PressPack

Welcome to the Château de la MessardièreFor more than 25 years, we have happily and proudly welco-med guests to our establishment between April and October.A peaceful haven with an opulence that never fades, it has sup-ported the arts since 1890.Year after year, we have raised our standards to the highestlevel. Expansion, renovation and innovation have resulted inthe excellence of a quiet, authentic luxury hotel.We continuously seek the best ways to offer our guests an un-forgettable stay worthy of the château. While staying with us,for example, you'll enjoy fragrances specially chosen for us bythe perfumer Blaise Mautin, dreamt up on her walks throughour ten-hectare grounds. Visit them yourself and roam the na-tural trails or rest on one of our lava benches crafted by Salernes artisans in Haut-Var.

Over the years, this road has led me to develop closer ties between the château and the grounds.Thus, for more than five years, our bees have produced honey that we serve up with our cheeseplatter in the evening at L'Acacia, our gourmet restaurant. And our centuries-old olive trees and theolive grove planted on the hillside above our pond—where a pair of white swans reign—yield a qua-lity oil we gift to our long-term guests. More recently, the exquisite memory of acacia blossom frittersserved by our chef Alain Lamaison and, once through the gates, the mimosas lining the climb to thehotel prompted me to rename our gourmet restaurant L’Acacia, the scientific name for mimosa. Thiscombines a quest for meaning and a quest for the extraordinary.

My personal quest took shape after a journey that introduced me to different cultures at a veryyoung age (taking me to Italy, the Middle East and North Africa), and continued early in my careerat prestigious hotels in Paris and then London. In 1991, I took up a new challenge: structuring theChâteau de la Messardière, which had opened a year before. What was supposed to be a 'tempo-rary' job turned very permanent in an ever evolving environment, owing to the hotel’s seasonal na-ture. Since 2010 I have been the Managing Director of this prestigious hotel, helping to make itgrow and thrive. Married with three grown-up daughters, I remain passionate in my desire to enthralour guests and make the estate a shining beacon. The Palace distinction bestowed in June 2012 re-warded the determination of myself and my employees to see the Château de la Messardière jointhe ranks of France’s most prestigious internationally recognised hotels.

I enjoy throwing myself into tasks such as supervising and supporting my teams (more than 180 peo-ple in high season); launching a variety of renovation projects to ensure the comfort of guests; loo-king after our guests throughout their stay; and introducing ground-breaking concepts such as theMessardière Summer Novel Prize and, recently, the Rencontres littéraires (literary sessions). Sinceearly 2013, I have chaired and managed line-ups for the Société Tropézienne des Amis de la Musique,which organises classical music recitals in Saint-Tropez in spring and autumn.

Enjoy your stay at the Château de la Messardière

Alexandre Durand-Viel Directeur Général

Exploring the Château de la Messardière…The Château de la Messardière overlooks Saint-Tropez, perched on top of a hill.

The Var’s biggest five-star hotel has earned the 'Palace' distinction, naturally contributing to the renown of this legendary village.

The Château de la Messardière is known for its stunning location, a pristine setting,luxurious amenities and bespoke service.

This exceptional location regularly attracts an international, demanding clientele in need of recharge and averse to soulless hotels.

These historic venues are steeped in a quiet, bright atmosphere.

A gem between Provence and the French RivieraWith more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the Var abounds with beauty at every turn:

lush nature, over 400 kilometres of coastline, a majestic hinterland full of contrasts, a rich historic and cultural heritage

and an enviable lifestyle.

Ideally located between Monaco and Provence, the Château de la Messardière is fiveminutes from the beaches of Pampelonne and the heart of Saint-Tropez.

The most beautiful locations in Provence are less than 130 kilometres away and can be seen in a day.

To the east: La Croisette in Cannes, Nice and its promenade, Monaco and its casino.To the west: Aix-en-Provence, the Cassis coves, etc.

To the north: Haut-Var, the Verdon Gorges, Thoronet Abbey and more.

La Messardière : château of lightThe narrow, winding road ends at the majestic gate before a long drive lined with shimmering flowerbeds

takes you to the heart of the estate.The silence is broken only by birdsong at this preserved refuge

as the hum of Saint-Tropez fades away.

Everywhere you turn at the Château de la Messardière, the most beautiful views of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, Ramatuelle vineyards

and Pampelonne beaches regale you in the constant heat.

An authentic 19th-century home, the château was restored and extended in 1989.Turrets, cupolas, vaults and colonnades enhance the light, shape the space

They underscore the power of the architecture and its harmonious perspectives without altering the charm and character of a bygone era.

Today it is a Mediterranean-style hotel in the heart of a 10-hectare pine grove.Its walls reflect bright nuances.

The ochre tones of Provence rival the blue of the skywhile the velvety rooms offer refuge from the hot sun.

Over the years, a subtle marriage of styles has emerged with wrought-iron scrollwork, mosaics, Salernes lava and terra cotta, combining Art Deco inspiration and Florentine flourishes.

Suites and rooms with a view

The 57 suites and 60 guest rooms have private terraces or gardens,offering guests magic moments such as enjoying a delicious breakfast

overlooking the stunning landscapes.

Located in the château or on the estate, the suites and guest rooms are available in ten sizes, ranging from 25 m² to 65 m².

All are extremely comfortable and offer outstanding amenities. The most beautiful suites have complimentary services.

The hotel’s character is reflected in the carefully designed decor with terra cotta, carefully maintained parquet floors, lava stone, silky fabrics and plush embroidered terry-cloth.

Dining at the Château

The new challenge for Chef Alain Lamaison

A native of Landes, Chef Alain Lamaison is a gastronomy en-thusiast and a man of taste with a thirst for adventure andchallenge.

His vocation stretches back to his childhood when he roamedFrance's roads with his lorry driver father. His passion was igni-ted in a little restaurant where he experienced his first majorgastronomic emotion.

After studying at the Capbreton culinary school, he set off forParis to learn his trade. At 23, he bought his first restaurant,La Petite Bretonnière. He soon picked up his first star and be-came France's youngest starred restaurateur.

A few years later, Alain Lamaison left Paris to take on a newchallenge in Baux-de-Provence. In the kitchens of the Cabrod’Or, a gourmet Relais & Châteaux restaurant, he discoveredsun-ripened products, fell for the charms of green gold andcreated 'all olive oil' menus. Straight away, he was awardedanother star by Michelin.

In 2001, he set up on the island of Corsica and took charge of the kitchen at La Signoria, a luxury five-starRelais & Châteaux hotel in Calvi. Just two years later, he was voted Best Chef in Corsica.

Ever drawn to discovery and novelty, the Chef took off when the mountains called. The opening of Barmesde l’Ours, a five-star luxury hotel in Val d’Isère, gave him control of its three restaurants. Heading up ateam of 25, he made the Tarentaise Valley products shine and brought in the resort's first star.

After a break in 2009 to take charge of the Gourmandises restaurant in Deauville where he earned twotoques and a 'coup de coeur' (favourite) from the Gault & Millau guide, he returned to the helm of Barmesde l'Ours in 2013.

A new adventure in 2018 Alain Lamaison takes to the kitchens at the Château de la Messardière, his firstfive-star Palace, in Saint-Tropez. A fantastic setting where he is now looking to apply his know-how in awhole new territory.

Alain Lamaison's cuisine is like the man himself: generous, gourmet and bold. He serves up instinctive, in-ventive dishes, respecting products and seasons, exalting taste and enhancing flavour.

Restaurants & Bar

Dinner at L’AcaciaColour, transparency, materials and light reveal aspace that is luxurious but not showy, sophistica-ted but low-key.This theatrical, classic, contemporary yet timelessdecor is the perfect illustration of the Château dela Messardière character.Several influences, including Art Deco, Art Nou-veau, Venice, Florence and contemporary design,contribute to the lavish décor, details and atmos-phere. The restaurant boasts a panoramic terracewith views of the Pampelonne beaches and the Ra-matuelle vineyards.

Le Soleil d’Eau barThe delightful prelude to a lovely evening, theaperitif hour is a time for sharing enjoyable mo-ments.Meet friends in the refined, ever so contemporarylounge which overlooks the sea.Give in to the temptation of delicious cocktailswhile comfortably ensconced on the bar’s terrace,soaking up the soothing atmosphere of a warm,starry night.

Open SkyEnjoy a gourmet lunch near the spacious reflecting

pool. On the menu: the catch of the day, grilledmeats, salads, club sandwiches, pasta to order and

the chef’s suggestions accompanied by a glass ofelegant Provence rosé.

Served from 12:30 to 3 pm. Open in the evening,weather permitting,

and in July and August.

These à la carte gourmet suggestions are also available as two set-price menus accompanied by de-licious surprises:

From the Market Menu – three courses: €70Vegan Menu: Nature and Fantasy – six courses: €90

Tasting Menu: Flavours Through Time – six courses: €120

A list of over 300 wines and champagnesEvery year, our Head Sommelier introduces you to local new wines and the treasures of our cellar,

which boasts over 300 wines, combining innovation with great classics.

The Valmont & Cinq Mondes Spa

Long renowned among guests in the know as the ultimate in refined Saint-Tropez luxury, the Château de la Messardière is also a fully-fledged wellness destination with its 465m² spa.

Tucked away at the heart of the hotel, “it looks as though it’s always been there,” comment Château regulars, delighted at discovering this magnificent wellness space.

You'll find no flashy luxury here. The very spacious spa reflects the finestartisans’ 'bespoke' know-how: ceilings worked into skylights, Versailles oak parquet floors, stained glass windows, wrought-iron scrollwork, vaults and colonnades in dressed stone,

paving in white Croatian stone, mosaics and more.

Bathed in natural light, opening out onto a magnificent Italian garden, the spa beckons nature into the peaceful haven.

A relaxation area shares this space.

The relaxation area has a counter-current swimming pool, Jacuzzi,men’s steam bath with showers and changing rooms, women’s steam bath with showers

and a changing rooms and a gym with cardio andTechnogym weight-training machines.

Gentle face and body treatments, massages, manicures and pedicures are availablein the spa’s three treatment rooms: the Thai massage room, the twin treatment room

with private steam bath and a manicure and pedicure room.

The spa offers a range of treatments in partnership with famous cosmetic brands Valmont and Cinq Mondes, offering guests the best facial and

massage treatments from around the world.

The artistic soul of the château

For years the Château de la Messardière has been a showcase for A number of artistic talents are nurtured under Mana-ging Director, Alexandre Durand-Viel, including painting, sculpture, classical music, jazz, literature, film and more.

An artistic family traditionHenri Brisson de la Messardière married artist and musician Louise Dupuy d’Angeac. The artistic soul of the château hasremained ever since. Victoire de la Messardière, the last of the descendants, has found her place of honour and naturallyshowcases her work in the Château of her ancestors.This eclectic, multi-talented artist expresses her passion in a variety of media, including pastel, collage, oil on canvas andwood, fabrics, trimmings and stained glass.The walls of the château’s guest rooms and lobby are decorated with various esoteric and symbolic paintings and glasspainted with a thousand colours..

Literature and writers at Château de la MessardièreOver the past six years, the Messardière Summer Novel Prize, launched in2011, has unearthed talent then showcased it to guests throughout thesummer. The winners have also been invited to enjoy a full-board stay – achance to reflect or sometimes put the finishing touches to their latest ma-nuscript.

In 2017, the Rencontres littéraires (literary sessions) took place, gatheringauthors around a common theme in front of a book-loving local audience.Wonderful writer–writer and writer–audience discussions were followedby a book signing in partnership with the Librairie de Saint-Tropez books-hop.

A passion for classical musicChâteau de la Messardière management is pursuing its partnership with classical music this year and investing in presti-gious events. The hotel invites its guests to share these moments by offering VIP places for various music festivals: theSociété Tropézienne des Amis de la Musique and Musicales de Grimaud all year round, and Les Nuits du Château de laMoutte in summer.Since 2013, Alexandre Durand-Viel has chaired and managed the line-up for the Société Tropézienne des Amis de la Mu-sique. He has organised two series, the Printemps Musical (for the tenth year in 2018) and the Festival d’Automne (forthe 14th year in 2018), thus contributing to the Saint-Tropez culture scene.

The Sculpture GardenJean-Philippe Richard’s sumptuously feminine female sculptures have resided in the château’s bar

and restaurant for several years now. Dazzled by the ten-hectare landscaped park, the artist invited his “beautiful demoiselles”.

Twelve enigmatic young women line the paths of the grounds, tucked away in the nooks of this verdant setting.

The partner Tropézina beach A special welcome

Welcome to the legendary Pampelonne Bay!

Our partners Patrick Germain and Alain Badel invite Château de la Messardière guests to spend the sum-mer on their private Tropézina Beach, which nestles, dreamlike, on the shore.

This incredible natural space is envied the world over. Cape Camarat and Cape Pinet mark out the penin-sula's most prized assets: the sea in myriad shades of blue, fringed with deep pine forests and proud vi-neyards. Five kilometres of fine sand glitter languidly in the sun. Since the 1950s, holidaymakers fromaround the world have been flocking to this paradise to enjoy the seaside charms in a relaxing or partyspirit, depending on their mood.

A few hundred metres from the hotel and a two-minute drive away, the Tropézina Beach encapsulatesthe Pampelonne magic with a little added extra: abundant Mediterranean vegetation in immediate proxi-mity, forming an actual sea garden!Our private shuttles allow guests to travel there as and when they please, without worrying about thejourney or traffic. Other bonuses include towels with the Château de la Messardière logo, a welcomedrink at lunch, free mattresses and parasols in spring and autumn and free parking. There is also the op-tion to sign for the beverages consumed that day.

Committed to natureA charter to reconcile luxury with respect for the environment

Château de la Messardière Management believes that luxurious services should neither waste preciousresources nor create excessive pollution.In 2010 they drafted an environmental charter to better preserve the château’s magnificent setting.

The charter defines the actions under way to encourage ever-more responsible behaviour and describesthe few simple gestures guests can make during their stay to contribute. The steps taken have many be-nefits. The combination of luxury and respect for the environment ensures the lasting comfort of guestsnow and in future generations.

The water: a haven of peace

Devised as a wildlife reserve, the pond perpetuates the commitment with Bird Life International (LPO)which led to the introduction of swans, ducks and fish to the water.

Popular with hotel guests, the site is both an ecological spot and a pleasant place to wander.

The château's honey and olive oil

The grounds are biodiverse, made up mainly of local species and plants, including many melliferous ones.Combined with the avoidance of insecticides and pesticides, which are very harmful to bees, this allowsthe château’s hives to produce quality honey which features on the menu at the gourmet restaurant L'Aca-cia. This fertile land is home to another treasure: our olive trees. Three hundred and sixty-six kilos of fruitwere hand-picked last autumn. This harvest went on to yield 63 litres of oil with the help of the profes-sionals at the Château Léoube.The honey is carefully transferred to 250g jars and our olive oil to 25cl bottles and given to our long-termguests as leaving gifts. This allows them to take a tangible, living part of the château away with them.

Services and Information

Opening period: from April to October

Hospitality and custom experiencesThe “Golden Keys” Head Concierge and his co-workers meet guests’ every need to organise tailor-madedays and unforgettable nights.They also handle all the necessary bookings (flights, cars, etc.)

A 10-hectare parkThe relaxing, subtly-scented Mediterranean park has been beautifully laid out with botanical trails. Pine,mimosa, cypress, palm, olive and boxwood trees receive tender loving care that protects the environ-ment.Château de la Messardière is the only hotel in France with the official Bird Life International refuge label.

A reflecting pool heated to 28° all season long.The big 24m x 12m swimming pool and its solarium overlook the Bay of Saint-Tropez. White mattressesand parasols, sofas and wide armchairs beckon guests to relax and take it easy.

Tropézina BeachGuests who feel like doing nothing more than stretching out and loafing around enjoy this beautiful beachof golden sand and its restaurant several hundred metres from the hotel.

Shuttle and free Wi-FiA 24-hour shuttle whisks guests to the beach and to the centre of Saint-Tropez in three minutes. The Wi-Fi is self-service and easy to connect to at Château de la Messardière. These services are very popularwith guests.

Room ServiceOur teams will serve up small or larger meals within 20 minutes, whatever the time.

Reception and seminar roomsThe château has 650m² dedicated to events and business tourism.The Canebiers Room, bathed in natural light and extended by a huge terrace overlooking the gardensand the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, is a wonderful setting for unique, exceptional events.

Affiliations and Certifications

2018

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2, Route de Tahiti - 83990 Saint-Tropez - FranceTél : +33 (0)4 94 56 76 00 - Fax : +33 (0)4 94 56 76 01

hotel@messardiere.com - www.messardiere.com

Contact Presse : Bureau de Presse Pascale Venot

Christine Pigot-Sabatier01 53 53 41 29

christine@pascalevenot.com