With the Pyrenees in the distance, this beautiful chateau sits in the Pays Basque, near the Spanish border. If you asked a child to draw a fairytale castle, this is probably what they would come up with – ivy-dappled turrets and a rose-pink hue. Acres of tree-filled grounds surround this home, where you’ll find a private swimming pool for lazy days on loungers and a tennis court with an automatic ball machine if you want to practice your serve. There’s plenty of room for the group to dine outside, admiring the pretty facade of this historic abode. Inside, choose between three lavish lounges for evenings with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Midi-Pyrenees. The 19th-century stylings of grand fireplaces, an upright piano and velvet chaise longues pair perfectly with a full-bodied red. Gathering at the formal dining table, you can feel how French nobility lived in days gone by. We love the kitchen which is a riot of colour yet retains a farmhouse feel with its big, range cooker and cast-iron kettles and pots. The pantry is a fabulous bonus, packed with cookbooks for inspired French meals and all the equipment you need for a picnic in the sprawling grounds. Or, head further afield and take a day trip to Biarritz on the coast – it’s an easy drive away. Within the immediate area, Peyrehorade is the closest town (13km away) where you can stock up on supplies or just take a stroll along the river.

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Additional fees

• Your host can help arrange a variety of extra services during your stay, including massages and beauty treatments, wine tours, laundry and dry cleaning, fridge fills, restaurant reservations, private chefs, airport transfers, and car hire

• You can also arrange to have your breakfast cooked each morning – you only need to pay for the food

• If you’re travelling with children, your host can organise babysitting services – alternatively, a live-in nanny can be arranged at a cost of £475-£670 per week

Additional fees subject to a 3.5% handling charge.