Palace life in 7 lessons at Château Saint-Martin & Spa

Wow... What a view! Whether you reach it by the Balcons d'Azur road winding up the mountainside or are dropped off by helicopter, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa offers its guests the most extraordinary of arrivals: a breathtaking panorama embracing the entire coastline of the Côte d'Azur, from Saint-Tropez to Menton. Between the blue sky and the Mediterranean, the most beautiful villages of the Nice hinterland are at your feet with their exceptional artistic heritage. Here, Vence and its chapel of the Rosary built by Matisse. Here, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, its art galleries and its famous Maegh foundation.

"Are you here, spirit of the Templars?" With its picturesque ruins listed as Historic Monuments, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa still resonates with the great hours of its rich past. A fortified structure from Roman times, it became a Crusader castle and then a stronghold of the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages. It still has some remarkable remains, such as the Saint-Martin chapel. Built on the foundations of the former Templar Commandery, the 5* hotel is still imbued with an extra soul, that of places that have managed to cultivate their ancestral memory.

Having a past does not prevent modernity. The 40 rooms, suites and junior suites, as well as the 6 private villas on the heights of the estate play their part of elegance and refinement in a contemporary style. Linen, soft colours enhanced by coral, mint green, plum or lilac... Every detail has been thought out as in a master painting. Fabrics and trimmings are signed by the greatest, Pierre Frey, Manuel Canovas or Fadini Borghi. Skirts and bed benches, cushions dressed with creations by Baker Lifestyle, Ian Mankin or Colefax & Fowle. Here you are, as if in a jewel box, savouring an art of living of infinite delicacy.

Hundred-year-old olive trees as neighbours, the intoxicating scent of the garrigue and the surrounding clumps of lavender, the song of the cicadas as a soundtrack and an unobstructed view of the Château Saint-Martin & Spa below... The six Villas on the estate offer the ultimate: the prestige of a Palace combined with the intimacy of exclusive accommodation.

Riou, La Foux, Ponant, Saint-Lambert, Saint-Véran, Saint-Martin... With their names reminiscent of Provence, each has its own personality. But all of them open onto a splendid panoramic terrace. Located on two levels, with one, two or three bedrooms, the villas can accommodate couples, families or friends. Large living room where you can make yourself comfortable, dining room for private meals, bathroom in pink Burgundy marble and even, for some, a kitchen where one of the chefs of Château Saint-Martin can invite himself... The resort is luxurious but without ostentation, almost like home.

With its Michelin star, Le Saint-Martin is one of the Côte d'Azur's must-visit culinary addresses, a gastronomic restaurant where chef Jean-Luc Lefrançois officiates with mastery. A stone's throw from the swimming pool and under the shade of the olive trees, L'Oliveraie is the summer restaurant for meals in the heart of nature. Barbecued, roasted or grilled, the dishes are all the more flavourful, as are the pizzas cooked over a wood fire.

A thousand and one vintage bottles... Great vintages and good bottles stacked in tight rows in a cool cellar with beautiful exposed stones. The Canthares wine club meets here throughout the summer season for tastings where people can share, meet and discover. Initiation can also take place in the very intimate oenotheque adjoining the restaurant, a magnificent small circular lounge lined with oak wood.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the world, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa estate is an invitation to let go. A swimming pool and two tennis courts nestle in this green setting, as well as four delightful cabins in the shade of hundred-year-old olive trees. You can even enjoy a treatment to the sound of the cicadas, in communion with nature. Well-being reaches its peak at the Spa Saint-Martin by La Prairie, 400 m² entirely dedicated to the relaxation of body and mind.