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Château de Courcelles
About a half-hour drive from Reims, the Chateau de Courcelles is a grand old house in a sleepy little town. Steeped in history, the chateau has welcomed such illustrious guests as Racine, La Fontaine and Jean Cocteau. More recently, Christian Dior hosted lavish parties in the grand salons in the late 1940s. Today there are 18 guest rooms (four of which are suites) each decorated with plush upholsteries, patterned wallpapers and antique furniture. Accommodations in the main house overlook the beautiful park, which features a heated outdoor pool, a tree-lined canal, tennis courts and French-style garden complete with a hedge maze. More spacious, but without such great views, the suites are housed in two smaller buildings that once served as the chateau’s greenhouse.
In addition to the lovely grounds, the public indoor areas are a highlight of the chateau. Guests can enjoy a cocktail in the grand library or the more intimate boudoir (which is decorated with blue and white porcelain inspired by the tableware at Versailles) before tucking in to Julien Thomasson’s traditional French cuisine. Depending on the time of year, the number of diners and the chef’s mood, dinner is served in one of three gorgeous dining rooms that range from an oak-paneled salon with gilt mirrors and crystal chandeliers to an airy, tile-floored conservatory surrounded by greenery.
Domaine Les Crayères
Hôtel Restaurant Les Avisés
Opened as a hotel in 2011, this elegant neo-classical mansion in the small town of Avize (outside Épernay) has been fully renovated and redecorated with contemporary artworks and designer furniture. A hip unfussy alternative to chateau-hotels, the stylish spot attracts a younger crowd (though families will be more comfortable at Domaine Les Crayères or Chateau de Courcelles, which have connecting rooms and outdoor space to run and play.)
Although the bedrooms are not huge here, they are luminous, stylish, and comfortable. All have Italian-style showers, but only some have bathtubs. A few of the larger rooms have private terraces. The upscale restaurant, which features an open kitchen and long wooden tables, would not feel out of place in Brooklyn. But Stéphane Rossillon, who previously worked at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Maison Pic in Valence, serves bistro fare for lunch and a gastronomic menu at dinner that is decidedly French. The homey lounge is ideal for reading, relaxing and enjoying a glass of Champagne.
Les Avisés is about a ten-minute walk from the center of the Avize village and a few minutes drive to Épernay, home to legendary champagne houses like Möet & Chandon.
Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa
Situated in one of the world’s most iconic wine regions, Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa is Champagne’s first contemporary luxury hotel.
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