This Château in France's Loire Valley Dates Back to the 13th Century — and Just Opened As a Luxury Hotel

"As I passed the château's medieval gate and stood in the courtyard, I remember being literally summoned by the spirit of the place," Mira Grebenstein, the general manager of the newly openedChâteau Louise de La Vallière, said of her first visit to the 13th-century estate in the heart of France's Loire Valley.

On Oct. 15, 2022, following a meticulous multi-year restoration, the estate opened as an opulent, 20-room Relais & Châteaux hotel offering travelers a glimpse of life during the grand siècle (a.k.a. the 17th century). Taking inspiration from its most notorious guest — the château served as the holiday residence of King Louis XIV's favorite mistress, Louise de la Vallière — Grebenstein, together with interior designer Jacques Garcia, restored the château to its former glory by masterfully decorating it with period furnishings, paintings, and tapestries. A 17th-century-style dress code for everyone on the hotel's staff helps sell the ruse.

"Our goal was to bring the spirit and taste of the past centuries together for the riot of the senses while respecting [the area's] nature and [wild]life," Grebenstein added. 

The theatrical aesthetic continues at the hotel's signature restaurant, L'Amphitryon, named after the 17th-century comedy by Molière. There, patrons are treated to traditional grand siècle dishes prepared by chef Maxime Lesobre, who worked alongside a culinary historian to ensure the authenticity of the recipes and cooking techniques. The lavish décor invokes 17th- and 18th-century dining rooms rich in heavy fabrics and textures, with candles illuminating the tables. 

It's not all old-school luxury and glamor, though. The hotel also has a modern spa, La Rosee, located in a stand-alone building with five treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, a sensory shower, a salt room, and a heated swimming pool.

The sprawling estate sits on 47 acres with centuries-old oaks and cedars, fig trees, rose gardens, and beehives, where birds, deer, and hares roam freely.

"At Château Louise, we believe in sustainable tourism, with the highest degree of respect for the environment. The first thing we did after buying the estate in 2018 was to prohibit hunting on our grounds, and to make an inventory of the wildlife present in the estate," Grebenstein said.

You can book your royal stay at Château Louise de La Vallière here. Nightly rates start at €440 (which converts to about $447 at the time of publishing).