Chateau de Mirambeau

A sumptuously luxurious château close to France’s most reputed winelands

Pomp and circumstance have long been part of life at Mirambeau. Kings, princes and ambassadors all spent weekends here before the Count of Duchatel donated the building to the state and his art collection to the Louvre. And in a more recent turn of fate, top Italian hotelier Roberto Polito has completely revamped the château to create one of south west France’s most luxurious small hotels.

Inside, the decorative style, with more than a hint of rococo, is exuberantly festive, with Chinese vases, Italian chandeliers, enormous gilt mirrors, flounced curtains and ornate candelabras creating a mood of flamboyant opulence. Its 23 grand bedrooms make it a perfect choice for a big celebration, and what makes it doubly special is that, in spite of the uniformed staff and all the finery, the vibe at the château is really relaxed. Mirambeau is to hotels what the waltz is to music; the formality of its essence is something to be enjoyed with a light heart.

Highs

• Gourmet cuisine and a wine list as long as your arm
• Bedrooms and suites are fabulously decorated and irreproachably comfortable
• The staff at Mirambeau seem to take genuine pride in their work. Their easy-going nature helped to make my stay unforgettable
• The ornately decorative style is perfectly suited to the grandeur of the château itself

Lows

• The lofty hillside perch means that you can see the motorway in the distance - but you don’t hear it
• A stay at Mirambeau is an expensive treat but you’ll be savouring it for a long time to come