Is there anything more quintessentially French than a grand château with private vineyards and farmland? Two such properties in France—the Château St. Pierre de Serjac in the Languedoc region and the Domaine de Fontenille in the Luberon—are some of the latest castles to undergo hotel conversions that preserve their history while bringing them into the modern day. You’re welcome to visit the estates, but for a supreme experience, you’ll want to stay for at least a night or two to fully enjoy the expertly outfitted suites and excellent amenities, which range from on-site restaurants and bars (one of which is helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, of course) to an elegant spa. Wine lovers, gourmands, and architecture buffs alike will delight in a vacation to the magnificent châteaux: Take a tour of the exquisite properties here, and be prepared to jump on the next flight to France to visit them.
Château St. Pierre de Serjac
After an extensive two-year renovation, costing an estimated $28 million, this Languedoc wine estate opened back up to the public earlier this year. The restoration project was a collaboration between winemaker Laurent Bonfils and hoteliers Karl and Anita O’Hanlon with designer Michelle Crouzet working on the interiors of the château, which was originally conceived in 1886 by architect Louis-Michel Garros.
The working winery will produce its first vintages this year, and guests can sip and stay in one of the eight hotel rooms or 36 villas (which range from one to four bedrooms) that dot the 200-acre property.
The estate includes a bar and restaurant, helmed by chefs Franck Pujol and David Galtier, a heated outdoor pool, a Cinq Mondes spa, and tennis courts. From $246/night; serjac.com
Domaine de Fontenille
Partners Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher invested a year and a half—plus nearly $12 million—to bring this stunning house and its grandiose grounds back to life. In the village of Lauris, located just a 25-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence, Domaine de Fontenille is a dream come true for the former fashion CEO and the Paris gallery owner, respectively.
The château, which dates from the 16th century, now houses 17 rooms and suites that the owners outfitted themselves. They employed the talents of Alexandre Lafourcade, an expert in restoring historic estates, to maintain the architectural integrity of the exterior.
Biousse and Foucher converted part of the vineyard to an organic farm, and handed over the winemaking reins to oenologist and agricultural engineer Laurence Berlemont.
Also on the property is Le Champ des Lunes , a restaurant manned by award-winning chef Jérôme Faure. From $201/night; domainedefontenille.com