France: Aesthetic choices

03 August 2026

Clara Le Fort

These Relais & Châteaux properties in France have recently undergone major renovations, emerging with strong architectural statements that reference influential cultural movements, historical periods, or particular philosophies. All, lessons in style.

6 min

Carefree glamour

The retro spirit of the French Riviera mingles with contemporary flair throughout the interiors of the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel. In 2008, this Relais & Châteaux property originally established its geometric architectural lines on the site of the Maison des Pêcheurs. In 2024, its newly revamped decor, by architect Bernard Dubois, broke away from the site’s formerly minimalist character to embrace the more exuberant 1970s spirit of the grand Mediterranean villas that pepper Cap d’Antibes. He drew inspiration from the legendary era when Eddy Barclay, Brigitte Bardot, and Johnny Hallyday frequented this former ‘Fishermen’s House,’ bringing a touch of Californian flair with them. Natural and mineral surfaces now converse with the building’s clean lines and boatlike silhouette: the green roof casts a refreshing halo, extended by the scintillating Lucerne stone flowing through the interiors and a creamy wooden floor that unfurls all the way to the beach. “The central idea was to create a fresh, airy atmosphere and to move toward greater comfort and cheerfulness,” explains maître de maison Franck Farneti, who enthuses about the choice made by Bernard to draw on two iconic 1970s colors–powder pink and a soft apricot hue–to revive that decade’s sense of carefree glamour. Now that Riviera signature echoes throughout every space.

A voyage through the centuries

Inspired by the Breton history of the French East India Company, the Domaine de Locguénolé & Spa orchestrates a colorful voyage to the east in step with modern times. It was a massive undertaking to renovate all the existing buildings of this historic property, one of the first in Brittany to have joined Relais & Châteaux, back in the 1970s. The estate has expanded from 22 to 47 rooms and opened sections of the formerly private chateau, manor house, and stables, which now feature a spa. The complete overhaul includes the conversion of a former henhouse into a suite; the gatekeeper’s house into an independent villa; and a 1920s sailing trawler into new family-size accommodation. The contemporary interior design weaves in connections with the history of the nearby commercial port of Lorient, the base of the French East India Company that brought fabulous wealth to many local families. Locguénolé evokes the history of the great trading routes through silks, porcelain, and vintage color palettes that characterize the period with contemporary elegance. The grand custom-built Victorian glasshouse embodies this contemporary vision in a tribute to the exotic plant collections of the time. Within it is a new Michelin-starred restaurant “that seems to have always been there,” according to architect Romain Brothier of Bachmann & Associates. Wherever the eye wanders, it is swept into a voyage through the centuries.

A connection with nature

Drawing on nature, for which it is a metaphor, the new extension at Le Domaine de Verchant embodies a sense of contemporary timelessness. The property is understandably proud of its long history, throughout which it has always been deeply connected to nature. Across its 260-acre/105-hectare estate, the hotel features 99 acres/40 hectares of vineyards, a park, an oak woodland grove, and an olive orchard. It is now venturing into the cultivation of almond trees and vegetables, across 12 acres/4.8 hectares, including half an acre/one hectare of organic crops. “Cultivating a connection to the land is a deliberate choice. Expressing it in the renovation of Le Domaine de Verchant was an obvious step,” explains general manager Gérald Van Reck. Such is the philosophy behind the interior redesign: to integrate nature into the experience, playing on the gradual patina of timeless materials such as stone, wood, and plaster. The extension, which includes 25 new rooms and suites, as well as the gourmet restaurant Marcelle, focuses on ultra-contemporary architecture and a pervasive connection with the Mediterranean landscape. “I chose to bring the exterior in, such as planting olive trees in the middle of the restaurant, where they cast dappled shadows,” explains interior architect Jordane Arrivetz of design agency Notoire. She collaborated with the aesthete and antique dealer Julie Barraud to hunt for objects that imbue the place with a sense of history. She also worked with other artists and artisans to create thoughtful multisensory interplays, using natural elements, throughout every corner of the estate.