Ernest Martell built Château de l'Aubrière as a private house in 1864. For many years, the chateau took on various roles besides being a private residence, such as a home for young girls and a domestic science school. Only in the 20th century did the property first become a publicly available accommodation. Notable figures such as Belle Époque playwright Georges Feydeau and Princess Marie Bonaparte are among those who were once hosted by the chateau during this time.

The chateau only opened to the public again in the 1980s, hosting regular guests alongside events such as baptisms, weddings, horse shows, and even car rallies. The current owners of the chateau, Axel and Justine Delmotte, took possession of the property in 2023 and started a renovation process to turn the chateau into an authentic and luxurious family establishment. Besides restoring the chateau’s features and amenities, they also hope to innovate and modernize the property by using energy-efficient renovations and eco-friendly materials. Even while this development process remains ongoing, the chateau continues today to provide guests with its brand of hospitality and service.

Design and Architecture

Château de l'Aubrière is an example of the unique Louis XIII style of architecture,  characterized by the use of carved and lathe-shaped turned patterns, as well as decorations styled with cherubs, cartouches, ornate scrollwork This is most apparent in the exterior of the chateau building, whose appearance is proportioned in such a way as to emphasize size, mass, and style. Internally, this manifested in a dual focus on either minimalist and plain fixtures or lavishly ornate furnishings designed with human or animal features and complex flowery patterns. Wood and molded materials were widely used to express such patterns to show touches of delicacy, while robust and bulky materials were used elsewhere to help emphasize the impression of raw grandeur.

Château de l'Aubrière offers guests a culinary experience centered around Restaurant Le Castel and its bar, Bar Eugénie. Le Castel provides traditional, semi-gourmet, and French cuisine for guests to choose from, featuring organic, sustainable, and locally sourced products. Meal offerings vary depending on the availability of ingredients, with an emphasis on preparing creative and modern dishes that impact the environment the least.

Some of the signature dishes include the strawberry shortcake and the lemon tart. Additionally, special menu plans can be arranged for special events and occasions when the restaurant’s services may be needed for serving food. Meanwhile, the bar is open every day from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, whether a glass of wine, a cocktail, or an afternoon coffee. Visitors can have drinks in the dining room, the terrace, or even the garden.

The restaurant is open in the evening, from Wednesday to Friday, with the chateau providing a special breakfast and brunch buffet from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Sunday mornings. Sunday morning brunch requires a reservation and costs 38 EUR (43 USD), with its selection of one sweet and two savory dishes. Unlimited champagne is available at 70 EUR (78.99 USD) and unlimited Vouvray wine at 57 EUR (64.32 USD).

The chateau also opens its doors to those who seek to hold weddings and receptions, with a similar offer for interested guests to not only hold the event at the property, but also have couples and guests stay at the chateau itself. With the same facilities and services open for weddings as with other events, guests can expect the chateau to accommodate up to 100 people in total, while additional arrangements can be directly coordinated and planned with the chateau. It even offers the services of local photographer Lucy Mach for interested guests.

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences 

Inside the chateau, guests have many activities to occupy their time, such as friendly tennis matches at the property’s court, fishing, or learning and enjoying the unique game of petanque. At certain parts of the year, the chateau also features events for holidays such as Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. Throughout the year, guests may join cooking workshops, wine and rum tastings, or Open Park Day, when the grounds are turned into a fair for locals and the chateau's business partners.  Children also have special events organized by the chateau, such as an easter egg hunt and scout camps in the park.

Outside the chateau, the staff can provide recommendations for day trips. The location allows travelers to easily visit nearby Tours, take strolls along the banks of the nearby Loire River to pass their time, or even shop at the oldest and busiest shopping street of the city, the Rue Nationale.

Taking inspiration from the grandeur and elegance of the chateau, guests can explore castles along the way, such as Château d'Azay-le-Rideau and Château de Villandry. Visitors can set their own pace to explore these locales since they are along the nearby GR3 route for hikers and bikers. Other places to explore include Château de l'Islette, Cher River castle in Chenonceau, and Clos Lucé in Amboise, which was once home to Leonardo da Vinci.

Other Celebrations

The chateau is open to host meetings or other occasions at the property. Interested visitors can directly contact and coordinate with the property to plan the needs and accommodations of participants, which can even extend to reserving the whole chateau for guests to stay in, and not just to hold the event itself. Outdoor facilities, such as the park and gardens, can host creative, sporting, or even cultural activities alongside the main event.

Indoors, guests can choose between the 36-square-meter Yellow Room, which can accommodate 10 up to 28 people depending on the four variable configurations available, or the 110-square-meter Le Castel, which can be converted from its default restaurant setting into a space that can accommodate 15 up to 80 people, also depending on the four available configurations.