Perched on the hillside overlooking the capital of Savoie in a luscious, remote location, Château de Candie draws you into its embrace . . . an invitation that will leave you breathless as you drive up its winding private drive. The château’s ivy-cloaked façade and 14th-century fortifications are both mesmerizing and inspiring. Surrounded by grape vines, evergreen forest, lush gardens, and fountains, the property delivers magnificent views of the Chartreuse Mountain range in the distance.
Credit: Château de Candie
A major benefit of this luxe hotel is its convenient location to many alpine resorts and the largest natural lake in France. And let’s not forget that you’ll be staying in a French castle. From Paris, it’s an ideal stop en route to the Riviera or even further south to Italy. For us, it was a detour from Provence and one well worth taking. Below, the grapevines as you enter the property.
Château de Candie and its Charm
The impressive château’s exterior below. Note that since we were there in September, you can see remnants of the seasonal change of colors. Château de Candie feels oh so 14th-century and yet there are modern conveniences throughout. It offers the best of both worlds.
The main entrance at Château de Candie
The gardens at Château de Candie
Above and below, the grounds at Château de Candie
My favorite sitting room is what I call the Whiskey Room, depicted below. It might look bright in the picture, but it is warm and utterly relaxing, with an awesome vibe in the evening, whether you’re sipping Cognac with your partner or gathering in a small group. On our first evening, we had wine with a cheeseboard before retiring for the night. Perfect!
Lounge areas at Château de Candie
Below, a hallway leading to the lobby.
Hallway leading to the lobby at Château de Candie
Above, the path to our room on the main floor.
You can dine in the courtyard if the weather is suitable or opt for one of the three unique rooms inside, depending on your mood and preference. Additionally, there’s a breakfast room at Château de Candie where they serve diverse options daily, from fresh juices, croissants, yoghurt and muesli, to potatoes, baked tomatoes, eggs, sausage, breads and more.
It’s a wonderful property to get lost in nature as you wander around the Château de Candie grounds. Behind a protected gate, amidst lion statues and flowers, you’ll find the swimming pool.
Out door fountain and view of the back of the property. Credit: Château de Candie
Although it was Fall, it was still warm enough to lounge out by the pool.
I fell in love with the lion statues around the pool — we have them at home, albeit smaller. Lion statues symbolize strength, courage and protection. It is not uncommon to see them at entrances, symbolizing authority but also prosperity and good luck. The meanings obviously vary depending on the culture. For example, The Lion of Judah in Jewish tradition or the guardian role in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures.
Lion statues by the pool. Impressive, right?
There was a wedding reception when we first arrived, which is perfect for lounging outside on the outdoor beds. It is such a perfect property for a wedding or special occasion.
Sitting areas at Château de Candie are scattered throughout, including super comfy velvet armchairs. They have restorative massages as well, which I had the opportunity to try before leaving. “Chinese style,” she said and I could tell that she knew her meridians. For fitness fans, there’s also a small gym downstairs with free weights and a handful of machines.
The Rooms @ Château de Candie
There are various room types and each one is truly unique. In other words, the rooms have their own distinctive character and personality but each with undertones of harmony and serenity. Some of the options at this 4-star property include Junior Cosy rooms, Château Rooms which boast all things elegant, Junior Suites that reflect the French art of living, and General Suites which can accommodate up to six people. There’s also the Duchess Tower which is popular for weddings. Its rounded architecture gives it a regal appearance, so whether its a wedding, special anniversary occasion or simply a romantic weekend escape, it’s a perfect choice.
A Junior Suite at Château de Candie. Credit: the property.
Below are a few other room choices so you can get a feeling for what they have to offer. Absolutely exquisite! They pay attention to the details and it shows.
We had a Junior Suite on the main-floor, just off the lobby.
Below, the sitting area in our suite.
Above social feed. Credit: Château de Candie
In our Junior Suite, they have an old fashioned tub in the bathrooms as well as a massive two person shower.
Dining at Château de Candie
They have two restaurants: their in-house La Cantine, the hotel’s authentic restaurant with a terrace offering fabulous views of the wooded gardens and fountain and Le Lido, their restaurant on the shores of Lake Bourget, approximately a ten or so minute drive from the hotel. The service, food, wine and ambiance were all top notch. They offer an ever-changing menu using locally sourced ingredients, so depending on the season. Below is a view of the lake from inside Le Lido.
Credit: Le Lido / Château de Candie
Let’s start with our lunch experience at Le Lido, where we sat outside on a warm Fall day.
We were fortunate enough to get a table right on the lake’s edge, so the views all afternoon were spectacular.
Inside is equally charming with a central circular bar you relax at — there are wide windows facing the lake so you can still get the views during cooler months when it’s not suitable to dine outside.
We enjoyed a couple of appetizers and mains for lunch — note that Anthony wanted to try a burger, which is rare when we are reviewing restaurants, but the weather and vibe called for it. That said, it was far from an ordinary burger with its truffle sauce. Decadent burger sums it up and just look at those fries.
I went for a filet with a fresh multi-colored tomato salad.
The real prize (in addition to the divine cocktails and wine) was the starters. Below is a delicious Mocktail made with Mango, Apricot, Oranges, and fresh mint. They also offer various Apertifs, Kir, beers and ciders as well as a comprehensive wine menu. For our main course, I opted for a glass of the 2022 AOP Savoie Chignin Bergeron (Raipoumpou). Other great options include Gaspacho with Basil, Ceviche and Beef Tartare with fries.
A mocktail at Le Lido for lunch, on the banks of the Lake Bourget
Chef Badara Gueye fuses classic French cuisine with flavors and spices from Senegal, showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients. One night, we were treated to a wine tasting at the bar by their on-site somalier at La Cantine. If the bar isn’t your thing, you can enjoy a chilled glass of Viognier wine made from grapes grown in the château’s own vineyard, outside on a picnic blanket with breathtaking views of the valley.
The indoor dining room area in the main hotel is a combination of chic, elegant and old world.
We had two meals at La Cantine – read our foodie write-up of La Cantine that goes into detail about our experience. It’s one for the record books – we absolutely loved it! Reading the article is worth it alone just for a picture of Le Lido’s fresh strawberry soup – OMG!! I’m still thinking about it weeks later. And how about the below divine concoction with figs?
A few call-outs at La Cantine include the Salmon Filet with cranberries, the Tuna Fumee Stracciatella, and the Volaille Farcie aux Blettes et Champignons (that’s mushrooms baby and it was oh so heavenly).
And dessert was equally scrumptious and decadent all wrapped into one. Think Tiramisu, Cheesecake, Pavlova with Peaches, Creme Brulee and Chocolate Fondue.
Here we are at the bar one night for tasting, including Sauternes, which was our waiter’s idea. Once they realized we loved a similar style, out it came. It is a wine made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle Grapes and is on the sweeter side, so it’s a great choice to pair with a dessert or a cheeseboard. We did a tasting with Raphael, who poured a variety of options for us.
Our waiter brings out the Sauternes – OMG, it was so delish!
BELOW, the entrance to the property.
Other perks include daily breakfast, 24-hour reception, ensuite bathroom with a shower or bathtub, satellite TV, wifi and free parking. Le Château de Candie is located just 10 minutes from Chambéry city centre and is a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to the Marseille Airport. To entice you a little more, take a look at the view we saw driving from Avignon to the château.
The view on our drive to Château de Candie in the French Alps
Here’s a short video recap of our stay at the resort. Two thumbs up – we’ll definitely return!
DETAILS
Purple Summer Château de Candie
533 Rue du Bois de Candie
73000 Chambéry, France
https://purplesummer.com/destinations/accommodation-in-the-french-alps/chateau-de-candie/
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
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Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
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