Live like a French aristocrat… from just £41 a night each: Book a grand chateau with friends and family this summer and you may be in for a bargain

Just the word ‘castle’ sounds expensive, but staying in the castles and grand country houses where French nobility once lived doesn’t have to ruin your holiday budget.

Gather the clan for a booking of up to a week and you’ll be surprised how reasonable it can be.

BRITTANY FROM £41

Only the west wing of the 15th-century Chateau de Queblen near Quimperle has been restored so far, but the accommodation is far from medieval.

Eat in the shabby-chic eat-in kitchen before heading into the elegant sitting room with marble fireplace and windows overlooking 40 acres of wooded grounds.

Of the five bedrooms, one with a wooden four-poster bed is accessible via a spiral staircase. The beaches of the Brittany coast are just 15 minutes away.

How to do that: A week in September costs from £2,896 for ten (Airbnb property reference 45252876; see also chateaudequeblen.com). Take the car ferry to St Malo from £349 return (brittany-ferries.co.uk).

NORMANDY FROM £69

Outside the imposing Chateau du Mont, with its formal and Italianate gardens, a fountain plays. Inside, the rooms are full of original features and wood panelling, the nine bedrooms have a refined period feel and the bathrooms have been beautifully modernised.

The pool house with thatched roof and beams is a former stable converted. Bayeux and its tapestries are just 15 minutes away from this house, which has hosted the Dalai Lama and the Aga Khan, among others.

How to do that: A week in May or September costs from £8,772 for 18 (chateaudumont-normandy.com). Take the car ferry to Le Havre from £146 return (brittany-ferries.co.uk).

BURGUNDY FROM £54

Just half an hour from Chablis, Chateau Bourgogne has its own wine library, and you can arrange for a sommelier to advise you on which vineyards to visit. This vine-covered building with a crenellated tower and ten bedrooms has steep stairs, thick walls and a lookout tower terrace.

The decor is farmhouse chic, with beamed ceilings and stone floors. There is a saltwater swimming pool on site and you can walk into the village to use the tennis court for free. Book a chef to prepare something on the stove while you sip a glass or two.

How to do that: A week in May costs £6,004 for 16 (oliverstravels.com). Take the train to Montbard via Paris from £219 return (thetrainline.com).

LOT-ET-GARONNE FROM £48

Chateau de Galaup, near the hilltop village of Beauville, may be new to Vintage Travel’s portfolio this year, but it houses a lot of history within its thick walls, with an ancient arch, square keep and two stone spiral staircases.

The five-bedroom 15th century property has been converted into a comfortable living space that exudes relaxed elegance, with wooden ceilings and terracotta floors. Outside, a swimming pool has extensive views over the rolling countryside of south-west France. There is also a tennis court.

How to do that: A week in May costs £3,358 for ten or £2,786 for six (vintagetravel.nl). Fly to Bergerac from €119 return (ryanair.com).

DORDOGNE FROM £63

You can really make an entrance into the 32-acre estate of Chateau de la Forge, where wrought-iron gates open onto an avenue of trees. It leads to a classic Perigord country house with blue shutters against pale stone walls.

Expect polished wooden floors, paneling and high ceilings in the downstairs rooms; there is also a billiards room. Upstairs, the six bedrooms have a more modern look, with colorful fabrics. There is a swimming pool on site and you can hire kayaks to paddle along the Dordogne in nearby Mussidan.

How to do that: A week in September costs £5,295 for 12 (simpsontravel.com). Fly to Bergerac from €119 return (ryanair.com).

CHAMPAGNE FROM £50

There is certainly no better place to party than in Champagne. Chateau de Mairy is just ten minutes from Chalons-en-Champagne and half an hour from Reims and Epernay, with as many cellars as you want to visit.

The 17th-century building, a historic monument, with a private chapel, has a chic feel through its public areas and 15 bedrooms, with chandeliers, paneling and floor-to-ceiling windows. Bathrooms and the kitchen are not of the same standard. Not that you need to cook here: it’s a short walk to the local restaurant, or you can book a local chef.

How to do that: A week costs from £7,145 for 20, or from £10,427 for 30 (chateaudemary.com). Take the Eurotunnel to Calais from £232 (eurotunnel.com).

PAS DE CALAIS FROM £47

You’re unlikely to be bored at Chateau d’Hallines, which is just 30 minutes from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais. The indoor attractions alone include a trampoline room (yes, really), a mini tennis court, a games room, a home cinema and a snooker room. Outside you will find a heated swimming pool and a tennis court.

The entrance hall leading from the outside has a grand staircase leading to 12 colorful bedrooms sharing 11 bathrooms. Cook in the modern kitchen and serve dinner in the wood-paneled dining room with a table for 30.

How to do that: A week in May costs £8,489 for 26 (holidayrentals.co.uk; ref.9074565). Take the Eurotunnel to Calais from £232 (eurotunnel.com).

PROVENCE FROM £71

Chateau Aubenas, near Forcalquier, was a former retreat for French royalty and offers elevated views over the rolling hills of the Luberon. Set in gated grounds with a swimming pool surrounded by pine trees, an olive grove and a sun terrace with barbecue, this cream-coloured mansion is all about the outdoors.

Not that the interiors have been neglected; large rooms with high ceilings are decorated in a light palette, where the modern, minimalist look goes hand in hand with original features.

In the tower there is a dormitory for four children and there are four further bedrooms for eight adults.

How to do that: A week in August costs from £6,015 for 12 (cvvillas.com). Fly to Marseille from £92 return (ryanair.com).