A Barbecue at a Chateau? It’s Not What You Think!
In the U.S., when we think of barbecues we usually think of hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad and the like. That wasn’t the case at the barbecue or “Soiree Brasero” at the Chateau de Chenonceau. It was so much more!
First - Where’s the Chateau de Chenonceau?
It’s roughly 2-hour drive from Paris or about 214 km, located in the town of Touraine, on the Cher River in the Loire Valley. It’s a doable drive during the day, but these braseros are at night, so the drive back to Paris could be brutal. If you decide to go, treat yourself and stay for a day or two in the Loire Valley.
If you’d rather take the train, there’s a 1-hour TGV high speed train from either Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport or Montparnasse train station.
Do they have braseros every night at Chateau de Chenonceau?
No. In 2026, there were only three braseros scheduled – one in June, one in August and one in September. We just happened to be there on one of the dates. You may be able to find a brasero at another chateau or even at your hotel. I did a quick web search and found several Soirees Braseros.
Do I need reservations?
Yes. You can’t just show up. The Chateau has a limited number of dates and tickets per sitting. You pay in advance with a credit card on a secure website. Then, you receive a reservation confirmation in the form of a printable PDF ticket with your name on it. Bring that ticket with you. We didn’t need it, but bring the printout just in case.
What’s the cost?
I’m not gonna lie – it wasn’t cheap. For 2026, the costs was 85 Euro per person without drinks, but I looked at it as a one-time, special date night. The cost included access to the grounds. Although the actual chateau was closed for the evening, we could walk the chateau grounds (pro tip: bring a flashlight – it’s dark in some areas). Plus, there was a choir singing in one of the buildings which was lovely.
Note: Don’t be surprised if you see guards and their dogs patrolling the grounds. It actually made me feel quite safe.
So, how does it work?
When we arrived for our 7pm seating, we parked our car in the Chateau parking lot and walked a short distance to the entry gate. We gave the woman at the gate the name on the reservation, and she directed us to the chateau’s restaurant. But, like I mentioned, you may want to print your reservation ticket.
Once you get to the restaurant, wait to be seated. At the far end of the seating area, we could see the chefs barbecuing, which we weren’t expecting, but was very cool to see.
The multicourse dinner menu was fixed, so you don’t choose your meal. When I read about it, I misunderstood the offering to be a choice of meat OR fish OR poultry. In reality, the dinner offered was ONE of those three. Our choice was barbecued duck. I don’t eat duck and Hubby doesn’t love duck, but he ate it. Still, we had plenty to eat. Appetizers were crab Rangoon and squash soup. Dinner was duck, but the sides of potatoes were fantastic.
Note: alcohol is not included.
The weather was crisp and clear, and we had an excellent view of the chateau as the sun went down and the lights of the chateau lit up.
Tip: What to wear: Smart casual. I went with jeans and a cashmere sweater with short boots. Hubby wore a collared shirt and khakis. There were men in jackets and others in track suits, but I would go right down the middle with smart casual to be safe.
If 85 Euro a person is a bit more than you were hoping to spend…
You might want to consider other events at Chenonceau like a Tasting Under the Stars or Dégustation sous les Étoiles. In 2026, tastings were 15 Euro per person. In addition to wine tastings, musicians are playing. While we didn’t attend, it could be a fun night out. Check out events.
If you’re looking for more events near Chenonceau, you can check out the website for the area’s tourist bureau There are also events at surrounding chateaux.
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