Driving Weekend at Circuit du Laquais & Spa at Château de la Rochetière: 24 Hours of Thrills in Isère

Picture a perfect day in the French Isère region. Lunch unfolds slowly in the shade of century-old linden trees, the swimming pool stretches the afternoon a little further — then everything shifts. Twenty-five minutes away, Circuit du Laquais in Champier is waiting. The wheel of a Porsche, a Ferrari or a Lamborghini in your hands, twelve corners to master, 3.1 km of FIA-grade track to tame. As night falls, you return to the château: private spa, massage, dinner served beneath the stars of Isère.

This is exactly what Château de la Rochetière offers — a 5-star Gîtes de France guesthouse in Marcilloles, about an hour from Lyon. A bespoke driving weekend in Isère, where every hour prepares the next — from absolute calm to pure adrenaline, all the way to the softness of a starlit night.

Lunch Beneath the Linden Trees — the Calm Before the Storm

The afternoon begins where it should: in the centuries-old shade of the linden trees at Château de la Rochetière, in Marcilloles. Lunch unfolds without haste, in that golden silence only the Isère countryside knows how to offer. Conversations stretch out, the local wine slips gently into the glasses, and nothing is rushing yet.

The day ahead will be intense. It deserves this preamble of serenity — this long breath before the acceleration.

The Pool — One Last Moment of Lightness

Before leaving the estate, one ritual is essential: the swimming pool. One dive, two, perhaps three. Cool water on skin warmed by the Isère sun, the blue sky above the château rooftops, laughter echoing off the stone walls.

Then comes the moment to get ready. In twenty-five minutes' drive, Circuit du Laquais in Champier is waiting.

Driving Experience at Circuit du Laquais — Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alpine and Karting

For thrill-seekers, Circuit du Laquais in Champier (Isère, France) is one of those addresses motorsport enthusiasts share in hushed tones. It is the only circuit in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region homologated by the FFSA for speeds above 200 km/h, with its 3.1 km of track, 12 technical corners and 450-metre straight. Just 25 minutes from the château, it offers those who want to experience speed from the inside — not from behind a barrier, but from behind a wheel — an exceptional playground.

The supercar driving experience is that suspended moment when everything tips over. You choose your car from the Porsche Cayman, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alpine A110, McLaren, Aston Martin or Mustang in the fleet, you listen to the briefing from the certified instructor, and then the engine roars, the circuit opens up. A few laps are enough to turn an ordinary afternoon into an unforgettable memory. For those who prefer the experience as a passenger, a passenger ride in a Porsche 911 GT3 or a Caterham Lotus Seven offers thrills just as vivid.

The karting session that follows shifts the register: on the 900-metre undulating track, this is competition — duels, late-braking overtakes, racing lines negotiated by instinct. Everything else is forgotten. There is only the present, the precise instant of each corner.

Back to the Château — Private Spa, Massage and Renewal

After the intensity of the circuit, the body asks for something else. Calm, warmth, expert hands undoing what speed has tightened. This is what the private spa at Château de la Rochetière offers: a sensory recovery space, outside of time, entirely privatised for you.

The massage that follows is an art in itself. The tensions in the shoulders — those of the steering wheel, those of the karting — gradually dissolve. You drift into a second state, between wakefulness and surrender, that only true contrasts can produce. Without the adrenaline of the circuit, this moment would not be the same.

It is precisely this continuity — circuit, spa, massage, dinner — that allows everything to unfold without rupture: no transport, no effort, simply the natural sequence of the experience.

The Lounge Dinner — When the Isère Night Takes Over

The table is set outside. Soft lights draw a space suspended between intimacy and nature. The music — discreet, enveloping — sets the tempo. You sit down, look up at the clear Isère sky.

You retell the corners, the overtakes, the moments of fear. And you realise, around this table beneath the stars, that the best memories always blend movement and rest, intensity and softness.

What If This Was Your Next Driving Weekend in Isère?

This driving weekend in Isère becomes far more than a simple stay. Château de la Rochetière does not orchestrate a room — it orchestrates an experience, bespoke, where every hour has meaning and every detail is thought out for you.

All that's left is to choose your date. We take care of the rest.

Book your suite directly online, or contact us to design your tailor-made programme together.

Frequently Asked Questions — Hotel and Accommodation Near Circuit du Laquais

Is there a hotel directly at Circuit du Laquais?

No, Circuit du Laquais does not have an on-site hotel. Château de la Rochetière, 25 minutes from the circuit, offers an upscale alternative to the traditional hotel: a 5-star guesthouse in a heritage setting.

How far is Château de la Rochetière from Circuit du Laquais?

The château is a 25-minute drive from Circuit du Laquais, located in Champier (Isère, France).

Which vehicles can be driven at Circuit du Laquais?

Circuit du Laquais offers more than 50 vehicles: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, McLaren, Aston Martin, Alpine A110, Mustang, Audi, as well as Formula 4 and karting. Driving experiences from €99.

Can a driving experience be combined with a spa stay?

Yes — this is precisely the formula we offer: a relaxed morning at the château, a driving experience in the afternoon at Circuit du Laquais, then a return to the private spa and a gourmet dinner under the stars.

Is Circuit du Laquais accessible from Lyon, Grenoble or Geneva?

Yes. The circuit is 40 minutes from Lyon, 40 minutes from Grenoble, 30 minutes from Chambéry, 50 minutes from Valence and Annecy, and 1h30 from Geneva.

Practical Information

Château de la Rochetière — 338 Avenue du Pilat — 38260 Marcilloles (Isère, France)

Accommodation near Circuit du Laquais: 25 min from Champier (Circuit du Laquais) · approx. 1h from Lyon

5-star Gîtes de France guesthouse

Private spa and massages available on reservation

Table d'hôtes lunch and dinner on reservation

Sports and leisure activities available nearby, with bespoke arrangements possible.

Activities at Circuit du Laquais (driving experiences, supercar passenger rides, karting) are provided by the circuit, an independent partner — bookings available on request, not included in the suite rate.