The Château: Living room, dining room, kitchen, games & TV room, billiards room, 6 bathrooms with wc, 1 bathroom, 3 separate wcs, 5 double bedrooms, 1 bedroom with 1 double bed and 1 single bed, 2 twin bedrooms, 1 sofabed in TV room, 2 folding beds
The Annexe: Living room, dining room/kitchen, 1 bathroom, 1 separate wc, 1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom, 1 loft bedroom with 4 single beds for children

Washing machine (Château), dishwasher (in each house), dryer (Château), bed linen/bath/pool towels included (weekly change included), cot (linen included), high-chair, cleaning 3 hours 6 days weekly included, baby-sitting and cook on request, telephone, internet access, fax, 5 satellite TVs, 3 video players, DVD, 3 CD players, barbecue, table tennis, billiards, gym, bikes, swings, basketball, badminton

This magnificent Château with origins dating back to the 11th century is perched atop a hill overlooking the Isère River Valley with breathtaking views in all directions, over mountains and valleys, in a private estate of 25 acres of rolling farmland and countryside. It is 3km from the Grenoble-Chambery Autoroute, which cannot be heard nor seen from the Château, and 2km from the town of Pontcharra with all shops and services, a Thursday market and a tennis court. The property is 1.5 hours from Lyon, the "capital of French cuisine", 75 minutes from Geneva airport and 45 minutes from the beautiful town of Annecy, the "Petite Venise".

The area is steeped in history and offers a wonderful selection of châteaux and forts to visit. There are ski resorts within half an hour's drive; for more serious skiers the resorts of Méribel and Courchevel are an hour away, and Chamonix somewhat further. For summer activities, the area is famous for mountain walks for hikers of all types, and also summer skiing (at Tignes 90 minutes away).

There are three leisure lakes within an hour's drive, including France's largest natural lake, Lac du Bourget (34km), with windsurfing and sailing schools, and good swimming facilities. There is an 18 hole golf course at Aix-les-Bains (half-hour drive), as well as a year-round funfair for children. The area is also very popular for cycling and paragliding. The local vineyards offer wine tasting, and there is a variety of fine restaurants in the area. Helicopter hire is possible nearby. There are local farms and markets for buying local produce. Temperatures reach 27 to 35 degrees in the summer.

South of the Château, there is an exquisite pool garden with a fountain and box hedges, with views beyond to Grenoble and the famous Tour d'Avallon. To the west there is another formal garden with the imposing Mt Granier in the background. The property is adorned by a number of remarkable trees, including a 300-year-old cedar, and the 200 metre driveway is lined with trees. A range of outside lighting illuminates the trees and gardens close to the Château. The swimming pool is set in a paved terrace and can be closed off by a gate. There is a pool house with a shower and a wc. Sporting equipment includes table tennis, a soccer goal, and a basketball hoop. There is also a well-equipped multi-gym with exercise equipment in a separate building.

The pool is heated to 26°C free of charge, weather permitting.

The Château has been recently restored and redecorated, and is beautifully and comfortably furnished throughout, with every modern convenience available as well as attractive original features. The accommodation is divided between the main Château and the Annexe, with a great variety of well-appointed bedrooms with en suite bathroom facilities.

On the ground floor there are a large well-equipped kitchen with all modern appliances and a dining table, a dining room which opens onto a thatched roof pergola with a dining area which can seat up to 26 persons, a billiard room (with a pocket billiards table), a grand salon, and a games and TV room. There are three satellite TVs in the Château (including one mega-screen) and one in the Annexe. All modern office communication and entertainment equipment is on hand and available for guests' use. The Château features polished wood floors, oriental carpets, and a great number of antiques and period furniture. The master bedroom (Parents' room) in the Château has a large sunroom with arched windows and magnificent views. Five of the eight bedrooms in the Château have their own en suite bathroom with a wc, two bedrooms share a bathroom with a wc, and one has an adjacent bathroom and a separate wc. 

The Annexe has three smaller bedrooms and a living area, and a barn houses the garage, the gym, and a large well-appointed reception room for a large number of guests. The attic room in the Annexe has low ceilings and is more suitable for children. There is an intercom system between the main rooms of the Château.

There is another building on the grounds, an old barn with an old wine press and huge wine barrels, which has not yet been renovated, but retains colourful reminders of the Château's agricultural past.

Read Julia Brookes's comments in the Times >>