Hôtel Richer de Belleval
Montpellier, France
Historic Centre
Vibe
Enter beneath vaulted ceilings, restored classical gypseries, and contemporary art commissions where grand seventeenth-century monument meets playful modern sculpture.
“Baroque heirloom quarters”
Christian Collot interiors pairing period details with Jim Dine ceiling ceramics and Jan Fabre jewel-beetle vaulting.
Restored seventeenth-century town hall featuring preserved classical gypseries, Jean de Troy ceiling frescoes, and Roman emperor busts.
Pourcel brothers gastronomy, contemporary art commissions, and attentive Relais & Châteaux service in a historic monument setting.
On Place de la Canourgue in the pedestrian Écusson, steps from Montpellier Cathedral and the botanical gardens.
“Once a 17th-century mansion, now a ravishing blend of ornamental classicism and modern whimsy, it’s a place where velvet boudoirs meet sculptural lamps…”
Rooms
Bedrooms wrap guests in single-tone palettes, velvet upholstery, Christian Lacroix carpets, Flos lamps, and sleek private marble bathrooms.
“Each of the 15 rooms and five suites at Hôtel Richer de Belleval feels like entering a monochromatic cabinet of curiosities…”
Backstory
Built in 1676 and named for botanist Pierre Richer de Belleval, the mansion served as Montpellier's city hall for over a century.
Eat & drink
Dine beneath vaulted frescoes at Le Jardin des Sens, lunch in the glass-roofed courtyard, and take cocktails under iridescent scarab wings.
The neighborhood
Overlooking the hackberry trees of Place de la Canourgue, the pedestrian Écusson quarter unfolds in a maze of cobblestone alleyways.
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.