Latest news with #château
Times
20-07-2025
- Times
Win a luxury seven-night French château stay for ten guests worth £12,000
Just imagine . . . you and nine of your favourite people embarking on une balade around the grounds of a glorious château in the heart of the Loire Valley — glass of local wine in hand — having feasted on a lunch of regional cheeses, charcuterie and artisan baguette. Well, that dream could fast become reality: we've paired up with Oliver's Travels to offer you the chance to win a week-long stay at Château Les Bains, a stunning belle époque residence set in a dreamy riverside location near the spa town of La Roche-Posay. The property delivers views across 17 acres of parkland and vines that undulate to the river and there's space for up to 20 guests — seven bedrooms are found in the main house, and there's an additional trio of rooms in a separate cottage. Days here can be spent basking poolside, getting competitive in the games room or tending the vines (before pootling to the in-house cellar). There's also a grand kitchen that inspires trips to the local market and will have you wondering why you didn't move here years ago. So what are you waiting for? Oliver's Travels is providing this prize, offering the winner exclusive use of the property for seven nights on a self-catering basis, plus daily housekeeping service. The fridge and pantry will be fully stocked with up to €200 worth of products. The prize also includes two LeShuttle car passes that will cover ten people. As the château's capacity is 20, you're able to invite an additional ten guests at your own expense. You'll need to book your stay at least six weeks in advance, and travel between October 1, 2025 and October 1, 2026. Blackout dates are July, August, Christmas and Easter. For more information, click here. For your chance to win, simply vote in each category in this year's Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards. There are 17 categories in total. Click here to vote. For the full list of prizes, see closes at 23.59pm on August 31, 2025. Open to residents of the United Kingdom who are aged 18 years or older, excluding employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Subject to availability, Prize must be redeemed within one year and booked at least six weeks in advance of departure date. Prize must be taken between October 1, 2025 and October 1, 2026, subject to availability and blackout dates apply including Christmas, New Year, Easter, and July 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026. All parts of Prize must be used in conjunction with same booking. Winner and his/her guest(s) are solely responsible for ensuring they are available to travel and have valid travel documentation (including passport/visa/visa waiver as may be required), obtaining adequate travel insurance and appropriate vaccinations/inoculations for foreign travel at their own expense. Winner can invite additional guests, up to a total of twenty (20), at their own expense. Travel insurance, food and drink (outside what is previously declared in the board basis), spending money and all incidental expenses are the responsibility of the prize-winner. Prize is subject to Oliver's Travels terms and conditions. Stay must adhere to the terms listed here: Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at and those of the partners. Promoter is Times Media Ltd. Full T&Cs apply — see
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
A Perfect Parisian Wedding To Remember In Château de Ferrières
A grand 19th-century château in Paris allowed a sumptuous ceremony full of surprises to come to life New bride Mariam Boustani Chehab admits to taking 'zero' photos when her fiancé, Lebanese entrepreneur Karim, proposed to her in London last year. 'He knows I don't like proposals, so it was very casual on the side of the road after dinner,' she laughs. 'I loved how it was such a private and intimate moment, but I regret now not taking any pictures.' The couple first met in Dubai through Mariam's cousin, and it was her now-husband's thoughtfulness that immediately drew Mariam to him. 'I've always loved how he remembers the smallest details about me from the first day we met.' After dating for 18 months, followed by a six-month engagement, the couple tied the knot in May this year at a beautiful ceremony in the City of Light. 'The wedding was at Château de Ferrières in Seine-et-Marne, Paris. We wanted to celebrate aboard due to the unstable situation in Lebanon,' Lebanese-American marketing specialist says. 'We wanted do something different, surrounded by our family and friends.' The 19th-century Italian Renaissance château set the scene perfectly for the couple's 200-guest wedding. Hiring Lebanese wedding planner Robert Hykl allowed the duo to dream up something fantastical that became reality. The venue was strewn with floral decorations of peonies, hortensia and roses in a soft pink palette, complemented by golden fruits inspired by the château's mouldings, that really brought their vision to life. Inside, a showstopping centrepiece created a fantastical element of surprise – a hot air balloon set against the opulent interiors, frescos and decorative artwork of the château, and surrounded by fuchsias and pink and orange sofas. As per tradition, Karim made his entrance to a Dabke song, decked out in an Amer Ejjeh tuxedo, followed by Mariam who walked down the aisle in a high-neck, beaded Tony Ward Couture gown. 'It was the first dress I tried on, and the last,' Mariam smiles – with the evocative Now We Are Free by Hans Zimmer playing in the background. Gianvito Rossi platform heels ('The most comfortable shoes ever!') and emerald-cut drop earrings by Lebanese jeweller Yasser Younes, completed the look, with Mariam explaining: 'I wanted to keep my jewellery very simple.' Having already celebrated their Katb Kteb (religious ceremony) in Beirut, the Paris wedding eschewed the more formal traditions of readings and vows. 'This wedding was more a party for the young,' Mariam says, evidenced by music that segued from Young and Beautiful by Lana del Rey for the slow dance, into a live band, followed by R'n'B and deep house. Looking back at the day, Mariam learned that it's not worth stressing about the small stuff when planning a wedding. 'It's important to be picky, but if I could go back, I would definitely try to stress less.' As for the most magical moment? 'Seeing it come to life, just as I dreamed, and sharing every moment with my closest family and friends,' the bride attests. 'Also meeting Robert Hykl, too – he and his team became like family.' All imagery supplied
