Honeymoon in Provence: Chateau Saint Martin

My husband and I recently visited the French Riviera, a large part to do some research into the area for some upcoming projects and partly for some R&R and to celebrate the blogs 1st Birthday.  As part of the itinerary for the blog celebrations my husband and I visited a wedding venue that I have previously featured Chateau Saint-Martin & Spa to see what it is like as a mini honeymoon in Provence.

We arrived at Chateau Saint-Martin from the Provence area and as soon as you see the Chateau on the hillside you know that you are in for a luxurious experience.  Driving into the grounds of the Chateau along the narrow driveway through the beautiful gardens and into the underground cave car park, gives you your first glimpse into the beauty that is held within the Chateau architecture and grounds.

Walking up the enchanting staircase you enter the light, airy and opulent reception area where we met the first of the many simply charming staff at Chateau Saint Martin.  I had booked us into a Superior Junior Suite at the Chateau, for the selfish reason that I could blog with a view!  Our luggage was dispatched to the suite and we were dispatched to the lounge for a refreshing drink before being shown through the art filled corridors to our home for the night.

blog with a view

This is the view from the private balcony from the Superior Junior Suite, with two sun loungers and a cute table and chairs that provided my haven for an afternoon of blogging.

 

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Our Superior Junior Suite:

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After a delightful afternoon, it was time to get changed for drinks and dinner. Now many apologies if you follow me on Instagram and I was a little obsessed with sharing images of the delightful food.    I have dined at an award winning Relais & Chateau restaurant in the UK, but never a two-Michelin starred restaurant such as Le Saint Martin, so I was giddy with excitement at the culinary treat to come.

The evening started with some champagne and a plate of amuse bouche in the lounge area.

le saint martin food

My menu consisted off Cèpes, Blue Lobster, Lamb from Quercy and my husband had Foie gras, Red Mullet, Pigeon, Cheese course and New fashioned Baked Alaska all complimented with a wine as advised by the onsite sommelier.

red mullet dinner

Red Mullet

palate cleanser

Palate Cleanser

new baked alaska

Flaming New Baked Alaska!

coffee sweets

Delicious mini desserts with coffee

The food as you would expect for a 2 Michelin star restaurant was just exquisite and challenged my palate with new flavours and textures.  But the dining experience was so much more than just the food, it was the little details that made the experience truly memorable.  I am not sure how this was achieved, but as guests of the Chateau and part of their personal service, we never actually once said our names or suite number…..

We arrived and were greeted by the Maitre D’ who escorted us to a table in the lounge where the experience started and sure enough at the end of the evening we were referenced by name and wished a good evening.  When we moved through to the table, there was a mini table for your handbag/clutch, which I have to say as most women will attest to is one of the worst dilemmas as to where to you stow your beautiful purse during dinner.  The sommelier was extremely helpful in advising on a wine to suit our chosen menu and the waiting staff moved around the dining room as if they were part of a well rehearsed ballet, graceful and discrete as they served you.

I would say it was truly a dining ‘experience’ that has elegant and refined undertones, where there is a calm and quietness about the dining room that is usually eroded by bustling kitchen noise.

Following a delicious continental breakfast the follow morning in the La Rosticceria restaurant and it’s own stunning views, I took the opportunity to venture into the grounds to capture some more pictures.

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I do believe that an accommodation experience starts when you are actually booking your room. I booked our suite through the online reservation facility, which was easy and provided all of the details required.  Following on from confirmation of the booking I did receive an email which informed me  “kindly inform you that due to a private event, the room shall be liberated at 12:00 sharp on Friday October 5th upon departure.  Besides, the property being reserved exclusively from 12:00 am that day, we regret not to be able to offer you the possibility to enjoy lunch with us and the Spa facilities as well as the pool ones will be restricted.”

I took this as a positive that a venue had taken the time to inform me as to the arrangements available, which provided no issue for us as the room was due to be vacated by 12 noon anyway and we then had an appointment in Antibes for lunch.

I love the Provence area and Chateau Saint Martin would make a wonderful base for your honeymoon travels or as part of a honeymoon itinerary across the French Riviera.

 

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  • Spacious and luminous, the 39 Junior Suites of the Château Saint-Martin & Spa are decorated with period furniture in Louis XV and Louis XVI style, shimmering fabrics made by prestigious manufacturers such as Rubelli, Nobilis, Colfax or Pierre Frey.Each bedroom offers a large double bed or 2 twin beds, a small lounge area, a study, television with satellite reception, 2 telephones and a bathroom in rose Burgundy marble and air conditioned.