When renting a vacation house from across the ocean, sometimes you get exactly what you expect and sometimes you are surprised. In the case of Chateau de Mercury we were overwhelmed by the entire experience.

We were 11 people, all one family, with ages from 13-72 on our annual summer vacation.

Upon driving up to the Chateau we were in awe. The pictures did not do it justice. We were greeted by Pascal, the “curator”. I chose that title because he seemed to take great pride in showing us the amenities and fixtures of the estate both inside and out. He took all the time we needed and had to take breaks now and then as we just looked on in wonder at all the sights to behold. The house has been fitted with all of the latest conveniences but at the same time exuded the charm you would expect from such a stately manor. The bathrooms had 5 star finishes and each one was better than the next. From jetted tubs to raised bowl sinks they were expertly designed to meet everyone’s needs. The kitchen was fit for a chef and had everything you could imagine needing though cooking was not what we were looking forward to. The beds were crisp and clean with pillows and mattresses both kids and adults wanted to take home.

You can read about all of the amenities online but know this: EVERYTHING was thought of in this Chateau. Extra electrical outlets near the beds, 5 different coffee appliances, pool toys, yard toys, enough dishes for a wedding reception, spices galore and the activities list should be explored and utilized as all of the vendors we utilized were top notch.

Kung “There is only One Kung” made our mornings a ritual of perfection. Breads fresh, coffee prepared, kitchen cleaned and table cleared. She does laundry! Use her and book early!

Chef Thomas prepared a feast for the ages with wines procured by Christophe. We enjoyed every last morsel and his dessert was amazing!

Air Escargot was a highlight for most of us. We rose over the roof of our chateau and watched the sun rise over the hills without a worry in the world.

All of those things paled against the private wine experience at Christophe’s chateau just a short drive away. He invited us as a thank you but also offered an upgrade to explore his cellar and taste even more wines. We chose the upgrade and were not disappointed.

Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering what you might have missed. Choose this chateau, book early and prepare to be amazed. It’s good to be the King . . . even if only for a week.