Luxury chateau break 30 mins from Calais inc fizz, dinner B&B

Here's a place where fairytale vibes kick in from the moment you pull up at the grand gates and sweeping driveway. As dazzling in white stone as you would expect a chateau stay in France to be, and with 12 acres of lush green grounds and a characterful sense of history (the château predates even the French Revolution!) you can certainly expect a series of ‘wow’ moments.

The first, a majestic double-flight stone staircase, strikes you the moment you step over the threshold and leads to the chateau’s charming bedrooms each with its own character and décor: think classically French Toile de Jouy print in red and blue, restored period furniture pieces, chandeliers, elaborately embellished soft furnishings, and a minimum bed size of queen. With luxury like this exuding from every detail, you may be wondering if you’ll be able to drag yourself away, so it pays to remember that staff can bring breakfast to you if you wish!

And why not deepen that lovely sense of tranquillity by treating yourself to a massage (therapists Elisabeth and Dominique are total pros at delivering massage zen – so booking in advance is essential!) then indulge some more on your chateau stay in France by clinking glasses over your complimentary half bottle of champagne. All this, and the best is yet to come: a romantic dining experience for 2 right here at the hotel – also included in the cost of your stay. Now’s the moment to sit back and soak up the atmosphere of the chateau, safe in the knowledge that chef Aurélien Kuhn works his inventive magic with only the very best local ingredients: dishes such as curry-poached shellfish from the Opal Coast, Flemish squab, cheese from the reputable Ferme du Vert close by, and chocolate and caramel sensations, on a menu changing according to the ebb and flow of the seasons and the catch du jour at Boulogne’s trade fishmarket.

If you can drag yourself away, there are some beautiful forest walks right on the doorstep. Or venture just a little further afield because within just a 25-minute drive you have three of northern France’s most alluring coastal spots. Choose Boulogne-sur-Mer for its old town, cobbled streets, shopping, ramparts, café terraces and a moment of wide-eyed wonder at the basilica; opt for Wimereux for the charm of chic Anglo-Norman style seaside architecture; or head to the cliffs at Cap Gris Nez for the pure exhilaration that only coastal views and fresh sea air provides. One thing’s for sure: that to-do list at home becomes the furthest thing from your mind!