Noël at Gudanes
5 – 9 December 2026
€3,200 per person · nothing to pay at the end
about €800 a night
Book these dates
L’invitation The invitation
A French Christmas in a château, by the fire
Four days in December as the château fills for Noël: a fire lit in the salon, greenery and flowers through the rooms, and the scent of the pastry kitchen on every stair. With the pastry chef, ice a gingerbread château for the banquet table, bake a bûche de Noël, and set champagne jellies in antique copper moulds. There is vin chaud and Ariège cheeses beside the cellar, a tasting of French wines by the fire, cocktails in the Château Bar, and a French Christmas film with hot chocolate. On the last night comes a Christmas banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, and then dancing. No hosting, no cooking, no washing up: only Christmas, as it ought to feel. You leave with a stocking full of château memories.
In Short
Noël at Gudanes, at a Glance
- Length
- 4 nights / 5 days
- Price
- €3,200 per person, sharing a room (about €800 a night): every meal and every glass, the classes
- Experience needed
- None. Most people who come have never done it before
- Where you sleep
- In the château itself, with fresh flowers in every room: bedrooms, not a nearby hotel
- Meals
- A traditional French breakfast, luncheon and dinner each day, with desserts, prepared by the château’s chefs
- Drinks
- A private selection of wines, sparkling wines, apéritifs and spirits with every meal, and the château’s own botanical syrups
- Evenings
- L’apéritif, dinner by candlelight, and on the last night a banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, then dancing
- Laundry
- Laundry and ironing facilities for guests
- Transfers
- Not included on these dates. The château is an hour and three quarters from Toulouse-Blagnac by road, and three minutes from Les Cabannes station
- The days
- Spent at the château itself, with no outings to plan around: the making, the meals and the rooms
- To hold a place
- A deposit. The balance is taken closer to the date
- Not included
- Flights, and the journey to the château
En images In pictures
Noël at Gudanes, in Pictures
Christmas supper 
Vin chaud 
The dog by the tree 
The wreath on the gate 
Noël at Gudanes 
The chef in the candlelit salon 
Icing the gingerbread château 
Under the lights 
A Christmas table 
By the fire 
By a snowy window 
Trees and gifts 
The gates in snow 
The château in snow 
The staircase, dressed with a garland and candles 
The Christmas table 
The staircase at Christmas, candles lit 
A pastry wreath on a floral plate 
An iced cake by candlelight 
The dessert table under the chandelier 
A long table, lit with tall candles 
Two galettes on the board 
A glass of wine on the marble mantel
Dates
Choose Your Stay
Le déroulé des journées The shape of the days
Day by Day
Four Nights at Gudanes
Nothing is required of you. Do everything, or nothing at all.
Le matin
Every morning
Bread and croissants from the village boulangerie, and coffee.
L’après-midi
The afternoons
The fire in the salon, a book from the library, or a quiet corner of your choosing.
L’apéritif
As the light goes
A Kir Royale, a Lillet tonic, or the château’s own botanical syrups.
-
Premier jour
Day 1: L’arrivée Arrival
Make your way to the château in the afternoon, to a glass of local sparkling wine as you arrive, a fire lit in the salon, and greenery and flowers through the rooms. Then your room, and a first walk through the château. L’apéritif, then a welcome dinner in the Salon de Printemps.
- Après-midi Arriving, to sparkling wine and a fire in the salon
- Soir L’apéritif, then the welcome dinner
-
Deuxième jour
Day 2: Le château The château
Yoga, then a tour of the château and its restoration: the rooms brought back, and the rooms still waiting. Luncheon at the long table, then the pastry kitchen with the pastry chef, and a bûche de Noël. In the evening, vin chaud and Ariège cheeses beside the cellar, then dinner by candlelight.
- Matin Yoga, then the tour of the château
- Après-midi A bûche de Noël, with the pastry chef
- Soir Vin chaud and Ariège cheeses beside the cellar
-
Troisième jour
Day 3: Le pain d’épices The gingerbread château
The crêpe cart, then the gingerbread château with the pastry chef: baking, icing and building it for the banquet table. In the afternoon, champagne jellies in antique copper moulds. In the evening, a tasting of French wines by the fire, then a Christmas film with hot chocolate.
- Matin The crêpe cart, then the gingerbread château
- Après-midi Champagne jellies, in antique copper moulds
- Soir French wines by the fire, then a Christmas film
-
Quatrième jour
Day 4: La fête The last night
A slow morning: a walk in the grounds, watercolours at the long table, the library by the fire, or help the château team dress the tree and the table. A late luncheon in the Salon de Porcelaine, then chocolate-making with the château’s chefs. Cocktail hour in the Château Bar, then the Christmas banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, and dancing late into the night.
- Matin Watercolours, the library by the fire, or dressing the tree
- Après-midi Luncheon in the Salon de Porcelaine, then chocolate-making
- Soir Cocktail hour, the Christmas banquet, then dancing
-
Cinquième jour
Day 5: Le départ Departure
A last breakfast, a last look at the château, and the journey home, with a stocking full of château memories.
- Matin A last breakfast, and the journey home
Les divertissements Also on the programme
The Château’s Own Entertainments
All included, and every one of them optional. The classes, tastings and evenings are for retreat guests: they are not part of a nightly stay.
- Le ciné-clubA Christmas filmWith hot chocolate
- La dégustationFrench wines by the fireAnd vin chaud beside the cellar
- Les fromagesAriège cheesesWith the wines
- L’heure du cocktailCocktail hour in the Château BarKir Royale, Lillet tonic, the château’s own syrups
- La pâtisserieThe gingerbread château, and the bûcheWith the pastry chef
- Le chocolatChocolate-makingWith the château’s chefs
- Les crêpesThe crêpe cartOne morning, before the day begins
- Le tournoiThe table tennis tournamentFor anyone with a competitive streak
- Les jeuxBoard games and cardsIn the lounge, after dinner
En option Snow permitting
If the snow has come, skiing may be possible nearby, on the Plateau de Beille at the top of the château’s road or at Ax 3 Domaines. It depends on the weather. If you would like to ski, we suggest adding a few nights’ stay after your retreat; we can help with ski hire, passes and transport.
A typical shape. The order of the days is set for each retreat and sent to you before you arrive; outdoor plans follow the season and the weather. Itineraries are subject to change.
Pour qui ? Who for?
Who Comes
Is It for You?
If you love old houses, good food and the French way of taking time over things, yes. Nobody needs to know how; the experience is made for curiosity, not expertise.
Couples, friends travelling together and those who come alone are all equally at home. The group is small, the days are unhurried, and no other guests share the château.
Included
What Is Included
One price for all of it: a night's stay is a room and breakfast, a retreat is everything below.
- Every meal, prepared by the château’s chefs: a traditional French breakfast, luncheon, dinner and desserts, from local and seasonal produce
- A private selection of wines, sparkling wines, apéritifs and spirits with every meal, soft drinks, and the château’s own botanical syrups
- Your room in the château, with three bathrooms on the ground floor shared between the group
- The classes: the retreat's own sessions at the château, the kitchen and morning yoga, all optional
- Everything on the itinerary, materials included
- On the last night, a banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, then dancing
- A tour of the château and its restoration
- Free time with the tennis court, the gardens, table tennis, the lounge and the terraces
Prices are per person, sharing a room.
Guest Quarters
Les Chambres
The three bathrooms on the ground floor are shared between the retreat's guests; each room has lamps and power points. Prices are per person, sharing a room. Coming alone, you can share a room with another guest travelling solo, or have a room to yourself for €1,600 more; tell us when you register.
Reserving
How It Works
A 10% deposit reserves your place; the balance is due thirty days before the stay, or in full if you are booking within thirty days of it.
Your place is confirmed as you register, and held from that moment. You will receive a reference code and a link to manage your registration and payment.
Hold your place
Your place is confirmed as you register, and held from that moment.
Monument Historique · Classé A Class I Historic Monument, restored under French heritage law since 2013