The Château de Fonscolombe
Ascona, France

Name: The Château de Fonscolombe
Address: Rte de Saint-Canadet, Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, 13610, France

About the hotel

Style

Boutique

Rooms

"This five-star hotel in an 18th-century French chateau features a picturesque park, both formal and casual dining options and an outdoor pool perfect for a lazy afternoon."

Located just 20 minutes outside of Aix-en-Provence, the Château de Fonscolombe is set on picturesque grounds featuring more than 180 species of rare plants (the original owners were a family of botanists), including an atlas cedar planted by the Queen Mother. The chateau’s original 18th-century Chinese wallpaper and ornate ceilings have been preserved, seamlessly blending in with the new furnishings carefully designed by Provencal craftsmen. For nearly 300 years, the chateau was used as a private home, but now guests can enjoy full access to the sophisticated sitting rooms and tranquil grounds.

Each of the 50 guest rooms and suites blends elegance and ease with soft floral prints, chandeliers and peaceful views. The rooms are divided between the historic part of the castle and a newer outbuilding, so guests can choose whichever setting they find more appealing. The Prestige Suites are particularly charming with their canopy beds, and most have a salon or fireplace. All rooms come with thoughtful extras like yoga mats and espresso machines, and suites have weighted blankets available.

At L'Orangerie, seasonal vegetables straight from the hotel's organic garden join ingredients from local suppliers to create fresh Mediterranean dishes. Share an Italian charcuterie board, enjoy truffle pizza and freshly-baked pastries at the Sunday brunch, or sip a glass of champagne as you unwind at the end of the day. Set in the historic salons, La Table de l'Orangerie is the chateau's gastronomic restaurant, boasting a charming dining room with a grand piano and a tranquil terrace. Tucked away in the historic part of the castle, the Lounge Bar is the perfect place to sip a classic cocktail by the crackling fireplace or have a private wine tasting beneath the sparkling chandelier, while just outside in the park you can share a perfectly-prepared Provencal picnic basket or have a light snack from the pool bar.

Visit the Wellness Centre for a customised massage, participate in a Sunday morning Qi Gong session on the grounds, or join one of the psychiatrist-led ‘forest baths’ to unwind in nature. Children are welcomed to the hotel with a stuffed Provencal donkey (the chateau’s mascot) and can enjoy a children’s playroom, a library and pony rides in the park on summer weekends. Guests can go cycling or jogging on the path through the park, take a botanical tour of the organic gardens and park, relax in the heated outdoor pool or simply delight in doing nothing at all in this sublime, secluded setting.