Rooms

Bedrooms come in 4 categories, featuring rich hues of deep red, purple and hot pink. They are each decorated with unique touches - some have exposed wooden beams and gilded mirrors, others velvet drapes or Asian antiques collected by Marc on his travels. All have sumptuous beds and rainfall showers, and a few have mezzanine sitting areas.

We stayed in one of the Cuvée Millésimée suites located in Maison d’Amis, the former wine-storage house located at the edge of the village. We loved the standalone tub at the end of the bed, with views of distant mountain peaks. There are also Cuvée Prestige suites in Maison d’Amis, and the house has its own kitchen, living room, garden and pool.

Cuvée Tradition rooms are the smallest, found on the upper floor of Maison d'Amis. What they lack in space they make up for with sweeping views of the village. Vendangeurs Rooms are found on the ground floor and in the former grape-pickers' cabins. They are cosy, but each have their own terrace. Other Cuvée Prestige suites are found in village houses, which are painted in Castigno's signature colours, so they're easily identifiable. We loved the one we saw, spread over 3 floors, with a open fireplace and roof terrace.

There’s also a modern 2-bedroom villa (Villa Rouge) with a kitchen, garden and private pool. We missed the traditional French accents found in the other rooms, but its outdoor space is exceptional; ideal for families.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bluetooth sound system
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• Toiletries

Eating

Pack elasticated trousers: the food is outstanding! At the heart of the village is the French bistro, La Petite Table, the Thai restaurant, Le Thai, and a laid-back micro-brewery, Les Brasseurs de Castigno. Two minutes away is the Michelin-starred La Table.

Breakfast is served at La Petite Table, either in the sun-dappled square or in the rosy-pink dining room. It’s an indulgent French affair that moves through power shots of ginger, orange, apple and cardamom, buttery croissants, then creamy scrambled eggs served in individual pans and a magnificent charcuterie.

Dinner at La Petite Table was excellent, too; tapas-style dishes served to a backdrop of blues music. Our highlights were crispy polenta and a tender steak topped with mushrooms.

But lunch at La Table left us speechless. You get a choice of two set menus (4 courses at lunch, 6 courses for dinner), one of which is entirely vegetarian. We ate on the terrace overlooking the garden, but you can also opt to eat in the converted barn and watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen. We feasted on a mushroom 'risotto' (rice was substituted with diced enoki - golden needle mushrooms) covered with truffle, an oozing cheese board, and a sublime crunchy pastry filled with tangy fresh fruit.

We didn’t try Le Thai, but the villagers assure us it’s mind-blowing: French ingredients effortlessly blended with Thai aromas. Les Brasseurs de Castigno has opened since our last visit, where guests can try home brewed beers while snacking on boards of cheese and cured meats. Other restaurants are a drive away.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Visit Le Cave. This spectacular building is shaped like a wine bottle, and coated in cork imported from Portugal. Take a tour to see how the estate's wines are made before doing a tasting on the terrace overlooking the vines
  
• Relax and unwind. Swim in the pools, laze in the gardens, sip wine in the town square, and book a massage
  
• Take a tour of the estate. The rolling vineyards are bordered by snow-topped mountains and dense forest. Go by buggy or on foot
  
• Make the most of the gastronomy on offer. There are cookery classes and bread-making workshops. For lunch, ask for a picnic or BBQ amongst the olive trees
  
• Revel in the region; rent the hotel’s Vespas or vintage Citroens and tootle around the winding roads of the stunning Haut Languedoc. We’d suggest you visit Minerve for coffee and cake, and take a boat trip on the Canal du Midi

Kids

Well behaved children are welcome - the village is a very relaxed place, and all 3 restaurants allow kids. However large families with energetic children should probably book elsewhere, as the atmosphere here is more of a tranquil, grown-up getaway. Older children will love the chateau's grounds, ripe for exploration, and the petanque pitch.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Cuvée Millésimée suites and Cuvée Prestige suites have space for an extra bed or baby cot.

Distances:

• Airport: 1.5 hours' drive (Montpellier)
• Shop: on-site
• Medical facility: 6.7km (Saint-Chinian)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Village Castigno - Wine Hotel & Resort is spread throughout the hilltop village of Assignan, in the Languedoc region of France.

By Air:
The closest large airport is Montpellier (108km), a 1.5-hour drive away. You can also fly into Toulouse (166km).

You'll probably want a car to explore the region (see our car rental recommendations), but the hotel offers a transfer service if you just want to stay put for a week or so.

By Train:
There’s a TGV station at Aix and you can hire a car from here too.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.com.