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- October 12, 202619°
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- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
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- October 12, 202619°
Millennials and Gen Z Celebrate Birthdays in Castles
Birthday parties held in castles and chateaux in France have become a rapidly growing trend among young adults.
Birthday celebrations held in castles and chateaux in France have become a rising new trend among Millennials and Generation Z. Choosing historic venues over bars and restaurants, young adults prefer to spend their special days with more extravagant and memorable experiences.
Celina Tolbert, who organized a three-day celebration for her 30th birthday at a château about 80 miles south of Paris, invited 21 friends. Tolbert spent around 2,200 euros on the event, and on the first night, guests arrived dressed in corsets and chainmail.
The château’s wood-paneled dining rooms and spiral staircase were decorated with moss, leaves, and fairy lights. Guests enjoyed champagne in an atmosphere playing medieval-style pop songs before moving to an activity area where they prepared their own potions.
Tolbert explained her choice with a simple question: if she could afford it financially, why not do it? The American social media strategist living in Paris views such celebrations as experiences that replace large wedding ceremonies.
She said she officially partnered in 2023 but kept the celebration simple due to financial reasons. According to her, this birthday party was a delayed expression of the desire to create a bigger memory. Tolbert also mentioned that some of her friends share similar life choices, including not planning to have children.
A similar approach is seen in Amanda Rollins, a content creator from Boston. Living in Paris, Rollins has made château birthday celebrations a tradition, continuing it for several consecutive years.
For her 34th birthday, Rollins rented Chateau de Rubelles, located southeast of Paris. The venue spans 93 acres and features deer, wild rabbits, a decorative pond, and a large ballroom. The total cost for the venue and a private chef was about 7,700 euros; Rollins paid 4,450 euros, while 26 guests contributed 125 euros each.
The following year, for her 35th birthday, she rented a 19th-century château southwest of Paris via Airbnb for approximately 5,500 euros. Despite the moat, stone towers, and fairytale appearance, the interior was simpler than the previous year. She covered about one-fifth of the cost, with 36 guests paying 120 euros each.
Rollins believes these types of celebrations replace weddings for some people. She noted that many of her friends are single or choose not to marry, and that the 30s are one of the best times to hold a big celebration.
The growing interest in château celebrations coincides with a trend of spending more on experiences. Based on company reservation data, demand for milestone birthday celebrations has noticeably increased over the past two years. A significant portion of 30th birthday bookings were also made during this period.
France leads in this area, followed by the United Kingdom. Most customers come from the US and Britain. Castles, manors, and chateaux are among the most popular backdrops for large birthday events.
Airbnb also reported rising interest in château stays among young travelers. Generation Z continues this trend by choosing castle stays in rural areas over city getaways.
According to AirDNA data, the number of nights stayed in short-term rentals in France increased by about 16% in the 12 months ending April 2026 compared to the same period in 2022. The company’s head of economics said demand has steadily risen over the past three years.
Experts say this trend is partly due to people postponing traditional milestones like weddings and having children to later ages. This allows young adults to allocate more budget to travel and special celebrations.
Another factor is a conscious spending habit. In uncertain economic times, many find it more meaningful to invest in experiences that will be remembered for a long time.
Beks Lockie, a London-based media lawyer who held a three-night château celebration near Bordeaux for her 30th birthday, also supports this approach. Lockie said the total cost—including transportation, accommodation, a private chef, groceries, and a wine tour—was about $8,700, shared among 13 guests.
Lockie emphasized that it was worth it to create strong memories with close friends. While future weddings or children might make such gatherings harder, she believes 30 remains a special milestone for these types of celebrations.
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