Château de Franconville, run as a wedding venue under the name Château de Saint-Martin du Tertre, seats up to 340 guests across its reception rooms, 220 of them in the gala hall, and offers 32 beds in the house. It stands at Saint-Martin-du-Tertre in the Val-d'Oise, about 30 minutes from Paris and 15 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
Weddings and receptions
The château takes one event at a time, so the couple and their guests have the whole place to themselves. On the wedding day the house opens from 10 a.m., dancing can go on until 5 a.m., and guests sleeping at the château stay until noon the next day or longer, depending on the package. Three packages are offered, named Saphir, Emeraude and Diamant, and are detailed in the venue's brochure.
All the tables and chairs needed for the event are included, as are the sound system and the ambient lighting. The bride and groom have a bridal suite with a large preparation room, a bedroom and its bathroom, and two separate preparation rooms let each partner get ready apart. Ceremonies, religious or secular, can take place outside on the esplanade or at the rotunda in the garden. The venue also keeps a list of partners: DJs, florists, photographers, videographers, car hire, cake makers, officiants, hair and makeup artists, a dressmaker and a fireworks company.
Rooms and capacities
All the rooms together seat up to 340 guests, and the classified rooms have ceilings 6 meters high.
The gala hall, the main room, seats up to 220. It has tall windows in a row, crystal chandeliers and two carved fireplaces. The Red Salon has deep red walls, a black and white checkered floor and a gray marble fireplace under a large mirror. The White Salon has gilded walls, a shell-molded ceiling and windows over the gardens. The library, paneled in old wood, can serve as an extra dining room or a quiet lounge. The hall of honor, with fluted columns and a red and white marble floor, welcomes guests, and the monumental staircase serves for entrances and photographs.
Outside, the symmetrical esplanade with its two bronze lions suits ceremonies and drinks, and fireworks can be watched from it. The rotunda, a stone structure around a marble statue, hosts ceremonies. A central lawn lined with statues takes cocktail lounges, and a wooded pond suits a relaxed brunch the next day.
Accommodation
On the first floor, family suites and bedrooms offer a total of 32 beds, depending on the package chosen. Partner hotels nearby take the other guests.
Catering
The venue works with a selection of partner caterers, whose prices depend on the menu and on any religious requirements. Couples may also bring the caterer of their choice, subject to conditions set by the château.
History and setting
The Duc de Massa, grandson of Napoleon's Minister of Justice and a collector and patron of the arts, had the estate redesigned between 1876 and 1882 by the architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur. In the Belle Époque the château hosted dinners, balls, opera in its private theater, orchestral concerts and fireworks. It is listed as a historic monument, and its park and forest cover 42 hectares, reached by an avenue of old trees.
Getting there
The château is about 30 minutes from Paris by road and 15 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, which makes it practical for guests arriving from abroad.
