Relais & Châteaux is an exclusive collection of 500 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries. From the vineyards in Napa valley to the beaches in Bali, from the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Châteaux offers all the stops on the finest route for discovering each special place and country.
In all our properties, each maître de maison draws upon his unique experience and passion to share the authentic culture and tastes of his region with every guest.
Magical places and memories of a lifetime: whether it be a romantic weekend or to celebrate the important moments of life such as birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoon or family reunions.
Established in France more than 50 years ago, Relais & Châteaux has become a renowned reference of excellence in the hotel and restaurant world. The Association's mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.
"Impressionists by the sea" at the Royal Academy from the 7th July to the 30th September 2007.
The Royal Academy of Arts in London will host from 7 July to 30 September a major exhibition: “Impressionists by the Sea”
It explores the origins and development of the fashionable contemporary French beach scene - mainly in Normandy during the late 19th century focusing on the the work of Eugène Boudin, Manet and Monet. It looks at the French seaside where the Impressionists used their new painting approach to capture the effects of weather and light on the coastline.
Are you curious? Come along and see this prestigious exhibition and in addition combine your visit with a stay or even lunch or dinner in one of the fabulous Relais & Châteaux properties in the London Area.
The full exhibition features over 60 paintings focusing first on the 1860s, on the well-heeled sightseers who came to enjoy the area and then later the 1880s, where the focus was on the bounty of colours and light from the cliffs, sand and sea.
The coast of Normandy has for many years provided rich inspiration for artists, and The Impressionists by the Sea exhibition which runs until September 30 2007, does an admirable job of highlighting the appeal of this once-remote area, showing how the region started attracting holidaymakers at the same time as Impressionism was developing.
To find out more about Relais & Châteaux destinations in Normandy, click here.
To win a luxury holiday to Normandy in a Relais et Châteaux and follow in the footsteps of the impressionists in Normandy, click here
Amberley Castle Hotel and restaurant in the country After nine hundred years standing proud in the unspoilt county of West Sussex, known as “the garden of England”, this fortress with its storybook battlement towers has weathered the attacks of enemies and of time itself. Today the battles of the past have made way for an enchanted peace, but certain historic traditions remain. Every night, just before midnight, the impressive portcullis is lowered ever so silently as if to protect your slumber that little bit more. Indeed you will be sleeping in a princely suite with a four-poster bed and mullioned windows overlooking gardens full of blossoming trees. The food is also fit for a king and is served in a dining room with vaulted ceilings and decorated with tapestries and suits of armour. Take a journey back in time in this uniquely romantic setting. ...Read more United Kingdom, Amberley
Le Gavroche Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town Founded in 1967 by Albert and Michel Roux, Le Gavroche quickly became a benchmark for fine dining à la française in London’s ever so exclusive Mayfair. To perpetuate the family tradition, Michel Roux Jr. took over in the kitchen in 1991. A new look, a fresh take, a new burst of creativity, combined with the incomparable recipes of his father and uncle - such as the Soufflé Suissesse -, all further cemented the restaurant’s international renown. A seasonal cuisine in which he doesn’t hesitate to showcase the very best of French produce - Challans duck, lamb from the Pyrenees - and the finest vintages. A truly unique diner experience in London. ...Read more United Kingdom, London
Gravetye Manor Hotel and restaurant in the woods Gravetye Manor is a truly enchanting place. Close to the pleasures of London, yet far from its hustle and bustle. This beautiful Elizabethan manor sits proudly amongst the winding pathways and abundant flower beds of William Robinson’s own garden, the grandfather of the English natural garden. From the hushed quiet of the wood panelled restaurant to the crackle of log fires, guests cannot fail to be charmed by this most quintessential English country house. Summer or winter, the sweeping countryside views, first class cuisine and attentive yet unobtrusive service will ensure an unforgettable experience ...Read more United Kingdom, Near East Grinstead
The Waterside Inn Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel on a river While Michel Roux, the father, now takes the time to “inhale the sweet aroma of grapes and write books”, Alain - the son - has brilliantly taken over at the helm of the Waterside Inn. Resolutely creative French cuisine like roasted scallops on sliced baby artichokes, infused with honey, orange and lemon and sprinkled with crab meat; or the salmon en papillote with pine needles and a star aniseed sauce. On the terrace, in the shade of a willow tree, or in the inn's cosy rooms, let yourself be soothed by the calm of the River Thames… And if you feel a desire to explore the surrounding area, you can visit Windsor castle or stroll around Savill Garden, one of the finest in England. ...Read more United Kingdom, Bray
Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in the country It is in a sumptuous manor, just outside of Oxford, that the chef Raymond Blanc displays his sensory universe. For him, “if the work itself is transient, the memory of the flavour remains”. In his vast garden abounding with lavender, he grows almost ninety varieties of vegetables and more than seventy aromatic herbs which you are bound to find on your plate, in one way or another. If he swears only by “bio” and organic, it is because “good doesn’t interest him, but sublime does”. Sublime like the suites of this hotel, small lofts with evocative names: The exoticism of Opium, the haven of tranquillity of Blanc de Blanc, the sobriety of Vettriano... Let yourself be enchanted, in the native land of Lewis Carroll and of J.R.R Tolkien. ...Read more United Kingdom, Oxford
Restaurant The Fat Duck Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in a village Snail Porridge, Mock Turtle Soup, Nitro-scrambled Egg and Bacon Ice Cream, “Sound of the sea”… As you might have guessed by now, Heston Blumenthal’s cooking is unique. His restaurant, The Fat Duck, is located in the English countryside just a few miles outside London in a building dating back 450 years with an updated minimalist décor. From a very young age, this “culinary alchemist” has had a modern approach to his cooking – the study of the physical phenomena that effect the taste and flavour of a dish – and he likes nothing better than to develop new possibilities including his current research into historic British gastronomy in a bid to recreate dishes inspired by the past. One of his multi-sensory creations is a seafood dish with a twist. For those who like creativity and imagination when they go out for a meal, this is definitely the place to go… ...Read more United Kingdom, Bray
United Kingdom, Amberley 
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town
