Château de la Flocellière

What Château de la Flocellière does

Château de la Flocellière is a family-owned historic estate located in La Flocellière, Vendée, France, operating under the legal entity FLOVIEX SARL and managed by the Vignial family (Viscount Patrice Vignial, Viscountess Erika Vignial, and their son Frédéric). The property is an 11th-century castle classified as a Historical Monument, with continuous habitation for approximately 900 years, set on a 30-hectare estate that includes medieval, Italian-style, and romantic gardens. It generates revenue through five core streams: five bed and breakfast rooms/suites in the main castle, three independent self-catering gîtes (Le Donjon for 10 persons, Le Pavillon Louis XIII for 12-14 persons, Le Logis for 15-17 persons), group dormitory accommodations for 90-100 persons approved by Jeunesse et Sports and Education nationale, event venue rental for weddings, family celebrations, and corporate seminars (capacity up to 200 persons across La Grange, L'Orangerie, and La Véranda), and a table d'hôte dinner priced at €60 per adult. Total accommodation capacity is approximately 100 persons across all facilities.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model primarily through its own website, phone, and email, supplemented by listings on Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Bienvenue au Château, Gîtes de France, and Esprit de France networks. The chateau's principal geographic advantage is its location 8 km from the Puy du Fou theme park, repeatedly cited in marketing materials as a demand driver. Distribution leans on word-of-mouth referrals and proximity marketing to Puy du Fou visitors, with earned media from international press coverage (New York Times 2015, Sunday Times 2016, Herald Drive 2016) and French national television (France 2, France 3, TV Vendée). The estate operates a B&B season from April to November, with gîtes available year-round, and hosts recurring cultural events including an annual Christmas market (~4,000 visitors in 2023), a summer university program (fifth edition in 2024 with 100 participants), Heritage Days programming, and theatrical performances. No proprietary technology platform is in evidence; the operation relies on standard hospitality booking systems. The property is private, family-controlled, with no external investors, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding activity.

Name

Château de la Flocellière

Legal name

FLOVIEX (Société à responsabilité limitée)

Website

https://chateaudelaflocelliere.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Château de la Flocellière is a family-owned historic 11th-century French estate operating as a hospitality business under FLOVIEX SARL, offering B&B rooms, self-catering gîtes, group accommodations, event venues, and dining for leisure travelers, school groups, weddings, and corporate clients near Puy du Fou.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Castle Hospitality

NAICS

Bed-and-Breakfast Inns (721191), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (721110), Accommodation (721)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Heritage & Palace Luxury Hotels (THAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ultra-Luxury Villas & Estates (THAMAEAA), Historic/Heritage Conference Hotels (THAGALAL)

Keywords

• Historic castle accommodations
• Bed and breakfast
• Holiday cottage rentals
• Wedding venue hosting
• Group lodging facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

La Flocellière

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bed and Breakfast Rooms: Five guest rooms and suites in the main castle offered as bed and breakfast accommodations from April to November. Rooms include the Marquise Suite, Eveche Double Room, General Bonnamy Suite, Surgères/Hillerin Suite, and Baronne Alquier Prestige Room.
2. Gîte Rentals: Three independent historic gîtes: Le Donjon (medieval dungeon, 10 persons), Le Pavillon Louis XIII (12-14 persons), and Le Logis du château (15-17 persons). These are self-catering holiday rentals with private or shared pool access.
3. Table d'Hôte Dinner: Hosted dinner experience with local products from the castle's garden. Priced at €60 per adult including apéritif, entrée, plat, cheese, dessert, and Loire wines. Simple dinner option at €35.
4. Event Venue Rental: Wedding receptions (up to 200 persons), family celebrations, and corporate seminars. Venues include the château's historic galleries and outbuilding spaces (La Grange 82m², L'Orangerie 120m², La Véranda 78m²).
5. Group Accommodation: Dormitory-style accommodation for school groups and large family gatherings, accommodating 90-100 persons. Includes meeting rooms, dining facilities, and professional kitchen. Approved by Jeunesse et Sports and Education nationale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Château de la Flocellière operates a historic 11th-century castle estate in Vendée, France, offering bed and breakfast rooms and suites, three independent self-catering holiday gîtes, group accommodation for approximately 100 persons, a table d'hôte dining experience, wedding receptions for up to 200 guests, corporate seminars, and park visits. The 30-hectare estate includes heated outdoor pools, gardens, and is positioned 8 km from the Puy du Fou theme park.

Product overview

Château de la Flocellière is a historic 11th-century castle offering accommodation and event services. The property comprises 5 bed and breakfast rooms/suites within the main castle (Marquise Suite, Eveche Double Room, General Bonnamy Suite, René de Surgeres/Hillerin Suite, and Baronne Alquier Prestige Room), 3 self-catering gîtes (Le Pavillon Louis XIII for 12-14 persons, Le Donjon medieval tower for 10 persons, and Le Logis du château for 15-17 persons), a Saint-Michel apartment, and group accommodation for up to 100 persons. The property also offers wedding and corporate event venues (up to 200 guests), a host table dining experience, and park tours. Located 8 km from Puy du Fou, the 30-hectare estate features heated pools and centuries-old trees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marquise Suite 40 m2 semi-circular room on the first floor of the chateau with a Louis XIII-style four-poster French bed (140x190 cm), featuring an 18th-century zinc bathtub and views over the park. Offered as part of the chateau bed and breakfast accommodation from April to November.
• Eveche Double Room Romantic 40 m2 double room in a round tower with king size bed or twin beds, round windows with park views, and an elegant pink fabric interior. Offered as chateau bed and breakfast accommodation.
• General Bonnamy Suite 45 m2 round room in a tower with a double canopy bed, designer fabric walls, and a duplex including a 35 m2 second bedroom for families of up to 4 persons. Offered as chateau bed and breakfast accommodation.
• René de Surgères or Hillerin Suite Two double rooms (24 m2 and 22 m2) on the second floor of the chateau main wing, convertible to a suite for 4 persons, with east-west park views. Offered as chateau bed and breakfast accommodation.
• Chambre Prestige Baronne Alquier 40 m2 prestige room in the Park Tower featuring Louis XVI yellow-gold wall fabric, a canopy bed, and dual park and French garden views. Offered as chateau bed and breakfast accommodation.
• Le Pavillon Louis XIII Independent 17th-century pavilion with 5 to 6 bedrooms accommodating 12 to 14 persons, with access to a shared heated pool and proximity to the medieval dungeon.
• Le Donjon Medieval dungeon tower dating from the 13th to 15th century with 4 levels, accommodating up to 10 persons, featuring a medieval dining room and period-decorated bedrooms.
• Le Logis du Château Independent gîte with 5 to 6 bedrooms accommodating 15 to 17 persons, featuring a private heated pool and views over 15 hectares of woodland and prairie adjoining the chateau.
• Appartement Saint-Michel Romantic apartment with independent entrance in the Louis XIII pavilion featuring a double bed and sofa bed, with views over the bocage, vegetable garden, pond, and pool.
• Hébergement de Groupes Dormitory-style accommodation with approximately 100 beds across dedicated buildings, including meeting rooms, dining facilities, and a professional kitchen. Approved by Jeunesse et Sports and Education nationale for school and youth groups, located 8 km from Puy du Fou.
• Mariage et Réception Wedding and private reception services held in the chateau and its outbuildings, accommodating up to 200 persons with historic galleries and French garden cocktail areas.
• Séminaires et Événements d'Entreprises Corporate seminar and event hosting for 10 to 120 persons, with meeting rooms in the chateau and outbuildings including La Véranda (72m²), La Grange (82m²), and L'Orangerie (120m²).
• Table d'Hôte Hosted dining experience featuring local products from the chateau's own garden, offered as a refined dinner at €60 per adult (including apéritif with crémant de Loire, entrée, main course with fresh garden vegetables, cheese platter, dessert, and Loire wines) or a simple three-course dinner at €35 per adult.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 visitors attended the Christmas market event in December 2023
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Les Hautes Mers: A small-scale heritage lodging property in western France offering rooms and table d'hote style meals. Comparable in family-run, intimate scale, and direct-to-consumer booking approach.
• Le Manoir de Mathan: A Normandy-manor family-run B&B and gite offering near major tourist attractions, with similar scale, family-operated model, and diversified accommodation/event revenue mix.
• Domaine de la Courance: A heritage chateau offering accommodation, weddings, and seminars with a similar family-hosted hospitality model. Competes in the same French heritage-tourism niche and same event-venue vertical.
• Château de la Colaissière: A chateau-hotel in Pays de la Loire offering rooms, gourmet dining, and event hosting. Strong overlap in product offering (B&B, table d'hote, weddings) and target customer (couples and event organizers) within the same regional heritage tourism segment.
• Château de Beaulieu: A heritage chateau operating as a hotel and event venue with similar product structure (B&B/rooms, weddings, corporate seminars) and appeal to heritage-tourism customers in France.
• Château de la Barbinière: A historic chateau-hotel located near Cholet, also positioned as a luxury accommodation option for visitors to Puy du Fou. Offers similar B&B rooms and is a direct competitor in the same geography targeting the same Puy du Fou tourist flow.
• Château du Bois de la Courbe: A historic French chateau operating as a B&B and event venue in western France. Comparable in scale (small estate, family-operated), product mix (rooms, events, dinners), and historical-monument positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Relais & Châteaux member properties (France): The Relais & Chateaux network aggregates 500+ luxury heritage properties worldwide with similar lodging, gastronomy, and event positioning. The chateau could aspire to membership; comparable on heritage luxury positioning but members typically operate at larger scale with full restaurant operations.
• Bienvenue au Château network: The certified French chateau-accommodation network that includes the property; aggregates ~350 chateau stays in France with similar product offerings and shared customer acquisition channels.
• Gîtes de France network properties: The French holiday-accommodation federation classifying gites (vacation rentals); comparable to the property's gite business and competing peer inventory across France for the same family/group traveler segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chateau.laflocelliere
• Pinterestpinterest.fr/chteaude
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ch%C3%A2teau-de-la-flocelli%C3%A8re

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Château de la Flocellière