Five hundred years in one family
Château de Chéronne is a family-owned chateau in Tuffé, in the Sarthe department of the Pays de la Loire, about 1h45 from Paris. The estate has been handed down within one family for around 500 years and has not been sold since 1370. Its oldest building, the logis-porte of around 1490, is listed as a historic monument, and the chateau itself dates from the 16th century.
The weekend
Weddings are held from May to October, and the whole domaine is reserved for the wedding party for the weekend. A park in the English style, covering 4 hectares, holds the cocktail in front of the chateau, with up to 500 guests, and a heated marquee behind it hosts dinner.
The evening
Ceremonies can take place in the park beneath an old tree or in the small private chapel inside the chateau, which is relayed by video to guests outside. The marquee is heated, floored in parquet and lit, with a separate tent for the caterer. The party has no set finish, and a five-minute firework display over the pond is part of the Exclusive formula.
Formulas and staying
Three formulas, Confort, Prestige and Exclusive, range from weekday park hire to a full weekend with rooms. Income from weddings and events goes towards the upkeep and restoration of the estate, and guests can stay in the gites.
