You can also rent an electric bumper-like boat to float under it, which is quite spectacular and fun during spring, summer, and fall. King Henri II originally gave this all-white, turreted property to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, and it feels straight out of a slightly scandalous fairy tale. Along the way, keep an eye open for wineries and vineyards and drop in for a tasting at any that look enticing. Each of the raised tree houses also has a deck complete with tables, chairs, and a hot tub , and the property features unique wellness touches such as charcoal-infused water.
Whether you go for the outdoor fauna and flora, much of which the French impressionist and gardener captured in his famous canvases, or the indoor rooms where he lived with his family for 43 years, prepare to be swept away to another time and place where art truly imitated life among scenic nature.
Context Travel offers a customizable day tour to the property led by an art historian. The 39 varied-size rooms are spread among three separate buildings; each has its own design personality and dreamy tableau.
In the main house, Maison sur Leure, your accommodation might face the river, while in Maison du Luc you may have your own outdoor garden. The on-site restaurants feature both hearty bistro fare and, on weekends, a multi-course gastronomic dinner experience from chef Eric Frechon, who has helped earn Michelin stars for several of his previous restaurants.
Lazare to Bueil. Lazare or if booking with Context, meet your guide at the station. Dinner is an especially theatrical experience with servers acting out a small play in between serving dishes such as creamy egg foam with caviar and blue lobster with aspic. Each of the 14 rooms and suites features 18th-century antiques and decor, including canopies over the four-poster beds and mahogany desks with feather quills. Luxurious additions include modern Japanese toilets the ones with built-in bidets and seat warmers , lemongrass scented toiletries, and Alain Ducasse chocolates upon check-in.
