Getting There
We sincerely hope you are able to make the trek to celebrate with us on our special day! The information below is intended to assist you in making travel & lodging arrangements.
Our venue, Chateau Plombis, is beside the medieval village of Castelsagrat about half-way between the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse. France’s excellent highway system and rail network make our venue easily accessible however you choose to travel.
Recommended Travel Options
Our venue is easily accessible whether you prefer public transport or driving while traveling abroad:
Take the high-speed rail from Paris to Agen
The nearest high-speed rail station to Castelsagrat is in the city of Agen, a 30-minute drive/taxi ride away
The city of Agen has multiple hotels within a couple easily-walkable blocks of Gare Agen (Agen Train Station).
Rent a car and drive from Bordeaux or Toulouse
Castelsagrat (map) is located just off the A62 tollway which runs between Bordeaux and Toulouse
Recommended Lodging Options
The region has numerous lodging options whether you prefer to stay in a city, or experience the charming countryside of Southwest France:
Stay in Agen (30 mins from venue)
Recommended for guests who prefer a traditional hotel & the comforts (e.g., shops, restaurants, bars) of a city
Also recommended for guests who intend to travel to Southwest France via public transit/high speed rail; on the wedding day we will provide a shuttle from the Citotel Stim'otel (hotel) two blocks from the train station
Stay in the Countryside (5 to 20 mins from venue)
For those looking for a more local experience, we recommend trying one of the many charming boutique hotels, chambes d’hores (bed and breakfasts) and gites (vacation rentals) listed in our where to stay guide
Recommended for guests with a rental car
Our Venue
Located in the Quercy region of France, Chateau Plombis is halfway between the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse. Situated just to the north of the beautiful medieval village of Castelsagrat its grounds overlook the Séoune valley to the equally stunning village of Montjoi.
Chateau Plombis
82400 Castelsagrat, France
Important Information & Useful Reminders
Trans-Atlantic Flights
Most flights from the US to Europe land the next day
Most return flights from Europe to the US land the same day
International Borders
US Citizens must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter France
US Citizens do not need a visa to visit the E.U.
US Passports must have a minimum of six months validity at the time of entry into an EU country (valid through at least December 2022 to enter in June 2022)
Directions to Castelsagrat
From Paris
Arriving in Paris by Plane
Taking the High-Speed Rail to Castelsagrat – 3.5 hours
Driving to Castelsagrat – 6.5 hours
Rent a car and drive South to Castelsagrat on the A10 to the A71 to the A20 highways towards Toulouse (map)
From Marseille
Arriving in Marseille by Plane
Marseille Provence (MRS) Airport
Taking the Train* to Castelsagrat – 5 hours
Driving to Castelsagrat – 5 hours
Rent a car and drive West towards Toulouse on the A7 to the A9 then the A61; complete your journey following the directions from Toulouse above (map)
*Note, the High Speed Rail (TGV inOui) does not run between Marseille and Agen; if traveling by rail to/from Marseille you can book a ticket on the slower Intercités trains using the same website/app (see below).
Getting Around France
High-Speed Rail in France
The high-speed trains are branded TGV inOui (pronounced “On Wee”)
Most trains have two classes of service, first and second class. First class seats three across (2 x 1) while second class seats four across (2 x 2)
Most large cities have more than one train station (Paris has 7), make sure you go to the correct station
Train tickets are available 90 days in advance
We recommend booking early as prices steadily increase closer to departure
Note some trains make more stops than others, we recommend checking “total time” when booking to ensure you’re on the fastest train
We recommend using Omio to book train tickets in France (and throughout Europe), they accept U.S. Visa and MasterCard credit cards: Website | iOS App | Android App
Rental Cars in France
To rent a car in France you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and you must have held your license for a minimum of 1 year
Drivers hoping to rent a car under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge
You can rent a car in Bordeaux or Toulouse (or any other large city) and drive to Castelsagrat
You can also rent a car in Agen after arriving by High-Speed Rail
A rental car is not required, though may be preferred
We recommend using a travel aggregator such as Booking.com or Expedia to find a rental car, as your preferred rental brand may not be present at every airport or train station
Driving in France
The minimum age to legally drive in France is 18
Technically, in France you can drive with a valid US driver’s license and a "notarized translation" of your license
The International Driving Permit ("IDP") is (essentially) a translation of key data from your actual driver's license with your photo attached
Get one at your local AAA office
Takes about 5 minutes and costs roughly $25
You need to bring your actual license along, too - it's not a substitute for your license