcomed a series of artists-in-residence since 1975, as well as hosting many concerts and exhibitions. 

Closeup of served wine & appetizers outside at Originals Hotels

Tips from your hotelier

Tasting of the estate's wine

The Château du Rivau produces its own Chinon wine and offers wine tastings from 10 to 30 minutes around the different terroirs of Chinon wine.

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MEETINGS AND EVENTS

“WINE PRESS” ROOM

Ideal for outdoor cocktails, this huge 327 m2 room, opening onto a courtyard, can accommodate up to 350 people depending on the selected configuration.

Tables are arranged for an event at The Originals Hotels

“GOLDEN FLEECE” ROOM

Located opposite the castle and its ornamental kitchen garden, this high-ceilinged 300 m2 room can accommodate up to 300 people, depending on the selected configuration. An added bonus: it can be divided in two by means of removable partitions. 

A crowd at an event in Golden Fleece Room at Originals Hotels

STABLE ROOM (GROUND FLOOR)

Under their high, immaculately white vaulted ceiling, the château’s former stables offer a 152 m2 space which can accommodate up to 120 people, depending on the selected configuration. 

Table arrangement in The Stable Room at The Originals Hotels

CONTEMPORARY SALON

The informal setting of this 93 m2 room features a number of beautiful contemporary art works. It can accommodate meetings of up to 40 people. 

Ongoing meeting in Contemporary Room at Originals hotels

SALON OF CURIOSITIES

This 63 m2 room has a unique, original ambiance devoted to the art of hunting. A maximum of 25 people will have the opportunity to “hunt down” good ideas when meeting in this character-filled setting. 

People working on laptops in a Meeting Room at Originals Hotels

STABLE ROOM (1st floor)

This 60 m2 room can accommodate meetings of up to 30 people. It is equipped with air conditioning and a wall-mounted TV. 

People at a meeting in Stable Meeting Room at Originals Hotels

LIBRARY

The library’s architectural design has much in common with the upturned hull of a boat. With its 63 m2 of floorspace, this welcoming room – inspired by literature and contemporary art – can accommodate meetings of up to 30 people. 

Top shot of a group on laptops in a Library at Originals Hotels

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