The Domaine Castell de Blés can be hired in its entirety for seminars, team retreats, yoga retreats, intimate weddings with a secular ceremony, christenings, family gatherings and photo or film shoots. Groups have a 200 m² room, a 70 m² lounge and dining room, a private kitchen and 35 beds in 14 bedrooms. The estate is a former 19th-century wine property 2.5 km from the village of Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, between Perpignan and Collioure.
Seminars and company events
Companies book the estate as a whole for residential seminars and team meetings away from the office. The main working space is the 200 m² room on the first floor of the former wine store, large enough for a plenary session or workshops. The 70 m² lounge and dining room on the ground floor of the main house works for a smaller meeting, a working lunch or an evening together. The site has fiber internet and free Wi-Fi, and most of the buildings are air-conditioned.
Between sessions, the group has a games room with billiards, table football and a jukebox, a gym, a heated pool, pétanque, bikes and a large tree-lined garden. The owners can arrange breakfast, lunches, dinners and daily cleaning for an extra charge.
Weddings and receptions
The estate positions itself for intimate weddings rather than large receptions, with the option of a secular ceremony in the grounds under the old plane trees. Because the whole property is hired, the couple and their closest guests can stay for the weekend. The owners also offer an event organization service: they suggest local suppliers, coordinate them and handle the set-up on the day. The website does not publish a maximum number of guests for a reception, so check the number for your plan.
Rooms and capacities
The 200 m² room sits on the first floor of the old wine store. The salon and dining room in the main house cover 70 m² together. Outside, the terraces, the garden and the pool area give further space for drinks and breaks. Room-by-room capacities are not published.
Accommodation
The estate sleeps 35 people, children included, in 14 bedrooms with 22 beds, 10 bathrooms and 12 toilets. Accommodation is split between five bed-and-breakfast rooms in the main house, named after local places such as Céret, Collioure and Cadaqués, and four self-catering gîtes. The rooms are air-conditioned and furnished in a vintage style.
Catering
On a private hire, guests have a private kitchen. Breakfast and lunch or dinner service can be added for an extra charge. The owners also sell homemade three-course meals in jars, and they share a list of nearby restaurants and producers. For a wedding or a larger dinner, the event service can bring in a local caterer.
History and setting
Castell de Blés was a wine estate in the 19th century and has since become a small hamlet around the master's house, restored by the current owners, Romain and Julia. The property covers more than two hectares of orchards and parkland with century-old plane trees, bordered by the small Tanyari river. It faces the Canigou and the Albères mountains. Horses, hens and peacocks live on the estate, which is open all year.
Getting there
From the A9 motorway, take exit 43 towards Argelès-sur-Mer, then follow signs to Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines. The nearest station is Argelès-sur-Mer; Perpignan station and airport are less than 30 minutes away. Spain is about 20 minutes by road, Montpellier 1 hour 45 and Barcelona about 2 hours. The estate has secure parking and an electric charging point, and the EuroVelo 8 cycle route passes less than 2 km away.
