Behind the Scenes: Hotel Fontevraud

“It has more regal prestige than most of the other Disneyland-esque châteaus in the countryside put together”

Among the countless luxury hotels dotting France’s Loire Valley, Hotel Fontevraud, once a great monastic abbey with strong ties to the French royal family, stands apart from the rest. Recently revived and free from over-the-top tourist trappings, it has more regal prestige than most of the other Disneyland-esque châteaus in the countryside put together. From environmental considerations to soundproofing the great, cavernous communal areas, every aspect of the spacious and modern contemporary redesign has been treated with thoughtful consideration. While the hotel’s interior is a tribute to modern architecture, the foundations date back to the 12th century, and the space has been furnished and decorated throughout with the kind of restraint that befits the pure and simple lifestyle ...