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.
Nestled on the hillside and drenched in Provencal sunshine, this convent was home to nuns before it was converted into an upscale hotel. Protected from the Mistral wind by the statuesque Volx Rock, the building, which dates back to 1613, is a successful fusion of medieval architecture and contemporary design. You will be delighted by the period facades, 100 year-old terraced gardens, and the station of the cross. The rooms have been decorated with great attention to detail and have a gentle Mediterranean style, as does Le Couvent des Minimes Spa L’Occitane, a temple to wellness and a promise of renewed well-being.
Le Prieuré in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, tucked away in the mediaeval village, with its cottage garden and its trailing wisteria, emanates a rare charm. Jean-André and Geneviève Charial, who also own L’Oustau de Baumanière and La Cabro d’Or in Baux-de-Provence, say that this former convent epitomises silence and relaxation. The rooms and suites are in three different buildings in which contemporary style meets ancient tradition. The menu also pays tribute to the region, with dishes such as duck foie gras from the Landes with Gariguette strawberries from Nîmes and pot-roasted Costières wood pigeon with fresh sage. Le Prieuré’s mouth-watering cuisine is served in surroundings which bring all the senses to life.
The Château de Rochegude is located in the heart of the Provencal Drôme region and majestically overlooks the Côtes du Rhône vineyards. The cellars of the château boast some of the best Côtes du Rhône wine and are a starting point for wine tastings in the surrounding vineyards. Other activites on offer include a visit to the Ardèche caves or to some of the many Roman remains, such as the Pont du Gard and the antique theatre in Orange. On your return to the château enjoy a snack of warm local truffles, thinly-sliced, seasoned and lightly steamed with butter, accompanied by eggs and slices of toast.
Countless generations of the Gleize family have looked after this 17th century post house. The balconies, the mosaiced walkways in the gardens and the little almond-green shutters are the work of Jany, the latest in the line. In the kitchen he reinvents the Provencal recipes of his grandmother Gabrielle, with an emphasis on tradition and flavours. Sweets enjoy pride of place, in honour of Jany’s father, Pierre, a confectioner. Sample the delicious lavender-scented honey ice cream served in it’s bee hive. An organic kitchen garden offers the best produce the land offers. Much more than simply a great place to stop off, this is a voyage for the senses and a natural stepping stone to reaching perfect happiness.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in the country
L’Oustau de Baumanière is renowned for its gourmet dining and its elegant and welcoming hotel – the epitome of unaffected Mediterranean art of living. This very special place, on the periphery of the community in the midst of the amazing Baux-de-Provence rocky outcrops, is a veritable icon. None of the different rooms and suites (spread over three buildings: the main building L’Oustau, La Guigou, 500 metres away and Le Manoir, 900 metres away) restored by Geneviève Charial looks anything like any of the others. Authenticity blended with contemporary style. Superb dining, in an ancient 16th century farmhouse in the heart of one of the most beautiful villages of France – the perfect place to enjoy the refined, subtle, simple cuisine of chef Sylvestre Wahid. Jelly-glazed egg, red mullet, basil and thyme flowers… The flavours explode in your mouth and take you by surprise... Light-drenched and quintessentially peaceful, the Spa Baumanière opens up to an aromatic garden.
Located on a charming paved side-street at the peak of a magnificent Provencal village, Le Vieux Castillon boasts beautiful Renaissance architecture and a spectacular swimming pool suspended between sky and prairie. From the terrace, enjoy a panoramic view of the vineyards and savour cuisine which tastes of the sun, bathed in local olive oil, scented with the myriad fragrances of the land and accompanied by a great selection of regional vintage wines. In this house, all of the ingredients for an exceptional moment in a magical setting come together.
Located on a hill overlooking a winery estate, the Domaine de La Coquillade boasts exceptional views of the Luberon and Mont Ventoux. This charming hamlet contains six sumptuously furnished residences, the oldest dating back to the 11th century. Experience a blend of authenticity and ecology in the heart of the vineyards. Savour either gourmet modern or traditional cuisine, and delight the palate with vintages from the Aureto vineyard. Top-of-the-range bikes are available for cycling enthusiasts to discover the countryside at their own pace. Lovers of Provence and fans of wine, wide-open spaces, nature, calm, and sports will be truly enchanted with the serenity and well-being to be found in this idyllic setting.
With its breathtaking views of the Luberon valley, this Provencal farmhouse is the perfect place to relax. Witness unforgettable sunsets to the song of chirping cicadas from the terraces of the mas with its sun-bleached walls. The house is set around a magnificent pool, surrounded by cypresses, olive trees, mediterranean pines and palm trees. From here, discover the charms of the Vaucluse, with its watermills, windmills and dry stone huts – a beautiful part of the world that has seduced and inspired a number of great artists including Marc Chagall, Serge Poliakoff and Victor Vasarely.
Cypress trees pick out Château de Berne at the end of a road that wends its way through 1,500 acres of estate vineyards. For the last three hundred years, characterful Provence wines have been aged in its cellars; the sandy soils around the Château give these rosé wines their fresh appeal. Recently renovated in “country chic” style, the delightful rooms with moss-green shutters have wonderful views over the garden, vineyards, and forest. At the restaurant L’Orangerie, the colourful cuisine abounds in the scents and flavours of Provence, and of the fruits and vegetables picked from the French-style cottage garden in the Château’s grounds. This is a heavenly spot where heirloom varieties, flowers and garden herbs all grow together under the olive trees. The Spa is located in a new, contemporary environment, which is marked by a zen atmosphere.
Surrounded by five hectares of botanical gardens, this Second Empire residence is decorated with wrought iron, sculptured woodwork and brightly coloured fabrics. Music is a special part of any visit to the Château de Montcaud. The classical concerts make for beautiful romantic evenings, and in the summer the Sunday Jazz lunch accompanied by a typical New Orleans cuisine is a treat not to be missed. The Château de Montcaud is the perfect base for visiting the festivals at Avignon, Uzès and Orange, just a few kilometres away.
2,000 years ago, under the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, the Celtic Tricastins tribe settled in the Provence Drôme region, more specifically in the commune of Augusta Tricastinorum, today known as Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. In tribute to this great heritage, the Villa Augusta retains the feel of the Roman era in its golden ochre facade. The lights, colours and fragrances are redolent of an antique Roman tavern and the 200 year-old cedar tree is the perfect spot for a picnic. A master’s residence, with its simple but elegant interiors, Villa Augusta is conducive to total relaxation, notably by the pool surrounded by lush nature. The local specialty – black Melanosporum truffle – is featured in the hotel’s cuisine and special excursions are organised to hunt for this precious commodity.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel on the seafront
Nobody loves Marseilles more than the Passédat family. To love Marseilles means to love the Mediterranean, inseparable from the city, just like Gérald Passédat’s cuisine. Fish, naturally, is the basis of his cooking; fished locally, including little-known fish such as galinette and chapon which, served with shellfish, give you the delicious impression of being immersed in a sea of blue. The cult dish of course is “Bouille Abaisse”, light, iodized and zephyrlike, but also the famous loup Lucie (sea bass). Save some room for the desserts which are “extravagant”, admits the chef. As for the view of the sea, it is everywhere… from the terrace and from the restaurant. And since it’s a dreamlike view, you can continue to enjoy it as far as your bedroom, with its spacious and open view of the horizon…
The Sainte-Baume is a mountain ridge that has taken its place in legend thanks to its centuries-old beech grove and the cave where Mary Magdalene was said to have taken refuge, thus becoming a pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages. At the foot of the mountains you will find the Châteauneuf Estate and the 18th century house where Bonaparte stayed in 1794. Discover this little summer palace with old hexagonal floor tiles in red brick, ceramic friezes and Moroccan tiles in the bathrooms. Sit underneath the chestnut trees on the terrace to enjoy a fabulous view of the international golf course of Sainte-Baume and the almost religious calm.
Paul Cézanne missed Aix terribly whenever he left, and never ceased to be inspired by its beauty. Many after him succumbed to the charm of this town and the ambience of this Florentine residence. The rooms are sumptuously decorated, and open onto a private garden filled with the fragrance of lavender. The cuisine pays tribute to Provence with dishes like sautéed loin of lamb and aubergine caviar with olives, black garlic sauce and fried basil. Try the famous local speciality of Calisson, sweets flavoured with melon and orange. Villa Gallici offers a special “Cézanne package”, which includes a visit to the painter’s studio.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in town
“We created this restaurant in the same way we create our dishes: the first ingredient was our imagination.” At the age of 24, the famous Pourcel twin brothers found this abandoned house in the centre of Montpellier and it was love at first sight. These Grands Chefs opened their first property here: a “garden” where the flavours of Languedoc and the Mediterranean are manifestly sweet or salty, mild or bitter but always a joy. The attention to detail here is remarkable and there is a glorious twin assault on the senses. The hotel’s décor was entrusted to Bruno Borrione who bestowed a contemporary look, with a unique design to express a true art de vivre.
At the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains and Mont Ventoux is a charming and historic place in a location close to the heart of Paul Cézanne. Former meeting places in this centuries-old commune – a presbytery, stables and a school – have been renovated, restored and converted into beautiful lodgings with wonderful views of “the Giant of Provence”, Mont Ventoux. This is an ideal Provencal base from which to explore the local markets, medieval villages, antique shops, lavender fields and artists’ studios. Other attractions include an abundant and fragrant local cuisine as well as unforgettable Rhône wine tastings, featuring Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Located between Roussillon and Gordes, Le Phébus is a dry-stone-walled farmhouse where the rooms overlook the tranquil water of their private swimming pools. Built on remains dating back to the medieval knights of the Order of Malta, this is a jewel of a hotel and the perfect place to take shelter when the mistral wind is blowing across the prairie of southern France. Its location makes it the ideal base from which to explore the Luberon, and the Carita Spa is the perfect place to relax. In the restaurant, the traditional cuisine breathes new life into ancient Provencal recipes and offers a superb “soupe au pistou”, a regional vegetable soup with garlic and basil.
Restaurant eines Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux auf dem Land
With exceptional cuisine and an inviting and sophisticated interior crafted by the artisans of the Gard region, the Restaurant Alexandre is a unique place. Grand Chef Michel Kayser has perfected the art of pleasing the palate. The pleasures of the table are enhanced by the elegantly arranged food, the special aromas of seasonal products skillfully prepared and paired with wines tended and nurtured in the Languedoc-Rousillon. The île flottante with Provence truffles on a velouté of Cévennes cep mushroons and the “écrin des gourmandises Alexandre”, a selection of desserts, are both not to be missed. A passionate chef, Kayser imbues the restaurant with his own values as he takes you on a culinary journey through deeply-rooted southern cuisine.
Jean-André and Geneviève Charial say of La Cabro d’Or that it was born for happiness – it is set in the heart of a huge garden where you can stroll at leisure in utter peace and quiet. The hotel’s rooms and suites all epitomise the grace of Provence, its elegance and modernity. The dining room and terrace at La Cabro d’Or provide a delightful setting and are the perfect place to enjoy sophisticated cuisine. Parmesan shavings, confit tomatoes, scallops, wood pigeon, fillet of beef and suckling pig. Those are just some of the spring dishes on a menu that follows the seasons, often served with L’Affectif, a wine produced by Mr Charial. Young and old alike will delight in exploring the goat pens, the swings and the outdoor activities, and also the huge pool.
