CHÂTEAU DE LABRO

Open all year round. Open until 10:30pm. 20 rooms (including one in a tree). Double room from €139; suite from €229. Cabane from €250. Seminars. Receptions and weddings. Internet access. Free Wifi. Catering (surprise menu: €37 and pleasure menu: €60). Whirlpool bath, sauna.

THE HISTORY OF CHÂTEAU DE LABRO

From the 16th century to the present day

The history of Château de Labro and its seigneury dates back to the 16th century with the Créato family, enriched by trade.

At the end of the 17th century, Labro passed into the hands of the Patris family, which included a number of important figures. Abbé Guillaume de Patris, lieutenant to Cardinal d'Armagnac, distinguished himself during the Wars of Religion, foiling a Protestant plot to take Rodez.

In the 19th century, Labro belonged to the de Meynier family. The murder of Prosecutor Fualdès in 1817 left a deep mark on the history of Aveyron, with its mysteries and sordid aspects. Joseph de Meynier, a magistrate and royalist activist, contributed - along with others - to concealing the existence of a plot that led to the execution of innocent people. A famous affair that mobilized the whole of France and reverberated beyond its borders.

Having fallen under the spell of Château Labro, Jean and Nizou Rouquet bought the property in 2001, and after extensive restoration work, quickly brought the long-neglected site back to life.

A story to share

It was Jean Rouquet's desire to share the place with others, to let them discover it and dream about it, that prompted him to open it to the public. Here, you'll enter into the story of a family who, one thing leading to another, has worked hard to welcome you in the best possible conditions, just like at home.

I want to make people dream," says Jean Rouquet.

His taste for beautiful things gives him his legitimacy. This passionate second-hand dealer is always on the lookout for the rare pearl, taking risks with decorations that are both refined and unusual, such as deer antler garlands and art deco in contemporary tones. A desire to share in a frenetic age when we forget to let ourselves be told. A spirit of place for a spirit apart, conducive to dreaming. What every human being here hopes to achieve, to touch with their fingertips. The absence of passing time, bliss, respite through rest.

How do you cultivate the art of receiving?

"An extraordinary place would be nothing without an exceptional welcome. At Château de Labro, we've put together a team with a real sense of hospitality. You're welcomed as if you were among friends, with personal attention that makes all the difference and creates an intimate atmosphere. As I often say, you have to love sharing with people to welcome them into your home. It's with this in mind that we welcome each and every one of our customers...but we prefer to say "guests".

The magic of the place

As if set in a green setting just a few kilometers from Rodez, you'll enjoy a unique place to relax and recharge your batteries, a place where magic happens from the moment you walk through the door...of this exceptional estate.

A sanctuary in Occitania: according to Périco Légasse

"...Cultivating the soul of the place, combined with the strength of the Rouergue - Midi Pyrénées landscape, an aesthete has transformed an ancient manor house into a corner of rural paradise. A monument of charm "chez l'habitant" dedicated to the art of living and well-being... The place inspires the respect due to any plush location, you could be anywhere in France, or even in the English countryside, so much does the estate impose its grace and majesty on the place... A spirit of place for a spirit apart, conducive to dreaming. It's what everyone here hopes to achieve, to touch with their fingertips. The absence of passing time, bliss, respite through rest."

True charm

Here, everything is harmony and authenticity. Every object patiently hunted down has found its place in an almost natural and obvious way. A real alchemy between old stones, an unusual place, preserved nature and antique objects staged by its owner, a passionate bargain hunter. You'll discover a whole range of different atmospheres that fit together like an almost perfect jigsaw puzzle. In a way, we're not far from perfection, from happiness, from a little paradise on earth.

Beauty as doctrine: after Périco Légasse

"Château de Labro will be neither a luxury holiday home nor a show-off Relais et Châteaux, but a sanctuary, a sacred place where people come to gather, to take refuge even, when they need to regain their inner serenity for a moment. A sanctuary whose divinity is well-being, whose religion is the art of living and whose liturgy consists in taking it easy with beauty as its doctrine. Everything here seems to have been meditated and premeditated to this end

Monsieur Jean Rouquet, how does your establishment embody "charm, the real thing"?

"Charm is above all the personal investment you make in a place. It took us 10 years to make Château de Labro a unique place where "magic works" and leaves no one indifferent. This charm is true because every object, every decorative element has been patiently hunted out from all over France. We've blended period elements with contemporary creations to create a quirky, modern style that plays on classic codes."