France · Provence · Venue guide
A Wedding at Château de Tourreau, Provence
An avenue of cypresses leads through the vineyards to Château de Tourreau, an 18th-century château between Avignon and Orange with French gardens, fountains and a little chapel from 1614. Victoria and Ben had their Jewish wedding here in May 2023 – a ceremony in the gardens, dinner in front of the château, fireworks at night – and their film is still one of my favourites.
- Where
- Sarrians, Vaucluse – between Avignon, Orange and Carpentras
- Stay
- 16 bedrooms for 29 guests, exclusive use of the estate
- Chapel
- Consecrated in 1614, for up to 70 guests
- Getting there
- About 30 minutes from Avignon’s TGV station and airport
The château
The estate goes back to Paul de Tourreau of Avignon in the early 17th century, when the chapel was built. In the 18th century the old house was replaced by the present château, with sculpted bas-reliefs on its façade. Around it lie eight hectares of park: French formal gardens, fountains and ponds, orchards, an organic vegetable garden, tree-lined avenues and an infinity pool looking out over the vines. The château is a protected historic monument.
The wedding day
Tourreau is always rented exclusively, so the whole estate is yours. Ceremonies can take place in the chapel or outside – in the French garden on the south side, by the fountains in the park or on the pool terrace – and dinner is served in the gardens or the courtyard of the château. Victoria and Ben’s ceremony took place under an arch of flowers on the lawn in front of the château, followed by champagne by the pond, a long dinner with speeches under strings of lights, fireworks and a party in a marquee in the park.
Weddings usually take place from spring to autumn. The château became famous in 2019, when Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas celebrated their French wedding here.
Getting there and around
Avignon is about 23 km away, and both its TGV station and its airport are about half an hour by car; Marseille airport is about an hour away. Orange, Carpentras, the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux are all close – perfect for the days around the wedding.
Getting legally married in France
A legal French marriage takes place at the town hall of a commune where one of you, or one of your parents, lives or has lived for at least a month. Most destination couples therefore marry legally at home and have a symbolic or religious ceremony at the château. More about weddings in Provence and on the French Riviera.
Planning your wedding at Château de Tourreau?
Tell me your date and place – I’ll let you know if I’m free.
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