Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé Is The Epitome Of French Elegance
Photo Courtesy of Château du Grand-Lucé
Live expensive like Marie Antoinette at Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé. In the small town of Le Grand-Lucé, France, stands a French neoclassical architectural wonder once occupied by a Baron of Louis XV. And when I say “occupied”, I mean this was his summer home. Follow our EIC, Hannah Huber, through a typical day at this over-the-top property.
The Grounds
Photo Courtesy of Château du Grand-Lucé
In classic French style, the immaculate gardens were inspired by that of Versailles. You could get lost in time and space wandering this well manicured 80-acre property. Weaving beyond the garden paths and into the fairytale like “woods” you'll stumble upon neoclassical sculptures in whimsical clearings as well as a medieval wall surrounding the property.
History
In the 1700s, the Loire Valley was like the Hamptons for the French bourgeoisie. Baron Jacques Pineau de Viennay, an aristocrat under Louis the XV, built this design forward estate starting in 1760 as his summer home. From that time, the chateau has lived many lives including a hospital for wounded British soldiers in WWI, a secret safe haven for priceless artwork from the Louvre during WWII, and, now, your next favorite hotel.
Individualized Elegance
Every room in the chateau is uniquely designed in the neoclassical style, offering a different experience to every guest. Clawfoot bathtubs, French antique furniture, and decadent Maison Caulières bath amenities craft a stay worthy of royalty.
Eat The Cake
Photo Courtesy of Hannah Huber
Executive Chef Maxime Thomas helms the property’s premier backyard-to-table restaurant, Le Lucé. Blending classic French flavors with fresh ingredients, primarily grown on the lush grounds, gives guests a completely unique culinary experience. The best part about this restaurant? You can take your meal anywhere on the property, even picnic style. The intimate seating allows for Chef Thomas to to change the menu daily, offering a new experience with every meal. After dinner, stop by Jack Prine’s, the sumptuous bar housed inside a stained glass clad former chapel, for a nightcap.
Exploring Le Grand-Lucé
The tiny town of Le Grand-Luce has a handful of shops connected by cobblestone streets. It low key looks like something out of Beauty and The Beast. The hotel provides bicycles to guests so you can really live out your French countryside fantasy.
Royal Treatments
What’s a chateau without a little pampering?! Treat yourself at the intimate three-room spa featuring Maison Caulières products. Each treatment features decadent skin-loving elixirs crafted from cold-pressed oils and nutrient-rich honey, all extracted from the Maison Caulières family’s 250-year-old county estate in the Loire Valley. After your treatment, take a dip in the pool (which used to be an opulent fountain back in the Baron’s day).
How To Get There & Around
Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé is located just south of Paris. I arrived by taking a train to Le Mans and a hotel member drove me the rest of the way to the property. It’s a little out of the way, but worth every minute. Plus, the ride is stunning.
Accessibility & Dietary
Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé brought the property out of the 1700s by adding an external elevator that leads to an ADA accessible room on the ground floor. Touring the grounds is easy for all guests through the property’s golf cart that fits up to seven guests. When it comes to dietary restrictions, the ever changing menu allows for endless flexibility. Contact the property ahead of your stay with any allergies or dietary restrictions so they can craft a truly special experience.
