Villevieille Sommieres, France
Opened
2017
Price
$$
Rated for
Heritage Design WellnessOutside the door
Restored riverside château
The seventeenth-century estate of the Marquis of Montlaur opens onto stone courtyards and wooded trails beside the Aygalade river.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A seventeenth-century Monument Historique castle restored with a monumental Renaissance stone staircase.
Listed
Contemporary park annex rooms balance the castle's vaulted stone chambers and ancient fireplaces.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
first attested in the 11th century, the present structure was built in the 17th, lost to a fire in the 18th, and meticulously reconstructed at the dawn of the 21st century.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Villevieille sits just outside the gates, and the medieval village of Sommières is a short drive away.
The rooms
Château rooms keep their vaulted stone ceilings and monumental fireplaces. Modern rooms in the park annex open onto private terraces.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The outdoor pool borders the wooded park annex, lined with stone terraces and loungers beneath old castle walls.
Hammam and sauna
The mosaic hammam sits under fiber-optic starlight in the medieval cellars, beside a light timber sauna.
The spa
Massage tables sit beneath exposed stone arches, where therapists practice Kobido facial rituals using organic C.H.O Nature products.
Restaurant
La Canopée
The kitchen prepares seasonal Mediterranean dishes beneath five-meter stone vaults, and tables spill onto the courtyard terrace.
How it began
Revolutionaries set fire to the castle in 1792, and decades of abandonment followed before a ten-year restoration revived the estate.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.