Château de Bagnols

Beautifully renovated chateau hotel with park, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, bar and good restaurant. Nice view. Friendly and very professional staff, excellent service. We were lucky to get a wonderful room with old mural paintings and an extra small sitting room. We liked the huge bathroom with a stand-alone bathtub, no shower

Stunning scenery in a beautiful old castle but unfortunately the restaurant service was very disappointing. We had a lovely room, that was dog friendly and our check in lady was great. Super comfy big bed, excellent shower and well looked after by the housekeeping team. The Spa was very odd. No staff in the area, steam room was turned off and no changing room. The dinner in the restaurant had really excellent cooking but the service was pretty bad. Had to constantly top up our own water and wine and the empty glasses and bread were left on the table until was asked for them to be removed. I asked for a dessert wine and was told “it is finished”. Only after speaking to the manager did they bother to seek an alternative bottle. The waitress dropped the bottle of red wine on the table and it was all a bit of a mess. We felt there is very little training happening for service staff at this hotel. Also very disappointing was the lack of local area wines on their wine list. Only pushing the estate they own. Overall very pretty property but it needs a F&B service improvement, and support of more local wineries.

This was our fifth visit here over 25 years or so. Our first visit was shortly after the chateau opened after a major refit and under the personal hand of Lady Hamblyn. While the first two stays were magical, with a plethora of friendly, helpful staff, it probably failed to make a profit and it was inevitably taken over by a hotel group. ||Nonetheless, two further visits proved delightful, especially in the newly built annexe which has modern layout and bathrooms, with walk in showers.|This year we returned and were grievously disappointed. ||I would state that all the following comments were put to the receptionist at our checkout with a strong suggestion that management and/or a director contact us to discuss further. We did receive a somewhat underwhelming response.||My second main point is that several other recent reviews mention the scarcity of staff, poor breakfast offering and general laissez faire attitude. Read the negative reviews carefully before booking and don’t be seduced by the setting. For guests who don’t remember what great service is, or are happy with a self service approach, they won’t have an issue. For people who want a hotel to know how to run a proper 5 star hotel, this one isn’t for you. This hotel has been, and could be again, one of the world’s great hotels but the service severely impacted on our enjoyment.||1. Absolutely no staff anywhere. We saw more gardening and housekeeping staff than general staff. Not once were we approached to ask if we wanted a drink when we sat for several hours on the main terrace. ||2. Unwelcoming. Not once did anyone put out the outside cushions or open the parasols on the main terrace overlooking the vines. Inevitably very few guests lingered around the hotel during the day and there was no atmosphere. The outside tables and some of the loungers had bird mess that remained uncleaned during our stay.||3. Crass dining service. On the first evening we had booked to eat in the main restaurant, when we arrived we were told we couldn’t eat outside because it would “spoil the gastronomic experience.” As the guests we thought we could have made that choice for ourselves and went elsewhere. On the second evening, we wanted a very simple supper outside, as has been our habit previously. After much harrumphing they decided we would need a room service meal which we then put in a table, brought some cushions and had a pleasant, if lonely time. No one bothered to remove the cushions for the next 24 hours.||4. Dining staff are inexperienced. One of the waiters at breakfast stank of cigarette smoke, having rushed back from a crafty fag break, to help guests use a thermos flask (!) to pour our coffee.||5. Breakfast very lacking, a hotel at this level would normally showcase local produce (jams, breads, cheeses etc). Everything here was minimal (only one loaf to cut) or reminded us of a Premier Inn. No one offered coffee, we were expected to pour it from a thermos flask, which didn’t work. Surely a Nespresso to allow guests some semblance of choice isn’t beyond the wit of man! No decaf available without someone disappearing for hours and no full milk, only vegan, ultra processed equivalents.

It was a very good stay and appreciated the airconditioning on a very hot and humid night - dont usually see that in French/Italian hotels. The menu for the dinner hors restaurant was mediocre and in fact my wife could not find anything on it worth eating - I had the Caeser's Salad - it was good. Would have preferred anchois instead of chicken but my dog appreciated the chicken

We are here at Chateau de Bagnols right now. And so far can confirm that it is a stunning place,I don't think I have to repeat all what has been said.|But Service! The welcome was wonderful, friendly and warm. A very nice gentlemen that also took care of our car. Some information concerning breakfast and the amenities of the hotel would have been nice though.|Breakfast was underwhelming! Filter coffee in a thermos, no choice of espresso or other coffees. Choice of food was definitely not 5 star worth. No plates at the buffet either until we asked for them. Bread and cakes has no napkin to touch and cut. Green flies all over the baskets. That was a bit disgusting. breakfast closes at 10.30. At 10.23 when taking something from the buffet we where approached and told that it closes in 2 minutes. Not 1 minute later, they started clearing it.|Walking out to the gardens afterwards we saw that all tables on the way where still with dirty dishes and everything. No staff in sight. Why not clearing the dirty tables before emptying the buffet?|Tonight we have a reservation at the restaurant. I do hope service is better then!!

We have been coming to the Chateau for 20 years and have never had need to point out issues. Been absolutely excellent in previous years. We use Relais et Chateau for all our hotels in Europe. You seem to have a new team in the area in front of kitchens. Not successful in my opinion.|Issues:|1. Confusion at breakfast on both mornings regarding teas and coffees order.|2. Ordered a glass of red wine, second afternoon, was end of bottle so dregs ruined taste after 50% drunk.|3. I had already paid for second evening meal after the meal and then one of your team came over and was verbally aggressively, imo, wanting to know why I was leaving without paying.|4. NO hot meal available at breakfast first morning, hot plates had not been replenished.|5. Chicken on second evening had clearly been cooked earlier, possibly kept in a hot plate, so dry and tough to cut.|6. Wine choice severely limiting unless you want a full bottle.|7. Food choice, at least on Mondays and Tuesdays is very limited.

This is the most spectacular venue. A really great team too who look after you very well. Food was excellent and room was great. All in all a magnificent experience and we look forward to stopping for 2 nights next time on our drive down.

If you are in the area and the weather is nice good for a coffee on the terrace or an apperetief. Do take into account appertief only served until 1745. And the wine although good is not necessarily worth the 16 euro (or tea the 8 euro) But the view is lovely

This may be my favorite place ever. It's an amazing hotel dating from the 13th century. It has been fully and painstakingly restored to its original beauty by the current owner. This spectacular chateau still has the original dry moat and a dramatic entrance across a drawbridge. The rooms are spectacular, there are maybe 23 or so. One of them is in the old chapel and the bed is beneath the altar with Renaissance paintings on the ceiling. It is a special thing to have the opportunity to see this chateau. The restaurant is Michelin starred and it's a good thing it is because it's the only game in town. This is a small, small town and there is no place else to go. But, trust me, you won't want to. A glass of champagne on the lawn overlooking the sprawling grassy hills at sunset, a Michelin starred meal, one of the largest fireplaces in Europe, a bathroom with a tub so large two could still drown in it, a bed under an altar, wooden shuttered windows that flap in the lightening storm, you will be forever scheming to return.

Blown away! The property is spectacular and the staff is outstanding! Just out of a story book. A story book from the year 1200. Outdoor pool was magical with fresh fruit to pick from an orchard of a variety of fruits. The kids picked fruit and ran back to the pool and swam. Food and wine was outstanding. The views from the rooms was magical. And it got better. We left keys to our Airbnb in Paris there and they drove them to us at the Lyon train station. 5 star service. Above and beyond. If you wan to make dreams come true and sleep in a castle, then this is a wonderful option.