The highly anticipated Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle has opened its doors and two Saint-Tropez properties join the growing collection.
One of this year’s most exciting hotel openings, Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle takes over a 17th-century palace building within the grounds of the iconic Château de Versailles. This grand opening then ties in with the imminent opening of Château de la Messardière under the Airelles flag and recent transformation of Pan Deï Palais into an Airelles property.
Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle
On June 1st, Airelles’ newest property, Le Grand Contrôle, began welcoming its first guests into its lavish interiors with views over the Château de Versailles, orangerie and Pièce d’Eau des Suisses. The first hotel to open in these famous grounds, Le Grand Contrôle provides unrivalled access to the 2,000-acre gardens, palace halls and apartments that hosted Europe’s elite over the centuries.
Constructed by Louis XIV’s favorite architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1681, the building housing this hotel now benefits from a restoration by architect and interior designer, Christophe Tollemer. The hotel’s 14 opulent rooms and suites, including a sprawling Signature Suite, are complemented by the culinary offering of internationally acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse and a Valmont spa featuring 15-meter indoor swimming pool.
Each space is lavishly decorated in the 18th-century style, integrating the work of French artisans, with authentic colors, fabrics, parquet flooring, chandeliers and artwork, as well as artefacts including a love letter from Madame De Staël to Louis, Comte de Narbonne-Lara. While staying here, guests have exclusive access to the Château and both boats and golf carts are available for exploration of the Grand Canal and gardens.
You can take a private tour of The Trianon and Château, gain after-hours access to the Hall of Mirrors and request a private dining experience with string quartet in the former apartment of Louis XV’s daughters. Reimagined French classics and a Marie Antoinette afternoon tea are offered at Ducasse at Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle, and the tranquil Valmont spa provides a space to unwind with hand-painted fresco and Carrara marble checkerboard floor inspired by the palace’s marble courtyard.
Château de la Messardière, Saint-Tropez
This 19th-century château has long been a celebrated for its role as a five-star palace hotel on the hilltop skirting Saint-Tropez. Now, this hotel is entering a new era as an Airelles property following a two-year renovation. Opening for the summer season on July 1st, the hotel now houses 103 rooms and suites, which all come with private terraces, along with two signature suites and a duplex villa featuring private pool. The hotel’s 240-sq-m pool and terrace benefits from a refurbishment and is joined by a brand-new 25-meter outdoor lap pool with views over Pampelonne Bay.
The redesigned culinary offering ranges from the Provençal dining spot Auberge des Maures to cocktail specialist Bar 1904 and stylish beach club Jardin Tropézina. Wellness is also a focus here with nine treatment rooms, Iyashi Dôme, a hammam, sauna, indoor swimming pool and fitness centre at the newly created Valmont spa, as well as two tennis courts and an outdoor yoga platform. An outdoor play area featuring its own treehouse is encompassed within the new Kid’s Kingdom.
As Saint-Tropez’s largest hotel, Château de la Messardière occupies 25 acres of lush grounds overlooking the the Côte d’Azur and Provençal countryside. The hotel’s transformation was led by the French architect and interior designer, Christophe Tollemer, who was also responsible for the design of Le Grand Contrôle. For this property, Tollemer drew inspiration from the glamorous golden age of the French Riviera.
Pan Deï Palais, Saint-Tropez
One of the most coveted addresses in Saint-Tropez, Pan Deï Palais lies at the heart of the old village on Rue Gambetta, just a short walk from Place des Lices and the harbor. This mansion dating back to 1820 stands out for its stylish interiors fusing contemporary design with Indian influence. In its new chapter with Airelles, the hotel has emerged from a complete redesign of its garden and pool area as well as a refurbishment of its interiors.
Guests arriving at the hotel will now be met with a transformed entrance, as well as bar area and new-look Dolceva restaurant, which is headed up by Marco Garfagnini. Overall, the hotel has just 10 guest rooms and two suites, which altogether are available for private hire, along with the renowned restaurant celebrating La Dolce Vita, Dolceva, and wellness offering bringing together Ayurvedic-influenced spa experiences, meditation and beauty treatments, as well as the hammam and outdoor pool of the private garden.
Pan Deï Palais reflects the story behind its creation through its distinct design. The exiled Jean-François Allard whose journey led him to Egypt, Persia and Pakistan, and who was then made Head of the Armies, fell in love with Princess Bannu Pan Deï when she was captured during the siege of the Himalayan fortress of Chamba. In 1835, he commissioned this home in his home village of Saint-Tropez for the princess. To this day, the property is decorated in honor of that love story.
These three properties now join Les Airelles in Courchevel, Mademoiselle in Val d’Isère, La Bastide in Gordes and Le Refuge de La Traye in Méribel to make up the Airelles portfolio.
