The Château du Passage hosts weddings and private receptions for 50 to 300 guests. It stands in Le Passage, in the Isère department, in the Dauphiné region between Lyon, Grenoble and Chambéry. The owners still live in the house and have opened it for weddings since 1976.
Weddings and receptions
The interiors were laid out from the start for large receptions, as the state salons show, and the owners have added what a modern celebration needs: a dedicated caterer's area, lighting for the park and the facades, and a marquee. For the largest receptions, the marquee covers the inner courtyard of the château and seats up to 300 guests for dinner, with a view of the park and protection from the weather. The park, the state salons and the reception rooms are made available in the configuration the couple chooses, together with the caterer's area. No two receptions are set up the same way. A member of the household stays present during the event to deal with the unexpected, from a missing table or tablecloth to lighting. The owners also recommend caterers, florists, photographers and DJs who have already worked at the château.
Rooms and capacities
The château receives groups from 50 to 300 guests. The covered courtyard under the marquee is the largest space, with up to 300 seated. Inside, the reception rooms include the Dining Room, the Salon de Marie-Louise and the Hall, which can also be set aside as a children's area during the evening. The rooms have tall windows that bring in plenty of daylight and open onto views of the park.
Accommodation
The bedrooms of the château provide 15 beds, enough for close family to stay the night. For larger weddings, accommodation nearby offers around 100 more beds.
Catering
The château does not cater itself. The couple chooses a caterer, who works from the dedicated catering area, and the owners can suggest trusted names.
History and setting
The château was built in the fifteenth century as a fortified house and grew over the centuries into the classical residence seen today. In the nineteenth century it was restored by General Quiot, a general of the First Empire. The building is protected as a historic monument and has been home to the same line of families for four centuries. The current owners pursue a long restoration program covering the facades, the roof timbers, the cellars and several bedrooms, and the house is not refitted as a modern hotel: it suits hosts who like old stone and the patina of time. Beyond private events, the château runs guided visits, takes part in the European Heritage Days and stages cultural events such as the Passage Classic Festival and the Passage Music Festival, organized with the association of the friends of the château.
Getting there
The château is at 2 route de Virieu in Le Passage, in northern Isère. Lyon, Grenoble and Chambéry are all within reach, which makes it a practical meeting point for guests coming from the three cities. The owners suggest a visit before booking.
