Chateau de Pleurs
June 5–8  ·  France

Three nights.

Thirty beautiful people.

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From Judith

Thank you — truly — for travelling far and wide and indulging yet another of my ADHD impulse decisions.

Who needs a house when you can spend your 30th birthday with 30 of the most extraordinary people you can name?

Join me as we eat, relax, drink, and celebrate shamelessly.

With love,
Judith Zhu

The Weekend, in Chapters

Everything
you need to know.

I
Arrivals

The château expects you. Getting here, without friction.

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II
The Guest List

Friends, victims, lovers and loveless.

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III
The Château

Your rooms at the château. Everything you need to know.

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IV
The Schedule

The weekend unfolds in its own time. Here is its structure.

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V
The Menu

Three days and three nights of gluttony.

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VI
Other Hours

For those who wander. For those who prefer to linger.

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VII
After Dark

A glimpse of the mood. You will understand when you arrive.

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VIII
What Remains Unsaid

Answers to all your questions so you don't ask me when I'm inebriated.

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Until June.

Some moments are not planned into existence. They simply arrive, settle in, and remain in our brains for another 30 years. Let's make many of these moments on this weekend!

Chateau de Pleurs  ·  06'26  ·  By Invitation
Return The People

The Guest
List.

Judith Zhu
Host & Birthday Girl
Head of PMM & Comms, EMEA @ Yext  ·  USA
The reason we are all here — and she will remind you of this. Thirty years of impulsive spending, ADHD side projects that drive no value whatsoever, and an extraordinary talent for dragging people into her chaos and forcing them to be grateful for it. Professionally allergic to sober people at her own birthday. The rest of us are merely supporting cast.
30 Years Young Known 30 Years Room 1K1

All bios are entirely factual and legally binding. Complaints may be directed to Calypso the dog for pawcessing.

Return Getting Here & Away

Arrivals &
Departures.

Everything has been arranged to make your arrival effortless. Find the option that suits your journey below.

Getting There — 5 June
Group Van from Paris
Recommended
More info to come when everyone sends me their arrival info!
Free
total cost
1.5–2h
total time
12:30 from Gare du Nord
12 seats
16:30 from CDG
8 seats
Option B
Train + Private Taxi
Train to Romilly-sur-Seine (~1h), then a private taxi (~20 min). More flexible.
~€60
total cost
~1.5h
total time
Option C
Direct Taxi
Door-to-door. No transfers, no logistics. For the rich people.
~€250
total cost
1.5–2h
total time
Option D
Rent a Car
Best if you want to explore the surrounding villages at your own pace. ~1.5–2h drive.
Varies
total cost
~1.5–2h
total time
Going Away — 8 June
07:30
4 seats · Early leavers
12:00
8 seats
15:30
8 seats
Arriving later or leaving early?

If your timing doesn't align with the vans, you'll have to use one of the other options. Depending on timing — and the general state of the group — we may be able to arrange a pickup. Chat separately if you need help.

Best value Free van from CDG
Shortest Train + taxi (~€60, ~1.5h)
Worst case Direct taxi (€250)
Most flexible Rent a car
Return The Weekend

The
Schedule.

The schedule isn’t fully finalised yet (blame the will of the ADHD), but as it stands, Saturday 6th will be dedicated to in-castle-grounds games—attendance is highly encouraged (i.e. essentially mandatory)—while Sunday 7th is more flexible and you can relax, compete, or go exploring.

Friday 5 June
Morning
Bus Shuttles from CDG
Direct from CDG — no faff. Free. See Arrivals for full details.
Group Van · 5 June
12:00
8 seats
16:30
8 seats
21:30
8 seats
14:00
Check-In
Rooms open. Drop your bags. The château is yours.
Afternoon
Lounge & Settle
The estate opens slowly. Take your time arriving into it.
Evening
Group Dinner
Self-service. The first long table. The first bottles opened.
Night
Evening Games
Cards, conversation, the usual suspects. No fixed end time.
Saturday 6 June
Morning
French Breakfast
Pastries and bread from the boulangerie. Flexible timing — no alarm clocks.
10:00
Yoga
Private yoga lesson by the lake. Participation entirely optional. Recovery strongly encouraged.
Midday
Lounge & Lunch
Catered salads, sandwiches, and the usual grazing spread.
Afternoon
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Teams, château grounds, mild chaos.
Afternoon
Champagne Tasting
A proper one. At the château, no travel required.
Evening
The Grand Dinner — Full Service
Private chef. Four courses. Dress with intention.
After
Whatever Follows
The evening will find its own ending. It always does.
Sunday 7 June
Morning
Flexible Breakfast
Croissants, coffee, recovery. No agenda.
Morning
Lawn Games
Mölkky, pétanque — at your own pace, in the sun.
Afternoon
Summer Camp Competition
Capture the flag, volleyball, beer ball. Fully optional, fully ridiculous.
Afternoon
Optional: Épernay Excursion
A 50-min cab to the champagne houses, for those who want to venture out.
Evening
Dinner
The last supper. Unhurried.
Night
Birthday Games
Attendance non-negotiable.
Monday 8 June — Departures
Morning
Flexible Breakfast
One last croissant. One last coffee.
14:00
Check-Out
The estate is yours until 3pm. Linger as long as you can.
Return Vans to CDG
07:30
8 seats · Early
12:00
8 seats
15:30
8 seats
Return For Those Who Wander

Other
Hours.

The group voted to stay. So the focus is firmly on the château and its grounds — which is more than enough. For those who feel the pull of somewhere else, here is what's nearby.

At the Château
Swimming
The pool is available throughout the weekend. Towels provided. No agenda, no clock.
Lawn Games
Mölkky and pétanque on the grounds. Deeply serious. Very French. Champagne in hand is mandatory.
Summer Camp Competition
Capture the flag, volleyball, beer ball. This is exactly what it sounds like, and it will be exactly as good as you remember.
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Teams, grounds, mild competitive chaos. Results judged that evening.
Golf du Chardonnay
32km. A well-regarded course in the heart of champagne country for anyone who brought their clubs.
The Estate Grounds
Formal gardens, an ornamental lake, paths with no particular destination. Bring someone to walk with, or go alone.
Nothing, Deliberately
A hammock. A glass. The afternoon sun moving across stone. Some guests will find this is enough.
Champagne Country — Major Houses

Reims and Épernay are each around 50 minutes by cab — the spiritual capitals of champagne, with grand maisons, cathedral cellars, and Avenue de Champagne views that are worth the trip.

Moët & Chandon ↗
Épernay · The most iconic cellar tour in champagne country
Veuve Clicquot ↗
Reims · Historic caves, exceptional guided experiences
Ruinart ↗
Reims · Oldest champagne house, breathtaking chalk cellars
Taittinger ↗
Reims · Beautiful Gallo-Roman crayères, elegant tastings
Perrier-Jouët ↗
Épernay · Art Nouveau interiors, exceptional prestige cuvées
Pol Roger ↗
Épernay · Churchill's favourite, intimate and refined
Smaller & Family Houses — Sézanne & Around

For something more intimate — and often more interesting — the Sézannais and surrounding area is home to exceptional family-run producers within 10–20 minutes of the château. These are the places the serious drinkers go.

Bénard-Pitois ↗
Mareuil-en-Brie · Small grower, village-level precision
Veuve Baudouin ↗
Sézanne area · Classic Côte de Sézanne style
Pascal Doquet ↗
Vertus · Biodynamic, Côte des Blancs, superb blanc de blancs
Vouette & Sorbée ↗
Buxières-sur-Arce · Cult natural grower, worth hunting down
Bonnaire ↗
Cramant · Celebrated blanc de blancs, Grand Cru village
Laherte Frères ↗
Chavot · Outstanding small-grower, terroir-driven cuvées
Sézanne & Surrounds

Sézanne is the closest town — 15 minutes by car. A proper French market town: a weekly market, old pharmacy, good bread, and very little pretension.

Marché de Sézanne ↗
Saturday morning market. Cheese, produce, charcuterie, flowers. Essential.
Forêt de la Traconne ↗
A large forest just south of Sézanne. Walking, shade, silence. Good for Sunday morning.
Provins ↗
A medieval UNESCO-listed town about 40 minutes west. Worth it for a half-day excursion.
Restaurants Worth Knowing

If you want a meal off the estate — or a dinner in town on a free evening — these are worth the trip.

Le Relais Champenois ↗
Sézanne · Classic French, good local wine list, reliable and warm
15 min
La Briqueterie ↗
Vinay, Épernay · Michelin-starred, champagne region cuisine, hotel restaurant
50 min
Le Millénaire ↗
Reims · Michelin-starred, elegant, excellent regional menu
55 min
Racine ↗
Reims · Natural wine, modern bistro, the locals' choice
55 min
Les Berceaux ↗
Épernay · Brasserie and gastronomic room, right on Avenue de Champagne
50 min
Local Taxis

If you're heading out independently, these are your best options. Shared taxis back are easiest to coordinate — chat to the group before booking anything solo.

Taxi BSU
+33 7 77 20 11 14
The company managing the arrivals/leaving buses
Taxi Sezanne
+33 3 26 81 11 30
Local taxi in Sezanne; returns
Taxi Indiana
+33 3 26 02 15 02
Taxi near Romily Sur Seine
G7 / Bolt
App-based
Available for longer transfers back to Paris or CDG
Return Château des Temps · Champagne

The
Château.

A 17th-century historic château set in six hectares of parkland. Carved marble fireplaces, oak floors, streams, bridges, a lake — and a heated pool. The entire property is taken exclusively for the weekend.

Outside
Check-In & Check-Out
Arrival
12:00
Friday 5 June
Departure
15:00
Monday 8 June
Bedrooms

En-suite bedrooms across three floors — all with tubs and showers. Room assignments will be shared before the weekend.

First Floor
4 King-Size Rooms
En-suite with tub & shower
1 Twin Room
En-suite with tub & shower
Second Floor
4 King-Size Rooms
En-suite with tub & shower
1 Twin Room
En-suite with tub & shower
Third Floor
3 Queen-Size Rooms
En-suite bathroom
1 Twin Room
En-suite bathroom
2 Single Rooms
En-suite bathroom
Shared Spaces
Informal Salon
Billiard table, grand piano, fireplace, French TV
Formal Salon
Seating, fireplace, doors to the gardens
Dining Room
Seats up to 24 guests
Full Kitchen
Professional cooker, two dishwashers, fridge/freezer
Pétanque Court
On the grounds
Honesty Bar
Stocked — help yourself
En-Suite Bathrooms
The Pool
What's Included
✓
Linen & towels (changed weekly; pool/bath towels every 3 days)
✓
Hairdryers, bath & hair products in every room
✓
Wi-Fi (ground floor)
✓
Energy costs included
✓
Caretaker on site (lives discreetly in château tower)
✓
Exclusive use — no other guests on the estate
Return Practicalities

What Remains
Unsaid.

What should I wear?+
The only dress code is on Saturday evening which calls for something considered — see the After Dark page for full direction. Otherwise, If in doubt, wear what makes you feel like yourself.
Is there WiFi?+
Wi-Fi is available on the ground floor of the château. The bedrooms are offline. Whether this is a relief or an inconvenience is between you and your phone.
Which bus do I get on?+
It's first come, first served for time slots (max 8 people per session). If you're flying out early on the 8th, please take that bus first and be mindful of others.
Have more questions?+
Everything I know is already here. If it's not, assume I don't know either.
Do I have to participate in activities?+
There are a few activities I expect everyone to join. On June 7th, you're free to do your own thing — call a cab, explore, disappear for a bit. Just be back by 7:30pm for dinner.
What about my allergies?+
Already covered. The chef is fully aware of all allergies and dietary restrictions.
Do I have to wait to eat breakfast or lunch?+
No. Eat whenever you want. If there's food, it's fair game.
What activities are mandatory?+
Check the schedule. If it's marked mandatory, show up.
What should I bring?+
Summer clothes, swimwear, something fun for after dark, sunglasses, sandals, comfortable outfits for activities, and a decent attitude.
What happens if I get injured?+
You're attending at your own discretion — we're not liable. That said, there is a doctor and an EMT-certified person on site.
What is my accommodation?+
Rooms and roommates are pre-assigned — check the profiles to see yours. We're at full capacity, so all rooms are shared. There's enough space if you need privacy. Some people are leaving early, so you may be able to move into their room later.
What are the rules for the facility?+
Respect the space. It's old, and if you break something, you pay for it.
Can I change my dinner selections?+
No.
Return The Atmosphere

Champagne
Excess.

A night of decadent glamour and aristocratic misbehaviour.

Versailles excess colliding with country-house hedonism. Silk, jewels, glitter, bare skin, and the sense that someone opened too many bottles of champagne and no one stopped them.

The Dress Code

Tone Deaf Nepo Baby.

Dress like you have never once been told no. Like Marie Antoinette at her own cake-cutting, or Louis XIV on a Tuesday for no reason. Obscenely overdressed. Blissfully unaware. Exactly as it should be.

The Evening
The Long Table, Lit
The Tipsy Socialite
The Scandalous Aristocrat
Golden Hour

These are not rules — just some inspo. Wear what makes you feel gloriously, irresponsibly overdressed.

For the Ladies
The Tipsy
Socialite
A Versailles socialite who absolutely stayed for the after-party.
  • Slip dresses, corsets, feathers, or whatever makes you, you!
  • Lace & sheer layers, dramatic silhouettes
  • Pearls layered with diamond & gold jewellery
  • Long gloves, silk ribbons & hair bows
  • Sequins, crystals — like Clio Peppiatt or Annie's Ibiza
  • Champagne, ivory, blush, gold, black & jewel tones
Decadent, glamorous, a little scandalous. Clothing that catches the candlelight.
For the Gentlemen
The Scandalous
Aristocrat
Arrived impeccably. Somewhere along the evening, the rules became optional.
  • Your funkiest dinner jacket you have nowhere else to wear
  • Relaxed tuxedos or undone black tie
  • Open collars, silk shirts & fitted waistcoats
  • Statement rings, chains & brooches
  • Sequin or embroidered blazers
  • Deep black, midnight navy, oxblood & champagne
Elegant aristocrat meets beautiful chaos. Deliberate dishevelment.
The Only Rule

More.
Always more.

Sparkle
Without apology
Glamour
Without restraint
Champagne
Without end

Look like you belong at a wildly indulgent party history will politely pretend never happened.