Chateau de Bagnols Review

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Château de Bagnols

  • Address: 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Villefranche on D38 to Tarare, Bagnols, 69620
  • Phone: 04-74-71-40-00
  • www.bagnols.com

Fodor's Review:

A destination in itself, Lady Hamlyn's celebrated (and very pricey) castle-hotel is one of the glories of the Beaujolais region. Don't be put off by the severe and fortresslike exterior: inside, all is trompe-l'oeil frescoes, colored marbles, and sumptuous fabrics. The Grand Salon matches the grandest of Paris's 17th-century showpieces, while guest rooms in the main château evoke the 18th century—many are covered with historic frescoes done by a Baroque school of artists inspired by the "Grand Fabrique," Lyon's famed brocade makers. These lilies are then gilded with period glassware, porcelain, and antique furniture. Elsewhere, rooms in La Résidence—the converted stables and carriage houses—are rustic-contemporary, some with amazing wood-beam trim and calico drapes. Set with silver candelabra, giant bouquets, and a wall-wide fireplace, the massive Salle des Gardes is now the setting for the award-winning gourmet restaurant, while wine tastings are occasionally held in the beautiful stone cuvage (wine-pressing room). Pros: dazzlingly elegant, panoramic views; nonpareil dining. Cons: slightly unrelaxing; relentless service; a little like living in a museum; hyper-expensive.

  • Hotel Details: 16 rooms, 5 apartments
  • In-room: refrigerator, Wi-Fi.
  • In-hotel: restaurant, bar, pool, Wi-Fi hotspot, some pets allowed.
  • Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
  • Closed: Closed Jan.-Mar.
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