Chateau de Balsac

The Chateau is our new home – we recently moved to southwestern France from California, and are restoring and renovating the entire property to be able to welcome our friends from Europe and America, and to meet new friends from around the world. We both love history and Roland has studied the history of the chateau and is happy to share details with the guests. Malana loves cooking and is always experimenting with local ingredients. We have also begin producing our own vegetables from our garden so if you dine with us -- you are likely to enjoy: fresh eggs, homemade bread and jams, seasonal vegetables, fruits and nuts.

The Chateau de Balsac, former home of lords and ladies beginning in the 12th Century, was designated a historic landmark by the French State. Elements of its early architecture remain, while the 'newest' parts of the building date from the 16th Century. Spiral stone staircases, mullion windows and 'meurtriers' from which defenders peered or shot crossbows can all be found on the property. We've decorated the building with antiques and artwork from our travels as well as comfortable beds and linens. The park hosts friendly animals and shade trees. The chateau is open all year and is available for events.

The undiscoverd gem… Balsac is a small village located in the beautiful region of Aveyron. Aveyron is a special place that is picturesque, authentic and tranquil – yet with a world-class modern museum and top-rated restaurants in picture-perfect villages (10 Les plus beau villages – the most of any department in France). The Aveyronais are friendly people with a rich history based on the land and as a visitor you benefit from that cAveyron is the center of a triangle formed by the cities of Toulouse and Montpellier and the mountains of the Massif Centrale. The landscape and climate are varied – from the garrigue (arid, rocky Mediterranean hills and steep, plunging gorges) in the south, to verdant valleys in the northwest, to the windswept plateaus in the northeast, and to the undulating valleys and mesas around Rodez. The department (equivalent of a county) has a rich and accessible history – elements of the Roman presence are scattered throughout, as are buildings and legends from the time of Charlemagne; the still-spoken Occitan language of the medieval troubadours; Renaissance riches; the legacy of the French Revolution and Napoleon’s empire…and monuments to the WWII Resistance.