Castle life in New Aquitaine

• Château d'Urtubie

History buffs, this is the address for you! Built in 1341 and owned by the same family from the outset, the Château d'Urtubie has been extensively transformed over the years, and now offers the charms of a cosy family home, with ultra-comfortable rooms decorated with 18th-century and 19th-century furniture.decorated with 18th and 19th century furniture, a swimming pool hidden away in the magnificent 6-hectare park, which also boasts a beautiful rose garden, all cooled by the Untxin, a delightful little coastal river. An ideal base for exploring the Basque country, close to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure with its beautiful Socoa beach.

https:// chateaudurtubie.fr/

1300 D810, 64122 Urrugne

• Hôtel du Palais

Opened in 2021 after two years of restoration, the legendary palace (the only one on the Atlantic coast) has regained all its charms, as you'll discover when you enter this spectacular hotel with its immense Empire façade and panoramic view over Biarritz's Grande Plage. From the exteriors to the roofing, from the restaurant to the bar, everything has been subtly renovated by teams of craftsmen who have taken turns to refresh and refresh the interior.They took it in turns to refresh the trompe-l'œil doors, the painted columns and the bar chandelier, which required 250 hours of work. Now perfectly equipped for contemporary comfort, the hotel has retained its character, as evidenced by the 86 rooms and 56 suites with their sober lines and refined luxury. Also worthy of mention are the Californian swimming pool with seawater heated to 28°C overlooking the ocean, the Guerlain-branded Spa Impérial, spread over 3,000 m2 and, of course, the gourmet cuisine of the young and talented Aurélien Largeau. A nugget, a member of the Hyatt group.

https:// www.hyatt.com/fr-FR/hotel/france/hotel-du-palais-biarritz/biqub

1 Avenue de l'Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz

• Hôtel Domaine des Etangs

A 13th-century château and ponds, a mill and herds grazing on some 1000 hectares of unspoilt land... Everything here invites you to reconnect with nature and rediscover balance and serenity. This is the raison d'être of this former family estate, transformed into a holistic refuge by collector Garance Primat. The 30 rooms, suites and apartments (from 104 to 393 m2) are named after planets or seasons, and the restaurant celebrates produce from the surrounding orchards and vegetable gardens. Various spaces host artists and craftsmen for exhibitions, while the spa is transformed into a Roman thermal bath, with steam baths and frigidarium. You can come here for a weekend or a few days for a retreat combining yoga, shiatsu or naturopathy. Add to this soothing setting the fact that children are welcome here: swimming pool, huge playroom and walks in the woods, everything is (also) designed with them in mind.

https:// domainedesetangs.com/fr/

Domaine des Etangs, 16310 Massignac

• Château de Brindos

Loyal guests of this fine address are relieved! Alexandra and Philippe Monnin, co-founders in 2014 of the Millésime hotel group, fell in love with this legendary château, set right on the water. The couple carefully restored the 29 rooms and suites, but also chose to take advantage of the exceptional location by imagining 10 floating lodges, each answering to a fairy name of this legendary lake. These enchanted refuges are reached by small electric boat, and guests are dazzled by the luxury of the rooms and the beauty of the terraces, where they can laze and listen to the lapping of the water. And to make sure your stay is a memorable one, the Monnins have also designed cabins on the water offering massages and treatments by the Gemology brand. And let's not forget the restaurant, led by chef Hugo de la Barrière, which serves creative cuisine and also boasts a panoramic view of the lake. Magical at sunset...

https:// www.brindos-cotebasque.com/fr/restaurant-panoramique-anglet/

1 Allée du Château, 64600 Anglet

• Château de la Cazine - Wyndham Halcyon Resort

Perfect for getting away from it all, this 17th-century château nestles in the heart of an incredible 90 hectares of forests, ponds and clearings. Remarkably restored, it boasts 19 rooms and vast suites, all of which boast a cosy refinement with thick carpets, luxurious bedding and vast bathrooms. Guests come here to savor the ideal natural setting, whether walking or mountain biking in the park, or to recharge their batteries with a game of tennis or a swim in the heated pool, all before heading to the château's sumptuous dining room to savor the gourmet cuisine of chef Pierre Guilhot. An establishment that celebrates the famous French art de vivre and allows you to discover the treasures of the region, the banks of the Cregion, the banks of the Creuse river so dear to Claude Monet, the medieval town of La Souterraine or the city of Limoges, famous for its porcelain and enamels.

http://w ww.chateaudelacazine.fr/fr/

Domaine de la Fot, 23300, Noth, France

• Gallery and Spa - Château de l'Yeuse

Close to Cognac and the banks of the Charente, this 19th-century château has been given a new lease of life by Céline Desmazières, who commissioned graffiti artists to take on an ambitious challenge: transform the rooms into works of art, while celebrating the soul of the site and the surrounding nature. The challenge was met with splendid frescoes that give each of the 24 rooms and suites a singular charm. The spa, designed with the same spirit, is linked to the château's grounds, which have been transformed into a "respectful garden" of biodiversity, with an organic orchard and vegetable garden from which the plants used in the treatments come.The plants used in the treatments are sourced from the orchard and organic vegetable garden (with a special mention for the massage using a tonic, regenerating bamboo-based oil). After a break in this bubble of well-being, you can head to the restaurant, which showcases local produce, or the cognac library, with its 180 varieties...

https:// www.yeuse.fr/hotel_respectueux.html

Quartier de, 65 Rue de Bellevue, 16100 Châteaubernard

Find our selection of hotels in our Nouvelle-Aquitaine guide, in bookshops and stores.