Panoramic view of the orchard of Domaine des Etangs
In that same situation, Garance Primat , daughter of one of the richest men in Europe, the oil tycoon Didier Primate , what she did was, following her father's dying wish, a hotel.
But not just any hotel, but one quite unconventional –total, filling the rooms is not a priority– that summarizes what makes us happy in life: Picasso paintings above the fireplace and telescopes by the window , rowboats, rooms lined with books, Michelin-starred dinners in sneakers, and a spa with secret potions and custom rituals.
Nature, knowledge, conversations and works of art outside the showcases.
Photos of the French artist Vincent Fournier around the neo-gothic staircase
Surrounded by a thousand hectares of gardens, forests and lakes, Domaine des Etangs , which is the name of the property, was the fiefdom of the knights of Chasteigner de la Roche-Posay back in the 11th century, when it was built.
outside, the castle looks like a fairy tale . Inside, decorated by designer and interior designer Isabelle Stanislas with antiques, custom pieces – look out for Hermès furniture and lamps by the conceptual artist Yann Kersale – and with the Primat's extraordinary collection of ethnic and contemporary art and scientific artifacts as its center of gravity, it's the fantasy of anyone with universal concerns.
Bedroom of the 'cottage' Pegaso
A cabinet of curiosities big time in which the paintings of Matisse , the facilities of Ugo Rondinone and the photographs and sculptures of Vincent Fournier share space with reproductions of the Solar System, fragments of meteorites that fell to Earth millions of years ago, representations of mythical animals and imaginary species, and dragonflies, many dragonflies , the emblem of the domaine, fluttering everywhere.
In the cutlery, in the sheets, in the taps...
Here in the chateau, are the seven rooms and suites, as well as the library, full of bookshelves from floor to ceiling, the gastronomic restaurant Dyades and a menu that flows with the seasons, and several lounges that invite to chat... and to drink another wine.
Chef Loïc Lecoin's cuisine can also be experienced outside the castle
But there is more: scattered throughout the rest of the property are the six cottages, each with its own pond, the orchard (with more than 140 kinds of edible vegetables and herbs ) and, housed in an old mill, a spa that understands that the skin is much more than 'just the skin'.
The Domaine de Etangs is located an hour and a half from Bordeaux, between Cognac and Limoges . If you don't hurry, you'll have to wait until March to see it, since it closes from Christmas until spring _(rooms from €400; cottages, €550) _
One of the ponds that give the estate its name
_*This report was published in **number 123 of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine (December)**. Subscribe to the printed edition (11 printed issues and a digital version for €24.75, by calling 902 53 55 57 or from our website). The September issue of Condé Nast Traveler is available in its digital version to enjoy on your preferred device. _