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Confidential and unforgettable, ten Relais & Châteaux hotels where to stay once in a lifetime

2022-05-18T06:27:02.475Z


THE FIGARO SELECTION - A camp in Rajasthan, a castle in the Dordogne or a resort in Canada… Present in the four corners of the world, these are havens of peace often nestled in the heart of nature. Here are ten of our favorites for an exceptional stay.


It is a label that makes France shine.

Its bronze-colored logo, interlacing fleur-de-lys and butterfly, evokes “freedom, movement, escapades, discovery”.

Relais & Châteaux is also considered the bible of excellence in the hotel and restaurant industry.

Historical monuments for some houses, works of architects for others, long-standing family property, exceptional location… All are residences or restaurants with character.

They are also characterized by the effective presence of their owner or the managing director.

Their lowest common denominator?

Elevating the art of living to the rank of tenth art

“, in the words of President Philippe Gombert.

Among the 580 Relais & Châteaux members in 67 countries, including 150 in France, here are ten favorites to treat yourself (or to be offered) at least once in your life.

India (Bisalpur): Sujan Jawai

The steppe of Rajasthan as far as the eye can see and only ten contemporary style tents stand out in the red light of the setting sun.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

Here we are in the heart of wild Rajasthan where

Suján Jawai

is set in the middle of fascinating granitic rocks, millions of years old.

We are in the land of leopards and felines are naturally at the center of attention;

they roam freely and coexist with local communities.

The steppe of Rajasthan as far as the eye can see and only ten contemporary style tents stand out in the red light of the setting sun.

Here, flashes of scarlet recall the distinctive turbans of the semi-nomadic Rabari herders guarding the camp, there steel furniture underscores an industrial vibe, and black-and-white photos are on display.

After dark, we'll sit down to eat anywhere - the menu changes daily and the hours are flexible.

The cuisine is a seasonal mix of organic Indian and Western dishes.

Most ?

The camp is rebuilt each season on transport containers, in order to minimize the impact on the environment.

New, “Eden at JAWAI” is the last private camp within the Jawa camp.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book.

“Eden at Jawai”, the latest camp to date.

This 434m² suite is unique: two bedrooms with king-size beds, a living room, a private veranda, a tent-dining room, a heated swimming pool, a terrace with a breathtaking view of the highest surrounding peaks... Who says better ?

The price:

from €800 per night in a double room, full board.

Suján Jawai, Bisalpur, Pali District, Marwar, Rajasthan 306401, India.

Such.

: + 91 11 4617 2700.

Read alsoIndia: the ten most beautiful forts of Rajasthan

France (Dordogne): Castle of the Treyne

This beautiful address erected during the reign of Louis XIII boasts a rich history.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

Perched on limestone cliffs, the silhouette of the Château de la Treyne emerges from the forest like a dream and rises majestically overlooking the Dordogne.

In this region home to more than a thousand castles, this beautiful address erected during the reign of Louis XIII and located near the prehistoric rock caves of the Vézère valley boasts a rich history.

Here period objects, there rooms installed in the old chapel and the tower of the castle, a magnificent coffered ceiling in the restaurant... The decoration gives pride of place to stone, wood and tomettes, but has also been able to create a comfortable house while retaining the soul and authenticity of the place.

The place is surrounded by a 120-hectare private forest and a large park with a French garden.

Further away,

an organic vegetable garden has also sprung up and 300 rosebushes were planted a few months ago, while chef Stéphane Andrieux's regional cuisine is starred.

Real castle life.

The novelty ?

Three suites have been completely redone, and a new family suite, Le Cèdre, has just been created.

The “Favorite Suite” and its very Instagrammable bathtub!

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book.

The "Favorite Suite", for its exceptional view of the Dordogne and its very Instagrammable bathtub!

The price:

from €310 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Château de la Treyne, La Treyne, 46200 Lacave.

Such.

: 05 65 27 60 60.

Read alsoFrom Commarque to the Vézère Valley: ten original ideas for (re)discovering the Dordogne

Germany (

Schleswig-Holstein)

 : Weissenhaus Grand Village Resort

The Grand Village Weissenhaus has the beauty of an island.

Michael Poliza

60 km north of Lübeck, the Grand Village Weissenhaus has the beauty of an island: its vast grounds stretch along the Baltic Sea coast over three kilometers of wild beach bordered by dunes and green meadows.

Opened in 2014, this pretty 400-year-old white palace consists of 55 rooms and suites with large gardens that give the impression of being alone in the world, at the end of the world.

Except in May when the hotel will be the venue for one of the most important international political meetings: the summit of G7 foreign ministers.

We will therefore go later, in particular to discover the Courtier restaurant, where two Michelin stars shine, adding a gastronomic touch to the experience.

The “Badehäuschen”: a small house of 53 m² made of bricks with a sea view. Michael Poliza

The room to book.

Try the “Badehäuschen”: a small 53 m² brick house with a sea view and its own outdoor sauna where guests spend hours in the winter garden, near a crackling fireplace.

The price:

from €440 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Weissenhaus Grand Village Resort and Spa am Meer, Parkallee 1, 23758 Wangels, Germany.

Such.

: +49 4382 92620.

Read alsoIndustrial heritage and maze of canals: Hamburg, rust and water

Portugal (Algarve): Bela Vista Hotel & Spa

A 19th century family home overlooking the ocean, which became the first hotel in the Algarve in 1934. Relais & Châteaux / press photo

Located on Praia da Rocha beach in sunny southern Portugal, a 19th-century family home overlooking the ocean, which became the Algarve's first hotel in 1934. Most of its ornate interiors remain intact , including the beautiful painted wooden ceiling in the bar, the original staircase surrounded by old blue and white wall tiles.

The hotel was renovated by Graça Viterbo, a renowned interior designer, who introduced yellow, red, nautical stripes and a marine theme to the rooms and suites.

Bold!

The equally dazzlingly decorated L'Occitane Spa offers five treatment cabins, a small jet pool, a hammam and a sauna.

Majestic palm trees line the hotel's outdoor swimming pool, between which are

huge white cabanas with ocean views.

Finally, the Portuguese chef João Oliveira offers some of the best gourmet dishes in the Algarve, for which he has obtained a Michelin star.

All you have to do is relax, it's the ideal place to stroll in Portugal.

"Blue Suite" which recalls the color of the Atlantic Ocean.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book.

“Blue Suite” for its blue color reminiscent of the Atlantic Ocean.

The price:

from €495 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, Av. Tomás Cabreira, 8500-802 Portimão, Portugal.

Such.

: +351 282 460 280.

Read alsoWhen to go to Portugal?

Weather, events... The best period by region

Canada (British Columbia): Sonora Resort

Surrounded by salmon-rich waters and islets bristling with pine trees, Sonora is wonderfully secluded and offers a rare alchemy of pristine nature and refined comfort.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

British Columbia's Discovery Islands lie northwest of Vancouver.

Guests (wealthy) get there by helicopter or jet, but you can also get there by water taxi from Campbell River or by seaplane from Seattle.

Surrounded by salmon-rich waters and islets bristling with pine trees, Sonora is wonderfully secluded and offers a rare alchemy of pristine nature and refined comfort.

On the decor side, there's classic Canadian chic, with lots of cedar wood, crackling fires and native artwork hanging on the stone walls.

In the Tyee Restaurant's main dining room sits a colossal custom-built brick canoe, while in the gardens towering grizzly bear sculptures stand out among burnished amber bushes.

In the kitchen,

Canada of art

.

The facility is home to one of British Columbia's largest commissions of artwork, including glass monoliths by Markian Olynyk and cedar poles by Philip Gray.

'Sea Lion Pointe House', one of two villas on the property.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book.

'Sea Lion Pointe House', one of two villas on the property.

More than 1000 m2, and four huge bedrooms that can accommodate up to 8 people.

Isolated in the farthest corner of the complex and facing the sea, it is a singular sanctuary where art, architecture and nature mingle.

The price:

from €885 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Sonora Resort, Sonora Island, BC V0P 1V0, Canada.

Such.

: +1 604 233 0460.

Read the fileCanada: Le Figaro

's travel guide

South Africa (Kruger National Park): Londolozi Private Game Reserve

For more than 90 years the Varty family has taken care of this reserve: three camps imbued with elegance and chic inherited from a long history.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The setting: Londolozi, a conservation-focused 14,000-hectare wilderness reserve that borders Kruger National Park and has five small, intimate camps.

A very special place that is teeming with lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffaloes, among others.

It was the first reserve in South Africa to switch from hunting safaris to photographic safaris as early as 1970. It is also where Nelson Mandela went to escape the paparazzi when he was released from prison in 1990. For more than 90 years old, the Varty family takes care of this reserve: three camps imbued with elegance and chic inherited from a long history.

The icing on the cake, the cuisine emphasizes freshness and local products.

It is therefore the

Facing the elephants, the "Private Granite Suite", with its outdoor bathtub.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book.

The "Private Granite Suite", with its outdoor bathtub, while watching a herd of elephants pass right next to you.

The price:

from €3,700, for one night in a double room, full board.

Londolozi Game Reserve Sparta Farms, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa.

Such.

: +27 13 735 5653.

Read the dossierSafari: travel guide, information and advice from Le Figaro

Italy (Positano): Il San Pietro di Positano

The legendary and very glamorous “San Pietro” lives up to its reputation.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

Often included in lists of the "best addresses in the world" and frequented by stars such as Barbra Streisand, George Clooney or Julia Roberts, the legendary and very glamorous "San Pietro" lives up to its reputation.

Although it's ultra-luxurious and frequented by movie stars and royals, it's essentially a family affair and it shows: the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

The hotel originated in the 1970s and over the years rooms have been added.

Each has its own private outdoor space, but all have extraordinary sea views (the most coveted have views of Positano), some even from the bathtub.

The interiors are a marvel: terracotta floors adorned with ceramics, doors decorated with frescoes...

The novelty ?

This year, the property has carried out


a complete renovation of all rooms, in collaboration with local artisans who have created terracotta ceramics made and glazed by hand exclusively for the hotel.

The “Signature Room”: a 70 m² cocoon with a king-size bed.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book.

The “Signature Room”: designed by Fausta Gaetani, this 70 m² cocoon with king-size bed and lounge area has above all a panoramic terrace with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.

The price:

from €792 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Il San Pietro di Positano, Via Laurito, 2, 84017 Positano SA, Italy.

Such.

: +39 089 875455.

Read alsoWhen to go to Italy?

Weather, events... The best periods by region

Turkey (Cappadocia): Museum Hotel

From the terrace overlooking the valley, a landscape unique in the world offers itself to the gaze, at 180°.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

Located in a very special geographical area – Cappadocia the hotel was designed and built on ruins, some intact, others restored to their former glory.

The building therefore seduces first and foremost by its architecture.

The 34 rooms and suites, like the lounges and the restaurant where delicious Turkish cuisine is served, have their stone decor enhanced by the shimmering colors of the rugs, hangings and works of art.

From the terrace overlooking the valley, a landscape unique in the world offers itself to the gaze, at 180°.

Unique in the world:

the Museum Hotel houses a fabulous collection of Turkish works of art and antiques.

Mystic Cave Suite is one of the most unique spaces in Museum Hotel, with its private pool, mystical architectural details and a unique view of Cappadocia.

Relais & Châteaux / press photo

The room to book

.

“Mystic Cave Suite”, for its private swimming pool, its two-storey cave structure with a private courtyard and its unique view of Cappadocia.

The price:

from €292 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Museum Hotel, Tekeli mah.

Eski, Göreme Cd. No.1, 50240 Nevşehir, Turkey.

Such.

: +90 384 219 22 20.

Read alsoTurkey from North to South, our five favorite beaches

Norway (Norangsfjord): Hotel Union Øye

This house at the end of the world illustrates the best Norway has to offer.

Simon Sjøkvist / 62°NORTH

A favorite haunt of royalty, writers and lovers for generations, this house at the end of the world, with historic charm in a breathtaking setting, illustrates the finest Norway has to offer.

Since the opening of its doors in 1891, visitors have come to savor the sweetness of life and tranquility in a natural setting as spectacular as it is magnificent: the village of Øye, near the Norangsfjord.

In a warm Scandinavian decor, its 15 rooms and 22 very cozy suites open onto panoramas that will seduce lovers of wide open spaces.

In the evening, they will let themselves be enchanted by the piano notes that resonate in the old-fashioned charming salons.

At the gourmet restaurant, chef Knut Edvard Kjersem promotes the traditions of the region,

as well as its local products which are among the best in the world.

Bucolic.

Bathroom with view of the summit of Mount Slogen.

62°NORTH

The room to book.

That of the famous Norwegian novelist Bjørnstjerne Børnson.

From his bathtub you have a ceiling window that overlooks the peak of Mount Slogen.

The “Queen's Suite” is also amazing!

There, you can press a "

Press for champagne

" button from the bathtub and get a good bottle of frozen champagne served on the spot!

The price:

from €270 per night in a double room, breakfast included.

Hotel Union Øye, Norangdal 41, 6196 Norangsfjorden, Norway.

Such.

: +47 70 06 21 00.

Read alsoRoad trip in Norway along the west coast, from Narvik to the North Cape

Mexico (Nayarit): Imanta Punta de Mita

Imanta Punta de Mita overlooks the Pacific.

Relais & Châteaux / Press photo

The Bahía de Banderas and the bustling city of Puerto Vallarta are not far away.

But the Imanta Punta de Mita is nestled in the equatorial forest, sheltered behind the mountains of Punta de Mita, for a precious appointment with nature.

Overlooking the Pacific, the rough stone buildings are as beautiful as they are respectful of this privileged environment.

Imagine jacuzzis on the rooftops of the villas with views of the ocean, the long, hilly beach and the lush rainforest.

Winding paths lead past tropical flower bushes and stone carvings.

The wood and glass villas, functional at best, with just the right amount of luxury, are full of light.

'The Tree House', an amazing multi-level house nestled in the jungle.

Relais & Châteaux / Press photo

The room to book.

“The Tree House”, an amazing multi-level house nestled in the jungle, with its private beach.

Great luxury: a beautiful waterfall fills three ponds which act as private swimming pools.

The price:

from €716, for one night in a suite with jungle view, breakfast included.

Imanta Resorts Punta De Mita, Monte Nahuac Lote L, 63734 Higuera Blanca, Nay., Mexico.

Such.

: +52 329 298 4200.

Read alsoWhen to go to Mexico?

Seasons, festivities… The best time, region by region

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-05-18

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