A sunday at the Château : Brunch and afternoon tea

A residence, a story

The Château is named after Louise de La Vallière, Louis XIV's first favourite and a cherished figure of the Touraine. From this heritage our teams drew the idea of ‘A Sunday at the Château’: to revive, over a lunch or an afternoon tea, the French art of hospitality as it was cultivated at Court.

The ambigu, brunch's refined ancestor

Brunch is often thought to have crossed the Channel, yet it has a very French forebear. In the Grand Siècle, an ambigu was a grand meal where every course was served at once, from meat to dessert. Savoury and sweet appeared side by side on a single table, in a joyful and elegant abundance.

It is this spirit our Chef set out to recapture. His buffet brings together the finest Loire Valley produce and flavours of the past, for an indulgent, festive Sunday brunch to share with family, as a couple or among friends. Every guest raises a glass of our ‘Louise la Favorite’ cuvée.

Chocolate, the Court's favourite drink

Brought to France by the Infanta Maria Theresa, wife of Louis XIV, chocolate became the most refined drink at Court in the Grand Siècle. It was savoured rich and fragrant, as a precious pleasure.

The Goûter à la Cour pays tribute to it: old-fashioned hot chocolate, a selection of teas and coffees, and a buffet of sweet and savoury delicacies created by our Chef and Head Pastry Chef. In our salons, to the sound of music, our team welcomes you in period costume, far from the bustle of the world.

An occasion for the whole family

Our young guests under 12 are most welcome at Court, for an escapade full of indulgence and wonder.