Les Sources de Cheverny

"Set in sprawling wooded grounds, the chic bistro of the hotel Les Sources de Cheverny serves fine and meticulous seasonal dishes that constitute something of a whistle-stop tour of the Loire Valley, as well as a tribute to local producers: vegetables from a market gardener in Mont-Près-Chambord, Sologne strawberries, Roi Rose pork loin from Touraine roasted in the fireplace… which takes pride of place in the dining area: here, cooking over a wood fire is a speciality!" - Michelin Inspector

"After the success of the spa-hotel Les Sources de Caudalie near Bordeaux comes an equally impressive addition to the Loire Valley from Alice Tourbier (whose sister founded the French skincare brand Caudalie) and her husband. Set around a restored 18th-century manor house, the property encompasses 110 acres of farmland and vines with guest rooms spread out among stone houses, converted barns, and wooden cabins with lake views. There’s plenty for guests to do on the grounds, from biking and horseback riding to taking advantage of Caudalie’s signature wine-infused treatments in the spa. Off-property excursions include visits to Chambord as well as the Château de Cheverny, cycling itineraries along the Loire à Vélo’s more than 500 miles of bike paths, and winetasting. But no visit is complete without a meal at Le Favori, the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant that earned a Michelin star for chef Frédéric Calmel’s seasonal ode to the Loire Valley terroir." - Lindsey Tramuta, Mary Winston Nicklin

"Clémentine Larroumet's work includes Les Sources de Cheverny, an elegant château in the Loire Valley."

"A property with an 18th-century château, traditional stone farmhouses, cabins, and a spa." - Kristin Braswell

"When hoteliers Alice and Jérôme Tourbier set their sights on opening a sister property to Les Sources de Caudalie—their wine palace and spa in the vineyards of Bordeaux’s Château Smith Haut Lafitte—and stumbled across an 18th-century castle in the Loire Valley, they decided to look no further. “This is a magnificent but largely unexploited region,” says Alice. “We wanted to dust off its staid historic reputation by combining culture with viticulture.” That meant replanting vines of a forgotten white-grape variety and refurbishing the château on the 110-acre wooded farmland estate with vintage market finds. It also included setting up mini-hamlets of rustic wood cabins spread across the grounds of this wellness-focused, environmentally minded retreat, which draws in an elegant crowd, many with children in tow. There’s a beautiful forest worth exploring—early risers may even spot a roebuck peeking out—and an old-school music salon among the hangout spaces. But the real hub of activity is the spa, where guests head for treatments with Caudalie’s organic grape-seed creams. To work up an appetite for bistro feasts by chef Frédéric Calmels, cycle down the leafy country lanes to explore Château de Cheverny before diving into the outdoor pool. All told, this is a gorgeous new access point for the Loire. Doubles from about $230. —Lannie Goodman" - CNT Editors