In Style magazine - French Fancy

With its turrets, spiral stone staircases, chapel, minstrel’s gallery and open stone fireplaces, Château d’Arnac (which backs on to wild-boar-inhabited oak woods near Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne in an unspoilt corner of Correze) is like a French version of Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

It’s owned by Lady Sarah Tetley Hall, who has lavished it with attention, bringing over her own antiques from England to turn the main house into a sophisticated venue for parties, weddings and even intimate concerts.

Those taking over the house can turn into chatelaine, as there are staff on hand to clean and cook – discuss with the cook what you’d like to eat and either shop yourself in a farmers’ market or the cook will handle this on your behalf. The quality of local produce – Limousin beef, lamb, freshwater fish, fruit-based liqueurs, clafoutis – is second to none.

Next to the ornamental lake in the grounds is the two-bedroom Gatehouse, which sleeps four. An even more romantic affair, with a wooden vaulted ceiling and voile-draped four-poster bed in the master bedroom, this pretty corner of heaven can be rented at the same time as the main house, or on its own.

The château itself drips with history. Parts of the building date back to the 12th century, there are hand-painted murals in the chapel, it has connections with Richard the Lionheart and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor stayed here several times between the wars. Give in to the seductive fantasy and you really will feel yourself the mistress of all you survey.

Château d’Arnac, from £7,000 for seven nights, room only, including cook and staff.

The Gatehouse, from £400 for two nights, b&b

(00 33 55 91 09 77; chateauarnac.co.uk).