Enjoying a superb location in the Valley of the Kings, Les Hauts de Loire was the former hunting lodge of Château d’Onzain. After both were destroyed during the French Revolution, only the hunting lodge was rebuilt. The ivy-covered lodge is 3km west of Onzain village and sits in pretty woodland, with swan-specked lakes and a network of scenic forest paths. On the wine trail, it’s a great spot from which to explore the Vouvray vineyards, as well as the celebrated Loire châteaux. The décor honours the building’s heritage with antique furnishings, classic French fabrics, exposed wooden beams, period wallpaper, soft carpets, and crisp linens. The whole effect is homely but chic.
Rooms and suites are spread across the both the Château (the lodge) and the Carriage House. All include Wi-Fi, climate control, Bose Bluetooth speaker, Nespresso machine, safety deposit box, minibar, and satellite TV with French and international channels. Standard and the more spacious Superior Château Rooms include sloping ceilings with exposed wooden beams. Suites include a separate lounge area, while Prestige Suites feature an attractive private terrace and have the option of an additional bed sleeping up to three guests.
The Carriage House has a range of more modern period-style accommodation featuring the same room and suite categories as the Château, with the addition of Family Rooms. These have two separate bedrooms and two bathrooms, with ample space for families to spread out.
A member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux global collection of hotels and gourmet restaurants, gastronomy is taken seriously at Les Hauts de Loire. Guests can enjoy Michelin-starred fine dining at the estate’s main restaurant from a menu of French classics, created with both sensitivity and creativity from fresh seasonal produce. Alternatively, the estate offers a more informal dining experience at Le Bistrot, which serves flavoursome lunch and dinners accompanied by regional wines. Guests can also enjoy estate produced honey and homemade chocolate, both of which are used in the restaurant kitchens.
To enhance the wellbeing of guests, there is a Spa by Clarins which includes a sauna, hammam, relaxation lounge and series of treatment cabins. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor heated pool, lined with comfortable loungers, well-equipped fitness centre, tennis and boules courts or take a walk through the grounds which showcases contemporary artworks and sculptures by emerging artists. Within the grounds there is also a cookery school offering guests a chance to brush up on their culinary skills, along with a Kid’s Club, and open-air café.
Children are welcome and the Kid’s Club is open during school holidays, weekends, and public holidays from May to the end of September. There is a charge for this facility. Pets are also welcome but again, there is an additional charge. To explore the forest trails, wineries, and local castles, bikes can be rented from the hotel.
