Castel Novel SA sur Varetz

The welcome was fantastic, the place was comfortable and cozy, I really had a great time. Luckily, the weather was on our side, which greatly contributed to the stay!

The magic of the lanterns was a truly magnificent, timeless moment, thanks to the location, of course. However, the snack break needs improvement. There was only one savory stand, and the staff were incredibly slow and unfriendly. One of them even remarked, "We're freezing here while others are getting drunk up there on champagne." We waited 45 minutes, and by 8 pm, they were out of fries, so we headed to the self-service area, which wasn't really a self-service area at all. The price was €22 for a meal without starters or desserts. At 8:15 pm, they were out of sides, so we were served a slice of boiled, tasteless chicken breast for €15 – a real disgrace. Since we were hungry, we went back to get the famous mountain sandwich dripping with cheese from the videos, but in reality, it wasn't overflowing with cheese at all, and it wasn't even hot... A complete disappointment, really, it's a shame. Consider bringing your own picnic and treat yourself to just a waffle; it's more than enough.

It was incredibly well-organized and breathtakingly beautiful, with all those giant lanterns illuminated in the castle grounds. We went as a family, with our children aged 6 and 14, and they absolutely loved it – their eyes widened at the Alice in Wonderland sculptures, the illuminated mushrooms, and the enchanting shows! Perfect for a friendly winter outing near Brive, especially in February. We would go back in a heartbeat; a wonderful, magical evening for all ages! 😊

A really nice light festival to do with the family.

We had a very good time at Chez Henri, quality food and impeccable service, thank you.

Stayed there twice, it was great as always, the welcome was always warm, the staff very friendly, we ate at Chez Henry the first time and then at Colette the second time, nothing to complain about, it was great, thank you again

We received a very warm welcome at the château, and the lantern festival was magnificent. A huge thank you to Alicia and Mario for their professionalism and expertise. Their kindness, smiles, and thoughtfulness warmed our hearts. They are two people who truly belong in the hospitality industry and who showed us their passion for their work. A big thank you from both of us, Régine and Christelle from Ariège.

Eager to experience this magical lantern display inspired by Alice in Wonderland, we set off on a 3-hour drive. We arrived just in time for the 6 pm opening, but our first problem was the parking lot, which was far from the site and had no safety barriers whatsoever. We had to walk along the road in the middle of traffic. Inside the site, although thousands of boardwalks had been installed, they were waterlogged and unstable, and where there weren't any, it was slippery and dangerous. The castle is magnificent, the park and the lights superb, and despite the crowds, the magic was definitely there. However, I can't give it 5 stars because after the drive and the 2-hour walk in the park, we wanted to eat at the snack bar. After a 45-minute wait, we were told they were out of sandwiches and hot dogs, only fries 😡. So, rather than prolong the magic, we went to eat elsewhere outside. Regarding the price, while of course you have to pay for all these facilities, I think some services were no longer available compared to the beginning, even though the price remains the same. We were left wanting more, both literally and figuratively.

We came to see the Lantern Festival, and although it was magnificent, I found it really lacked organization, from the parking, where we had to walk a lot from the Colette Gardens (especially since my wife is pregnant), to the long walk to get there and then the entire visit itself. Apart from that, it was really lovely; the castle was also very beautiful, but the price was a bit high for so many inconveniences!

A beautiful castle with lovely rooms and very friendly staff. However, a major drawback is the breakfast, which unfortunately does not live up to the price. The bread and pastries are frozen and of poor quality.