MODERN CHATEAU

After an extensive, decade-long refurbishment, Chateau Brachet is restored to its former glory

By CASPAR DAVID

Not far from the shores of Lake Bourget, this 4-star hotel is housed in a beautifully restored historic residence. It features 15 rooms and suites, a wellness area, a gastronomic restaurant and a six-hectare landscaped park, in which guests can enjoy an 18-metre long outdoor swimming pool, and a wide selection of outdoor games: tennis and padel, pétanque, croquet, badminton and volleyball courts, a giant chessboard as well as an Executive Golf training area covering more than one hectare.

Staying at Château Brachet is not just about pampering your body and indulging in gastronomy, but it's a chance to travel back in history.

The current owners aquired the building in 2010. It was a case of love at first sight – but also a major gamble. They confide: “We had to wake up the sleeping beauty. Turning it into a hotel was a rather wild dream. This renovation, which we wanted to be as faithful as possible to the 'soul' of the buildings, was enhanced by the fact that, just before the purchase, we were made aware of many historical details about this residence and its owners/visitors. Our goal then became for the château to embody the French art of living and to convey the power of attraction of Aix-les-Bains, where aristocrats, crowned heads, artists, and intellectuals all flocked to enjoy the thermal seasons. After a 10-year restoration, the building has now been brought back to life and transformed into an elegant boutique hotel that offers modern comfort as well as a unique journey back into a forgotten era: Aix-les-Bains' golden age as a spa resort.

Dr Léon Brachet was born and raised in the Château until he left to study medicine in Montpellier where he met his wife Nelly. Upon his return as a doctor at the thermal baths in 1864, he resided in the centre of Aix-les-Bains in the Villa Frieda, which he renovated at great expense. When he inherited the family château in 1886, it was too far from downtown Aix-les-Bains, given the means of transport of the time. For 10 years, he therefore rented it out to an English countess, Lady Virginia Somers. Born and raised in India before returning to England at the age of 18, she was the greataunt of celebrated writer Virginia Woolf. At Château Brachet, she hosted lavish picnics and parties throughout the spa season, which were regularly attended by Dr Brachet and his wife. In 1890, Queen Victoria herself came for High Tea with her compatriot at the château, which she described as a “small picturesque house with its old-fashioned charm”. Also hosted by Lady Somers, Mary, the wife of Victorian painter George Frederic Watts, spoke of the “charming house in Grésy... and its garden of a thousand roses”.

Nicknamed the "Doctor of Kings", Dr Brachet was very instrumental in the development of Aix as a world-renowned spa resort. He wrote books in English on the matter such as “Aix les Bains in Savoy, the medical treatment and general indications” as early as 1887 and threw himself into the creation of the Revard rack railway, the first local Golf course, the Racecourse and the Alpine Club. A pioneer in the field of tourism, he also served as deputy mayor of Aix-les-Bains and even as president of the Casino Grand Cercle.

The restaurant, La Table du Château, has been decorated using noble materials and finishes. The granite tables, made from Egyptian stone that required an old quarry to be reopened, echo the anthracite cabochons of the travertine floor and the shades of the Belle Époque glass roof. But when the weather is clement, nothing compares to al fresco dining on La Broderie, the outdoor terrace seating 50, to take in the exceptional panorama of the landscaped gardens and flowerbeds.

Each category of rooms and suites is decorated in a unique style featuring luxurious details, harmonious colours, refined prints and noble materials.

All capture the soul of this stately home back in its Victorian heyday, without skimping on the excellence of modern comfort (topof-the-range bedding, smart gadgets, etc.)

Finally, particular attention has been paid to the bathrooms. Laid out and furnished as havens of elegance, they have been designed as chic water rooms to be admired for their aesthetics. Most of them are equipped with comfortable bathtubs, in addition to spacious showers.

Chateau Brachet

Restaurant open every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A special amenity gift will be yours when you indicate the following promo code upon booking your stay with us: ALCB-2023 chateaubrachet.com infos@chateaubrachet.com