Known fondly as ‘Sleeping Beauty’s castle’, Château De La Belle has undergone a stunning renovation and is now a beautiful holiday home in southern Burgundy with a heated swimming pool set within 13 hectares of parkland. Perched above a tiny village with views of the valley and distant mountains, you are well located for visiting the medieval gem of Saint-Gengoux-le-National, gastronomic Tournus and the wines of Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Côte D’Or.

This historic château dates as far back as the 14th century, then became a monastery from 1600s until the French Revolution. A Dutch artist and furniture maker bought the castle in the early 19th century before an aristocratic French family took over in 1866. More recently in 2021, its current owners poured all their love into this exquisite residence and renovated it to create a fine holiday home with elegant living and dining spaces and eleven en suite bedrooms, ideal for extended family or group of friends.

Relax back in the vast living room with its stylish sofas around the 16th century fireplace, play games on the professional poker table in the tower or spend evenings in the billiard room. Admire the wonderfully restored Renaissance ceilings in some of the living spaces and bedrooms alongside the parquet flooring, period windows and graceful décor. The huge kitchen has been carefully designed to make cooking a joy and there is ample space for dining both indoors and out.

Find the eleven gorgeous bedrooms on the first and second floor, each one with an en suite bathroom and most with king-size beds (some of which can be split into twins). The five upper floor bedrooms also benefit from air-conditioning whilst there is a wellness area (with sauna, massage and steam room) alongside a fitness room with gym and bodybuilding equipment.

As well as table football and darts downstairs, head outside for the heated swimming pool alongside plenty more activities from table tennis and the large trampoline to pétanque by the façade of the château. As evening nears, sit back with a glass of Burgundy wine and gaze down towards the village below and valley beyond.

From the village there are numerous marked walking trails through the forest as well as ample hiking and cycling opportunities close by. Make the most of the four adult bikes (further bikes can be hired nearby) and follow the Voie Verte greenway cycle path which connects nearby Saint-Gengoux-le-National to Buxy and Chalon-sur-Saône or Cluny and Mâcon.  

Medieval Saint-Gengoux-le-National is just a five-minute drive away, home to good restaurants, a bakery, butchers, supermarket, tourist office and small weekly Farmer’s market on a Sunday (as well as a larger twice-monthly market on a Tuesday morning) whilst other fantastic towns within easy reach include Buxy and Tournus, the gastronomic capital of southern Burgundy with its Michelin starred restaurants.

Historic highlights include the famous L’Abbaye de Cluny only 23km away and the romantic 17th century Château de Cormatin even closer. Further afield, explore the vineyards and wineries near Mâcon and Beaune, visit the vibrant Sunday morning market of Chagny and you could even take the train or drive to Lyon for yet more gastronomic experiences in this captivating part of central France.