Chateau de la Messardiere
Saint Tropez, France
Chateau Hotel de la Messardiere is the largest and most imposing resort hotel in Saint Tropez. Its location is only 5 minutes away from the center of St. Tropez but a world away. The services, fantastic facilities and sprawling grounds will make you happy to return after a day at the beach or a night on the town. During the high season the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle to the beach and town.
Florentine arches separate the lobby from cavernous lounges with colorful fabrics, painted furniture, Carrera marble and tile floors scattered with Oriental rugs. Stairs rise from the lobby to the restaurant, which has an open wall to give access to its sea-view terrace. On the other side, a bar brims with antiques and reproductions, and boasts views over the pool.
This enormous heated pool, set in the center of the property boasts an army of lounge chairs and umbrellas for shade. Wicker seating areas are coated in plump pillows and invite lingering, especially during the cool evening hours. Meals can be served poolside in keeping with the resort ambiance.
Tennis and golf are only 10 minutes from the hotel. The La Prairie Spa debuted in 2009, with 10 treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool and a host of regional and international treatments. It brings one of the most famous names in pampering to St. Tropez. There is also a gym.
The large well-kept accommodations are some of the most attractive on this stretch of coast, and a conscious effort has been made to please North Americans, namely in the large king beds offered in many rooms. They promote romance with their boudoir decor, which traditionalists will adore.
Typical appointments are brightly sponged walls, pastel fabrics, well-proportioned sitting areas with sofas and chairs, canopied beds and large mirrors near the beds. The rooms situated inside the towers near the pool feature modern but Moorish-inspired decor, with flagstones and enameled baths.
Phones, complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, DVDs and well-stocked minibars come standard. Baths boast marble surfaces, bidets and hair dryers.
Prestige Rooms are largest and have spacious terraces making them the most popular choice. They all have spectacular water views.
Deluxe rooms on lower floors have smaller terraces that may or may not offer Mediterranean vistas, while superiors face the gardens. Avoid the small standards with no view.
Round-the-clock room service is offered. Small dogs are welcome. The staff is friendly, service-driven and English-speaking. The hotel is closed from November through March.
For a romantic Mediterranean experience stay here for at least a few nights. High season is July and August but May, September and October are sublime. The crowds are gone making it easy to explore this beautiful area of France. Perhaps a medieval village just 20 minutes away, or a local vineyard, or just wandering through the gentle countryside with a stop at a local restaurant for lunch.
This is when Provence becomes the place it was when Brigitte Bardot put it on the map!
Chateau De La Messardiere is a member of exclusive Virtuoso travel network. Contact our Virtuoso Travel Advisor [email protected] for more details.
