From a Fascinating History to a Fairytale Happily Ever After: Getting Married at a Truly Unique French Chateau

While most French chateaux have a story to tell, the Chateau de Crazannes has a unique and famous history that people all over the world remain curious about. Not only has the castle hosted royalty in its past, including Edward the "Black Prince" of England, but it was home to the real-life Marquis of Carabas (the Count of Caravaz), a nobleman who inspired Charles Perrault to write his famous tale, Le Chat Botté (Puss in Boots).

Fascinating story aside, this chateau is a fantastic example of 14th-century architecture and, as such, has been classified as a "Monument Historique" since 1913. From the round towers to the imposing steps (all constructed of Crazannes stone), this chateau is a sight to behold.

So aside from its fascinating history and architecture what makes the Chateau de Crazannes so special? And why should you consider it as your French wedding venue?

Chateau de Crazannes: A Wedding Castle Like No Other

If you were to envisage a fairytale castle design in your mind's eye, this venue would likely come very close to meeting your expectations. It has that quintessential French feel, with its turrets, spires, and stately entrances. Better still, the eight hectares of parkland surrounding it make it the perfect place to relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones.

Within that parkland is a Roman chapel, formal gardens, ruins of another medieval fortress (complete with moat), an old dovecote, and a stone arch that looks as though it was made for a queen (more on this shortly).

There's also a dedicated indoor reception space that can cater to 150 people seated and 250 standing (cocktail style) and a swimming pool/terrace area perfect for entertaining and having fun with your guests outdoors.

The castle boasts accommodation spread across several locations within the site, and there's a total overnight stay capacity of 30 people – plenty for your closest friends and family.

So given the history and the facilities on offer at the castle, it's no wonder it's become one of the most popular tourist wedding venues in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. But what might a wedding celebration at the castle be like?

Marrying at the Puss in Boots Castle

Given the sheer size of the building, outbuildings, and grounds, there are plenty of places to have your wedding ceremony and reception – both indoors and outdoors.

Our specific wedding ceremony location recommendation would be the stone arch found within the castle grounds mentioned above. It just oozes majesty and history, and, being constructed of Crazannes stone, it's sure to impress your guests. We suggest positioning wedding chairs on the lawn directly below the stone arch to give your guests a better view of you two and the officiant as you exchange vows.

With your ceremony out of the way, we suggest a cocktail reception on the lawn situated directly in front of the castle steps. Then, as the light begins to fade and dinner preparations begin, you can begin to seat your guests for the evening wedding reception.

Regarding the location of your reception, there are two principal options. The first is the dedicated indoor reception space, which boasts a seated capacity of 150 guests.

With its exposed wooden beams and stone walls, this space is complemented well with fairy light draped between the beams and down the walls – adding an extra touch of elegance and luxury to your wedding night. You could opt to dine under the warm glow of these fairy lights or use strategically-placed uplights to wash the walls in a specific colour or shade.

Alternatively, you can leverage the beautifully landscaped gardens and hire a wedding marquee. For instance, with an open-sided stretch tent, you can dine while admiring the incredible architecture and views of the surrounding parkland. 

You could leverage lighting fixtures such as monogram lights to project your wedding motif (perhaps with your names and the wedding date) onto the canvas ceiling to create a truly unique and memorable wedding reception ambience.

A dedicated events tent will also leave plenty of room for your dance floor, DJ decks, and lighting ensemble. You could have your chosen wedding supplier erect a truss structure to suspend a canopy of lights above the dance floor to add to this space's party atmosphere.

Lastly, a few décor touches could make a real impact, including light up letters and numbers at the entrance of your marquee to create an extra bit of excitement as guests make their way over.

Create the Fairytale Wedding in the Truest Sense of the Word at Chateau de Crazannes

What better place to tie the knot than at a castle that was literally the birthplace of a world-famous fairytale? There's no question that Chateau de Crazannes is a beautiful and historic property that would be the perfect setting for your fairytale wedding.

At Fête24, we'll be on hand to bring your fairytale wedding dreams to life. We offer a whole host of wedding event production services that won't just bring your celebration to life but will also offer you a stress-free solution. We have everything you need under one roof, from ceremony décor to reception lighting and everything in between.

So give us a call today, and let us help you create the most magical wedding for you and your loved ones