When I was asked to review spa resort ‘Jardins de Saint Benoit’ I couldn’t believe my luck.
The invitation came courtesy of Garrigae, a property and holiday company based in Languedoc in Southern France, only a two hour flight from London. I have no idea why I hadn’t looked into this area before now as the region offers glorious sunshine, breathtaking scenery and some of the finest vineyards in the world.
Bordering both the Pyrenees on the east and the Mediterranean sea on the West it enjoys a wonderful climate and boasts a spectacular coastline with a stunning mountainous backdrop.
Apparently it’s relatively unknown to us Brits who prefer to holiday in Provence, and yet is just as easy and inexpensive to get to. Indeed a truly authentic experience awaits visitors; it’s a chance for us to find out where the French spend their long weekends and what they do to relax. Parisians hoping to escape the rat race have increased demand in sophisticated yet nostalgic holiday homes and Garrigae have developed a number of exceptional properties, each with their own character and Gallic charm, designed with a specific purpose in mind.
Jardin de Saint Benoit could be described as the most ‘family friendly ‘ of the portfolio with it’s extensive kids activity roster (including mini yoga!) although having stayed there sans children I can vouch that its is also perfect couple territory- there’s not a Butlin holiday rep in sight and I saw no sparky teenager shouting at kids to get in the pool and perform a Mexican wave. In fact I actually thought I’d stumbled across a honeymoon destination but perhaps this is typical French - even the kids are coolly nonchalant.
It’s easy to see why le Jardin has had no problem renting out apartments; the venue is a picture perfect example of southern elegance. Driving into the Benoit estate you’ll first come across a rather grand looking farmhouse lined with olive trees and van Gogh purple irises. This mansion is in the heart of le Jardin, and hosts their bar, restaurant, roman spa and beautiful outdoor pool.
Every morning before breakfast I dipped in for an invigorating swim and took in the view (which is spectacular) a valley of vineyards, olive groves, cypress trees, lavender fields and sunflowers all stretching for miles around without a single office building or traffic jam in sight. It’s enough to make you reach for your watercolors…. Of course if swimming sounds far too much like hard work you could follow in the footsteps of my traveling companions and book in for a massage. The spa centre is equipped with treatment rooms, sauna, steam and Jacuzzi and designed to be a stress and hassle free zone with plenty of quiet corners to hang out, sip some fruity tea and catch up with a good book.
One past-time we all agreed upon was eating and drinking. If you love your food and wine you’ll love this place. Not only does it have its own vineyard but it also provides wine tasting and cookery lessons - which of course we felt obliged to try out.
Somehow I, keeper of the microwave and queen of the fish finger sandwich, found myself chopping olives, grinding anchovies and pummeling the plumpest beef tomatoes onto chunks of the freshest French bread. I’m not sure how wise arming me with a sharp knife was after a few glasses during the cookery session- but can let you know it was a hugely enjoyable process….
Of course there is nothing like some sea air to clear a foggy head so the next day we headed out to view their coastal property, Port Rive Gauche in Marseilles.
Perched on the waterfront this boutique bolthole occupies a former wine warehouse that has now been divided into 11 luxury suites and a spa centre. It’s decorated in French marine style - so super trendy, all white washed walls, driftwood and bleached out decking which are entirely in keeping with the property’s view: a crystal clear deep blue sea.
Having experienced what it’s like to lie out on the apartments decking long enough to start turning pink we all cruised along the harbour to a nearby fish restaurant where oysters are present on every table and top quality seafood is an everyday occurrence. Over a long lunch fishy lunch and couple of bottles of wine we learnt the aim behind the company’s vision from their chic representative Eurydice. She explained how the Garrigae is passionate about ensuring an authentic French experience without sacrificing on modern creature comforts. The renovations keep the history of the region ever present but aren’t ignorant to the needs and demands of their visitors.
Ever the perfect hostess she took us on a little tour of the seaside village and into its famous Noilly Prat vermoutherie where we learnt the history of this famous brand and sampled some of it’s various guises. According to our guide Rick Stein is a huge Noilly fan and on his visit enjoyed more than one glass of it’s local amber variety; sweeter and less dense than the version we are used to, and the best bit- you can only get it here!
Not wanting to outstay our welcome we said goodbyes to our guide and fitted in a stroll along the harbour, stopping to buy an ice cream to help stay cool in the sun, by now high in the sky, bleaching out all the cobbled pavements and whitewashed fishing boats around us.
Had we enough energy left we could have marched into the rugged countryside and tackled some of that famous hillside walking where nature trails and medieval ruins can be discovered at every turn. The region is a historians dream; it was once an epi-centre of medieval wealth and intelligence and had some of the most forward thinking leaders of its time. It even had its own language, ‘Occitan’, which was widely spoken until the city was annexed and amazingly it is still taught in local schools, proof that patriotic pride is still very much alive in the neighbouring towns.
The mountain fortresses known as the Cathar Castles are widely famous and I vowed next time I’d do a bit of homework and ask Garrigae to sort me out with a tour guide to take me into the Languedoc heartland. This is one of the best things about staying with them, they sort all your Mariah Carey type demands so even English speaking idiots like me can get around and enjoy the experience without worrying about their complete lack of local knowledge or failure to speak the lingo.
Having been on the go all day it was sheer bliss to get back to our private villas where I sat out on my very own terrace and looked up at the starriest sky I have seen in a long time. It was perfectly quiet and still and not long before I was tucked up dreaming of ice creams and sailing boats.
For more information on visiting any of the Garrigae properties please see garrigae-resorts.com.
At £136million, One Hyde Park has broken records and has confirmed that the top end of the property market is booming.
Rinat Akhmetov is now the proud owner of this super luxury development in London’s exclusive Knightsbridge. The coal miner’s son bought two apartments and swiftly made them into one. Now, Rinat Akhmetov has submitted plans for a £60million refit of the interior of One Hyde Park.
This is small potatoes to Rinat Akhmetov, who is reportedly valued at £10billion!
The three-storey penthouse has breathtaking views over Hyde Park and the London skyline. At £6,000 per square foot, One Hyde Park has some very impressive selling points….
Security is paramount, One Hyde Park is like Fort Knox; Iris-recognition systems in the lifts, bullet proof glass and panic rooms.
Interior design is simply on another level; Vast quantities of European oak and 15 different types of marble are used throughout.
Entertainment is also staggering; a 21m swimming pool, saunas, a gym, cinema, wine cellar, golf simulator…You just wouldn’t want to leave!
I forgot, how about concierge and room service from the neighbours? The Mandarin Oriental provides both!
For me, the absolute icing on the cake is an underground passage to a Heston Blumenthal restaurant.
That’s what you get for £136million. On reflection of all these perks, seems a great deal!
The previous most expensive flat was valued at £115million in a rival Central London development at St James’s Square in 2008.
This attractive, 1930s art deco building received Grade II designation in 1954.
The Penthouse or “The Hanover” and the whole of the 50 Hallam Street development shows that Marylebone has come of age and is now undisputedly one of London’s most exclusive and cultured neighbourhoods.
Property prices in the area have recently started to match Knightsbridge and Mayfair. But Marylebone is more “Boho-Chic ” than smart with its independent boutiques, food shops, organic cafes, garden squares, farmers market, high end restaurants and fashion outlets.
The area is steeped in history and culture too – the Royal Academy, the Wallace Collection, and Wigmore Hall; West End Theatre’s are all within walking distance.
The penthouse has incredible Manhattan loft style, wide open plan living space, with east and west facing windows – light in the property is fantastic. It also has two adjoining roof terraces and a wonderful conservatory style fitted kitchen. A study is located within the open plan dining and kitchen area but it has doors that enable an owner to close it off if needed.
Four bedrooms are located on the third floor while the open plan living space is upstairs on the fourth floor. It has art deco marble, oak/walnut flooring and listed ceilings in certain areas with “his and hers” showers and private dressing areas.
The Hanover is stylish and sophisticated whilst retaining an “at home” feel.
It is equipped with the most up to date technology, particularly with regard to security. Home automation systems are interfaced through Apple iPads that allow complete control of Blu-ray, TVs, music library and home automation devices such as lighting, curtains and blinds.
The elegance of the property is complemented with hard American oak floors, lutron lighting, granite work tops, an Italian marble bathroom, comfort cooling and under floor heating.
The property is only minutes walk from Oxford Street, Regents Park, Marylebone High Street and the West End. Oxford Street, Baker Street, Great Portland Street and Regents Park underground stations are all close by.
Yours for less than £8m!
To find out more about this unique London property, contact the agents Druce on +44 (0) 207 935 6535 or go to druce.com
1 Zero 4 is a £ multi million home in North Yorkshire.
It’s more than just a luxury designer home in the UK, it is a super intelligent, eco building designed for the modern family.
Complete home automation, managed via a centralised AMX control system and ipad technology (6.5miles of cabling), at the touch of a button the house answers questions right down to how much rainwater has been harvested to how much solar energy has been generated.
This is a house that creates and allocates accordingly with no waste.
As an “eco” build, it looks pretty special too.
It is rare for this type of technology to be incorporated into a domestic build. Designers LaRock Construction have given us a glimpse of the future.
1 Zero 4 goes beyond the tag Luxury eco home. This is a more a life assistant.
Like other eco builds, 1 Zero 4 is responsible for water and energy. Unlike other eco homes, 1 Zero 4 allocates sensibly. Technology allows for minimising resources in some areas but having the capability to maximise in others.
Rightfully so, 1 Zero 4 has recently been shortlisted for the Pro-Yorkshire RICS Awards in the residential category.
For us, 1 Zero 4 is a clear winner.
SJ Villas are specialists when it comes to super luxury villas and private homes. Now they have just added Torre Maso, a Catalan tower and farmhouse not far from Girona.
Torre Maso consists of a restored farmhouse and separate tower set in 20 acres of olive grove, pine woods and meadows within the nationally protected and forested hills of the Gavarres mountains.
The tower was designed by Rafael Maso, a student of Gaudi in 1911. There are the most stunning 360 degree views of Las Gavarres, the Pyrennees and the Mediterranean some eight miles away.
The main house sleeps 11 people in six bedrooms. There is a newly built, well-equipped kitchen and dining room that opens on to a covered dining terrace and a small courtyard with a fountain. The house is surrounded by terraces and has a large landscaped and heated swimming pool with shady pergolas and swinging “Indian” beds.
The tower house is 200 metres from the main house across the olive grove and sleeps six in three bedrooms. It has its own small pool and there is a sitting room with a large modernista window. The large roof terrace, perfect for watching shooting stars on a summer’s evening enjoys views out to the Mediterranean. Both houses are stylishly furnished with antiques, rugs, kelims and family pictures.
Torre Maso is near the pretty town of La Bisbal d’Emporda, which has excellent restaurants, shopping and a traditional market every Friday. Barcelona is just over an hour away and the town of Figueres, with its Dali museum is also close by. The nearest beach is twenty minutes away. For golfers there are a number of good courses in the surrounding area and there is also a riding stables 10 minutes away.
Seven nights at Torre Maso starts from £460 per person with SJ Villas based on 17 sharing. The price includes the services of a cook and a maid.
