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The lesser-known cousin of the Loire Valley, the Vallée du Loir is one of the best-kept secrets in French style and gastronomy. Its pièce de résistance? Château du Grand-Lucé. Originally constructed as part of a family estate by nobleman and trusted confidant of King Louis XV Jacques Pineau de Viennay III, the mansion fell into disrepair during World War I. Its later restoration by the state and further transformation in 2017 into a luxury hotel have seen this château return to its original 18th-century opulence. Opulence is the keyword here. Driving up to the hotel through the acres of private grounds covered in classical, landscaped gardens, you could be forgiven for thinking you were headed to Versailles. Painstakingly manicured boxwoods, immaculate topiaries and wide expanses of perfectly trimmed grass give a satisfying sense of symmetry to these extravagant grounds. Arriving at the cream-white limestone facade of the hotel exterior - an ode to the Age of Enlightenment and its emblematic neoclassical style - it becomes clear that a stay at this hotel will be perhaps like no other holiday you have been on before. The château comprises 17 guestrooms, each thoughtfully designed with much attention to detail; archived patterns at Pierre Frey are juxtaposed with the innovative splendour of Christian Lacroix and the indulgence of Jean-Paul Gaultier. Add to this a carefully curated selection of period artwork and tapestries, gold and silver-gilded corners and you are coming closer to imagining the glamour of these suites. Where possible, original oak flooring has been retained, enhanced by hand-selected antiques and, in the bathroom, chunks of marble and Buly 1803 bath products. The hotel is a natural setting for a wedding, with a stately ballroom onsite and several banquet halls that can be hired for exclusive use. The white oak forest beyond the hotel gardens makes a beautiful backdrop for photographs, too. Alternatively, the château makes a great romantic weekend away; with many nearby vineyards to explore, take a picnic basket provided by the hotel for a day out of rambling walks or a serene drive. With a spa, pool and valet service available, no stone has been left unturned here to provide the ultimate luxury experience.
Romantic Break
Country Escape
Weddings
Ballooning
Cycling
Sights nearby
Romantic
Views
Family Suites
Wedding license
Luxury
Outstanding location
Sit-out Terrace
Full of character
Opulent
Spa
Restaurant
Boutique
Historic
Antiques
Child friendly
Four poster beds
Wellbeing
Traditional
Rooms
17 rooms in this hotelNo pets
Views
Parking
Family Suites
Bar
Wedding license
Fireplace
Airport transfer
Meeting Room
Four poster beds
Sit-out Terrace
Sitting Room
Spa
Restaurant
Swimming Pool
Garden
Child friendly
Wifi
Room service
Suites
Concierge
Ballooning
Cycling
Sights nearby
An 18th-century château, considered one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in France, has opened as a hotel in the Loire Valley, offering 17 remarkably elegant guestrooms, a restaurant and beautifully restored antique-filled interiors which face onto the formal French gardens and lake beyond.
Originally published by The Telegraph
Forty-five-thousand square feet of elegantly assembled creamy limestone set in 80 acres of landscaped grounds and woodland. The château also has, quite literally on the doorstep, its very own extremely charming village, Le Grand-Lucé, with one 11th-century church, two 19th-century bakeries and no fewer than three salons de coiffure that could perhaps, at a stretch, be described as 20th-century, if not quite contemporary.
Originally published by CN Traveller
France’s secret region with wine, antiques and a chic château hotel
Originally published by The Times
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