Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Domaine des Etangs

We have just spent 3 wonderful nights at this stunning property & enjoyed every minute. So relaxing. The grounds are breathtaking & so much to do, We stayed in Mars room which is in the turret of the chateau & it was just perfect (if a little too hot at night time despite the a/c) The staff are all very friendly & attentive, Breakfast was delicious, really fresh produce & a super variety. Unfortunately the service at breakfast was the only thing that lets the hotel down slightly- it was completely chaotic. No places set, tables not cleared. Had to consistently ask for milk, cups, glasses etc. it’s a lovely concept to have all the food laid out in the kitchen (where on 2 mornings of our stay there was a chef to cook eggs to your liking) & it did make us feel as if we were guests in someone’s home, but to have waitresses trying to clear away, load dishwasher, replenish buffet & see to guests just doesn’t work in our opinion. I felt sorry for them, they need help! We are at the restaurant on 2 evenings. The service was excellent on both nights. It would be useful to have known in advance which evenings were ‘brasserie’ & which ‘gastronomic’. We both much preferred the a la carte food on the ‘Brasserie’ evening. The food on the ‘gastronomic’ night was very good but in our opinion not Michelin. There were an awful lot of very young children when we were there, this certainly wasn’t a problem for us but perhaps to be considered if you were looking for a more romantic couples experience. The outdoor pool was wonderful. The views from the sun loungers there fabulous. Gym very well equipped & a wonderful spa. Our stay was fabulous & we will definitely be returning. Tip - walk along the track into the village & try Auberge de Lac restaurant, the chef used to work at the chateau & the food was excellent. Ignore the basic outside of the restaurant.

Everything was even better than expected:location, design, service, room, dinner, breakfast all in warm atmosphere and with kind personel

Totally perfect in every way, can’t wait to return… A wonderful place which we will be bringing our family back to in the near future so they can experience the pure magic too! Loved every second :)

The most wonderful estate to relax and recharge close to nature Peaceful and understated luxury The resort has so much attention to detail and the staff are so welcoming and friendly We visited as a family and enjoyed staying in a villa which was luxurious and comfortable

Serenity and peaceful place that is calling you to calm down, take a deep breath and just being there. Surrounded by pure nature, several small lakes, ducks and cows, it is amazing energy and wellbeing. The castle and separate villas are exceptional and the assistance from lovely employees are everywhere.

A Stay in Paradise If you want to escape city life, this domaine is a must! You will not hear any noises relating to cars, trucks, or planes. The only sounds, will be that of nature. Nestled in the true, rural countryside of Central France is the Domaine Des Etangs. This 18th century castle and surrounding grounds is beyond amazing! The castle itself is surrounded by lakes, streams, and rolling hills. You can choose to walk the nature trails, ride bicycles or even better, explore on horseback. In addition, you can row the lakes on canoes. As for the rooms, they are large and updated in every way. A beautiful and tasteful eclectic mix of old with new decor. It seems any room on the property has an “outstanding view.” The service was exceptional from the check in clerk to the housekeeping crew. Even though meal options were limited, lunch and dinner, at their only restaurant, was available and very good. They have many public sitting areas within the resort. All are very cozy and elegantly decorated. A wonderful place to start or end your dinner or evening with a drink. This is probably the most complete resort my wife and I have ever stayed at with relation to accommodations, grounds, and meals. The only draw back, if you want to call it that, is that it is in the middle of nowhere, literally. But again, if you want an escape from city life this is actually perfect. It is paradise in the middle of the French countryside. Domine des Etangs should be your destination, especially if you are on a road trip from Paris to Bordeaux. We look forward to our return!

The property is a very high end beautifully maintained castle. Our room had a beautiful turret and was beautifully lit. All the accommodations were top notch and the service was excellent I would highly recommend and I plan to return.

Overnight on way to Bordeaux should have stayed longer beautiful setting lovely staff lots to do in relaxing way gym walking boating e bikes picnics indoor and outdoor pool fantastic family games room very dog friendly and Wellness centre

I love everything about this place, it feels like home. This is my third visit in as many months, and I will be returning as soon as possible! The staff have an easy manner, everything is possible here, nothing is too much trouble. They manage to provide the highest level of service with no pomp, fuss or unnecessary flourishing. The smiles are genuine and I look forward to seeing them again soon. The food is delicious and seasonal, everything is sourced mindfully and presented beautifully. There will be an excellent wine to complement your meal, I’m sure. Get George talking about the cognac, that’s a trip. I love the fact that you’re able to do whatever you want, whenever you want. You can swim at 2am if you please. The rowing boats and paddle boards are on the lake, ready for you to take out if you fancy it. The bikes are waiting to be taken for a spin around the grounds. You can fish if that’s your thing (the fish are gigantic). There’s a beautiful art gallery with two libraries, further to the library in the main building. The gallery space is exquisite, as good as the best in London and Paris, and the libraries are so thoughtfully designed, it’s an absolute joy to spend time in them. The hotel itself is crafted beautifully, the workmanship is a delight, the furniture and fittings are all substantial and of excellent quality- there’s just nothing to bring you down here, everything you touch and use feels good. Ok, now book it. I’m excited for you.