Auberge Resorts Collection will continue its European expansion with April 2023 reopening of Domaine des Etangs, a historic 13th century French chateau set on 2,500 forested acres in the Charente region.

Once the private holiday estate of the Primat family, the property was transformed into a luxury hotel in 2015. Now set to reopen under the management of Auberge Resorts Collection, the chateau will embody the best of French design, blending restoration of an ancient castle and original farm buildings with a sophisticated palette of artisan architectural interventions and curated modern art.

The property finds itself full of fascinating juxtapositions; an art gallery in an old dairy barn, a wellness space in a former mill, a thermal baths pool house, and multi-storey rooms carved out of and restored from 18th century barns. Architecture across the Domaine has been thoughtfully preserved, while injecting modern comforts, in deliberate harmony with nature and the local terroir.

Across the Domaine are six Metairie Farmhouse cottages, as well as The Longère – ‘long house’ – home to four multi-storey suites, each decorated to reflect the seasons. Traditional wood beams and room-anchoring fireplaces compliment an interior colour palette that mimics the surrounding nature.

Inside the main chateau, seven more rooms and suites are available, each featuring luxurious design elements like photographic compositions by German artist Dieter Appelt, and Hermes chairs and suitcases stacked as drawers by Belgian designer Maarten de Ceulaer.

On the main floor, opening out onto the gardens, three sun-filled lounge areas offer additional space for guests to socialise, while The Attic upstairs serves as a relaxing recreational hub.

“Auberge Resorts Collection has been managing Primland, our family resort in Virginia, for the past two years. Seeing them in action has given me the confidence to entrust them with the management of Domaine des Etangs,” says Garance Primat, Domaine des Etangs’ current owner. “At the Domaine, nature is at the heart of everything, because our health depends on the health of the earth. Committed to preserving and respecting a balanced environment, the Domaine’s philosophy is built around an art of life reconnected to nature. I am confident Auberge shares those common values with me and that they will take good care of my beloved Domaine in the future.” 

Sustainability is a key principle in the property’s design, with a commitment to preserving biodiversity, working with local resources, and maintaining expansive green spaces. The estate’s vast gardens are curated by celebrated landscape gardener Camille Muller, while a broad range of outdoor spaces include a floating tennis court, 18-hole golf course, heated outdoor pool, and a certified organic farm and vegetable garden.

For further leisure and wellness, a former mill has been converted into a wellness centre, Moulin des Etangs. The rustic refuge remains fitted with the floor-to-ceiling cogs and levers that powered the former mill, stretching across its five treatment rooms. Back at the Chateau, the basement floor offers tranquil Gallo-Roman inspired thermal baths, with an indoor pool and frigidarium.

Auberge Resorts Collection is a US-owned luxury portfolio of 26 luxury resorts. Its latest opening adds to its plans for European expansion, with an upcoming opening set for Florence.