Stéphane Durand
Relais & Châteaux: our five dream perched hotels
Plume's pick: 5 dream hotels, 5 breathtaking views in France
Between Alpine panoramas and steep Mediterranean slopes, the finest Relais & Châteaux hotels are not afraid to take to the skies to offer breathtaking views. Whether tucked away in the mountains or overlooking dizzying cliffs, discover dream hotels perched on the edge of the sky.
The most beautiful dream hotels: La Signoria in Calvi
To unveil "the true and authentic Corsica": this is the ambition of Marie and Jean-Baptiste Ceccaldi, the owners of this sublime XVIIIe century mansion in Calvi. While the hotel's thirty rooms boast a number of undeniable assets, including antique floors and delightfully vintage furnishings, we can't help but take notice of the cabin perched six meters high, offering an unrivalled panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of the Bonifacio cirque. Made entirely of chestnut wood, this unusual 26m² room boasts all modern comforts (including air conditioning) and awakens our adventurous soul (the luxury version, of course.) La Signoria's spa is just one of the reasons you'll want to touch down again, as it boasts an XXL Jacuzzi dug right into the ground, as well as a hammam and sauna. The opportunity to discover 100% Corsican treatment rituals signed Casanera, a brand "made in maquis" which uses exclusively organic and local products.
La Signora
From 680€ per night.
Route de la forêt Bonifato 20260 Calvi.
Photo credits © Sylvain Alessandri
Hameau Albert Ier in Chamonix
Imagine opening your window every morning to admire the roof of Europe. With Mont Blanc in majesty, all that's left to do is enjoy the snow-covered trails. This is the idyllic setting of Hameau Albert 1era family-run Relais & Châteaux owned by the Charrier family since 1903. The only choice you have to make is between modern architecture and Alpine tradition, as the 5* boasts several contrasting buildings, including two independent wooden chalets surrounded by nature. The hotel's twenty-one rooms, on the other hand, feature sleek designer furnishings, some with wood-burning stoves built into the walls to great effect. No matter what the outside temperature, the hotel's swimming pool remains heated in winter and summer, promising a moment of unparalleled relaxation, as does the treatment menu designed by Anne Semonin, an expert in natural cosmetics, whose purifying mineral treatment becomes the perfect ally for this alpine stay.
HameauAlbert1er
Rooms from €219.
38, route du Bouchet 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
Photo credit: © Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
Le Saint Paul in Saint-Paul-de-Vence
The ramparts of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, which once served to protect the population from invasions, now have a much less bellicose purpose: to allow us to admire the surrounding Provençal landscape. The cobbled streets of the village are home to Le Saint Paul, which has been one of Relais & Châteaux's dream hotels for over thirty years. Located in a 16th-century Provençal bourgeois residencecentury century, this 5* hotel has sixteen rooms, suites, and villas, all of which are uniquely decorated. The "Panoramic Suite," for example, offers a view of the Loup Valley, which can be admired from a private terrace. Two restaurants add to this haven of peace: Le Côté Terrasse and Le Saint-Paul, where chef Mickael Berthiaud presides. His passion for local produce is reflected in his wonderful dishes, such as the organic egg from Vence, cooked to perfection and served with a Parmesan shortbread, a few pomegranate seeds, carrots and white cabbage with marjoram. Simple and devilishly effective.
Le Saint-Paul
Rooms from €266.
86, rue Grande 06570 Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Photos with rights reserved
Château de Riell in Molitg-les-Bains, one of the world's most beautiful hilltop dream hotels
How can we talk about dream hotels without mentioning the feat of neo-Gothic architecture of this atypical château in the heart of the Pyrénées-Orientales spa town? The granite walls house seventeen rooms with an elegant, baroque atmosphere, featuring furniture carved into the rock and contemporary works of art. And if the setting is ideal for outdoor activities (hiking on Mount Canigou, invigorating canyoning), you'll also appreciate staying in the peace and quiet of this verdant setting, especially when it comes to enjoying one of the establishment's three tables, in particular the Òliba restaurant. This gastronomic gem is nestled in the foothills of the château, between the pool and the patio. Here, chef Benoît Janet serves up tasty local cuisine, paying homage to the alpine pastures of the surrounding mountains as well as the orchards of Roussillon. And since the menu is renewed daily, there's plenty of reason to come and enjoy it.
Château de Riell
From 200€ per night.
Route des Bains 66500 Molitg-les-Bains.
Château de la Chèvre d'Or in Eze
Located between Nice and Monaco, this unique château in the medieval village of Eze offers a bird's-eye view of the quintessential French Riviera. This idyllic setting attracted violin virtuoso Zlatko Balokovic in the early 1930s. Legend has it that, while wandering around, he let himself be guided by a golden-haired goat towards a building he fell instantly in love with. He decided to buy it, restore it and baptize it in honor of his precious totem animal. Today, the establishment boasts forty-five rooms, including the Suite Nietzsche with its private pool overlooking the Mediterranean. On the culinary front, we turn our attention to newly-arrived chef Tom Meyer, who took over the reins of the hotel's two-star restaurant last April. And when we taste his incredible tourteau, accompanied by a crunchy crêpe soufflé, apricots and saffron, we dare to think that the third star will soon be no more than a formality.
Château de la Chèvre d'Or
Rooms from 608€.
Rue du Barri 06360 Eze Village.
Photo credits: @Remi Dupac @James Pouliot and photos with rights reserved
