A brief review as we only stayed one night. I chose Bouliac as a destination as we were dining at one of my favourite restaurants nearby (at the Hotel Saint James, where we were unable to book a room even 2 months in advance !). Bouliac is a mere 10 km from Bordeaux; one of my favourite French cities and a place I have returned to repeatedly.
Chateau du Pian is a charming French "posh B&B" experience. The Chateau has that wonderful yet typical mix of formality and yet almost casual welcoming of guests into the family home. A plentiful breakfast and lots of invaluable advice and tourist tips from our English speaking host, Hervé Chatellier.
I wouldn't personally want to stay in a Chateau for more than one or two nights - they often lack some of the expected services and ingratiating professional touches offered by hotels - but it's a "must do" on the check list for anyone holidaying in France and travelling around. The Chateau du Pian offers that experience very nicely - some will think this is a fabulous house filled with the chattels of generations past; others will think it lacks a professional touch and is bordering on a cliche, but that is part of the charm.
This is a subjective opinion of course; one man's Ritz is another man's Travelodge and it's hard to categorise what the Chateau du Pian actually offers the seasoned traveller with high and sophisticated expectations. There are Chateaux that offer ultimate and haughty granduer, and others that offer a sad and dusty glimpse into a tarnished mirror reflecting days gone by. The Chateau Pian sits rather comfortably, and proudly, in the middle. The house in itself is really very beautiful.
All I can say in conclusion is that we thoroughly enjoyed our brief interlude (and the first night of our French holiday) in this emblamatic example of a Bon Vacance.
A truly charming hostelry, and a very pleasant and helpful host
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