First Look Inside a 13th-Century Château Set on 2,500 Acres in the French Countryside that's Reopening as an Auberge Resort
There is only one hotel in Auberge Resorts Collection's European portfolio, the Domaine des Etangs, and Rich Report will take a look at the first hotel in the country's portfolio to be managed by the company: Auberge Resorts Collection's Domaine des Etangs.
There have been a lot of announcements recently regarding the expansion of Auberge Resort Collection's European presence, which includes acquiring the historic Domaine des Etangs castle, which the company will start managing in April. On 2,500 acres of breathtaking natural landscapes, this picture-perfect 13th-century château embraces local culture and history while offering a modern take on the French art of living in a setting that radiates charm and authenticity.
In the southwest region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, tucked away in what is often called the Charente region of southwest France's renownedly picturesque Charente region, was a former country getaway for the Primat family owned by French industrialist Didier Primat called Domaine des Etangs.
During the renovation process, Primat, who was an avid outdoor enthusiast, turned the property into a reflection of his love for nature and the rich heritage of luxury crafts of the region.
A century-old manor house that now boasts luxury accommodations, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a wellness center, and an art gallery, the estate integrates the rich history of the estate with the modern style and design of the modern world.
Domaine Des Etangs offers six farmhouse cottages that offer guests an unsurpassed vantage point of the surrounding countryside with exposed stone walls, fireplaces, and soaking bathtubs if they desire privacy and unspoiled countryside views.
The Longère - or long house - a luxury resort in the heart of the French Alps - offers four multi-story suites that offer elegant, season-inspired interiors. At the château, seven rooms are outfitted with Hermès furniture and world-class artwork, creating a contrast between contemporary style and the setting of an entirely different era.
As a matter of fact, art occupies a prominent position on the property. There is a gallery located on site, which is located in a former dairy barn, as well as numerous paintings, installations, and decorative objects displayed both indoors and outdoors, making Domaine des Etangs a creative hub.
In Dyades, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant, edible art is served as an option on the menu. Located in the former stables of the château, the dining room seats 40 people and spills out onto the patio onto which patrons can enjoy delicious French cuisine prepared with the freshest seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden.
You can indulge in hand-crafted cocktails in one of the castle's three elegant salons, in the library, or in the garden of the castle while watching the sunset.
In the château's basement, the basement has been reimagined as a pool house with a thermal bath and a frigidarium, while the upper floor has been turned into a lounge with a fireplace and a panoramic glass window looking out across the grounds. You can relax with a body treatment or a facial at the spa, located inside a former millhouse on the estate.
“As we continue our focused expansion in Europe, we are thrilled to add this magnificent and historic property to Auberge Resorts Collection’s portfolio of one-of-a-kind hotels,” Dan Friedkin, chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection, said in a press release about the acquisition. “We are honored that Garance Primat has entrusted us to manage another one of her family’s properties that, like Primland in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is devoted to helping travelers forge a unique and authentic connection with its locale.”
Auberge Resorts Collections has added a second European property to its portfolio, Domaine des Etangs, to its portfolio. The new property joins another stunning Auberge Resorts Collection property - Santorini's Grace Hotel - with a third one in the works that is scheduled to open in early 2024: Collegio alla Querce, an 82-room hotel that will open in Florence in the beginning of the year.
