If you have ever wondered what it would have been like to live like a French king with golf as spectacular as your acommodation and a spa that would have made even Marie Antoinnette jeleous, wonder no more!
The magnificent chateau that stands proudly at the heart of the d’Augerville estate and dominates proceedings has a rich and fascinating history. Although a building has stood on the site since the 12th century, the existing chateau was largely built in the 17th century.
It has welcomed a number of famous guests including Catherine de’ Medici and her son, King Charles IX, Alexandre Dumas and Franz Liszt. At various times it has been neglected but its fortunes took an upward turn in 1926 when it was bought by American socialite Alva Belmont, who was formerly Mrs William Kissam Vanderbilt. She restored it to its former glory and even widened the river that flows through it because she thought it had previously been too narrow.
She brought in paving stones from Versailles to cover the previously sand-paved great forecourt and had a massive neo-Gothic portal gate erected on the northern entrance. Changes inside the château included replacement of the wrought iron staircases and moving the kitchens to the basement. Curiously, she also installed what many believe was the first bowling alley in France.
Since her death, the chateau and nearly 300-acres estate has changed hands several times. Designed by Olivier Dongradi, the golf course was established in 1995 and the chateau has been converted into a truly outstanding four-star hotel which offers luxurious accommodation and truly fabulous facilities.
BROODING PRESENCE
The first course in France to be managed by Troon Golf and regarded as one of the ten most beautiful in the country, it’s a wonderfully enjoyable challenge. Set in the heart of woodlands and surrounded by fields, it gently rolls around the landscape. There are plenty of picturesque ponds to negotiate, some strategically located specimen trees and striking rock outcrops, which are a feature of the area around Fontainebleau.
The front nine loops around flat wooded trarrain, where you will finda nice blance of birdie and bogey opprotunies awaits. There are sevral holes that demand accuracy off the tee while others allow a free swing. The par 5, 2nd is particulatlly picturesque.
The back nine rises up on to higer ground and offers great views and several challanging holes before the par 5 finale. From a tee pearched high above the ground you get a magnificent view of the fairway leading to a pond guareded green. Behind the green are beautiful fomal gardens with the brooding presence of the chateau and the dinners on it’s lovely patio looking back at you adding a unqiuely appealingly, historic and royal dimension to the proceedings.
The lovely practice facilities and driving range feature grass and matts, as well as a short game area and are perfect for those looking to sharpen up their game.
WORLD CLASS SUPER SPA
After your round you should definitely take advantage of the superb facilities in the magnificent, brand new, €5m spa located in the hotel. While the hotel surrounds you in historic luxury Louis XV never dreamed of a spa this nice! Only opened last September, it is simply spectacular with the very latest high tech equipment and facilities to ensure you receive the finest treatments in the most relaxing of settings.
It has everything you could possibly want including a pedi-spa to revive your weary feet, hydro-massages to reinvigorate your aching limbs, a tonic corridor to heighten your senses and a great many baths and pools in which to lay back and let the stress just melt away.
You can gently exercise by swimming against the current or benefit from a wide range of massage treatments from the gently pampering to the energetically stimulating. There are saunas, a hammam, steam rooms, a rain-mist corridor… in fact, everything you could possibly want to find in a state-of-the-art spa facility designed to remove stress and allow you to relax totally.
There’s fine dining at its absolute finest in the oak-panelled splendour of the Jacques Coeur restaurant. Or if you fancy something rather less formal but still very chic then the Atelier Beauvallet brasserie is the best option.
Not many hotels have their own in-house chocolate factory but Chateua d’Augerville does and it’s one that Willy Wonka would adore, as indeed will you.
There’s a broad range of accommodation from traditional to deluxe room and junior to master suites. The price for each of these varies but the comfort and quality is consistent throughout this very special hotel.
WHY WE LIKE IT
Located just an hour’s drive south of Paris, the course is delightful and a real pleasure to play because, it is blessed with real atmosphere. As you stroll from green to tee, you almost expect a French nobleman to step out in front of you and wish you ‘bonjour’. To enjoy the experience to the full, you really should stay in the magnificent adjoining hotel, soak up the gloriously tranquility and enjoy an authentically French ambience. The spa is out of this world. In short the entire place is C’est magnificque!
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