| | Facilities within the Property |
 La Salle des Gardes
Nothing has been left to chance, nothing is too much trouble - especially in the kitchen. Lyon is world famous for its cooking and food markets, and the Chef at the Château de Bagnols is justly proud of his seductive menus, which offer a range of regional specialities, traditional spit-roasted meats and game and inspired new dishes.Meanwhile, the Sommelier can offer all the subtle varieties of taste of the different Beaujolais wines, including the ten celebrated Beaujolais crus, or indeed any of the great wines of neighbouring Burgundy from the splendid and varied wine list, which presents the finest wines of France and other countries. On fine days you can elect to eat out of doors on the south-facing terrace under the redolent shade of the 100-year-old lime trees. Here you can look down to the gently splashing fountain, which stands at the centre of the park surrounded by an orchard of cherry trees underplanted with wild flowers. Beyond there lies a dazzling panorama, which melts into the hazy distance of hills covered in vineyards and woods.
Lunch is served every day from 12:00 noon to 1:45 pm.
Dinner is served every evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Please note that during the week, lunch is reserved exclusively for hotel guests.
Le Cuvage
Le Cuvage, the Beaujolais word for the place where wine is made, is part of the buildings surrounding the Basse Cour (lower courtyard) and is now used for concerts, private parties and wine tastings. The château's extensive wine cellar lies beneath it. |
 The Chef
Matthieu Fontaine joined Château de Bagnols in March 2003 and is the new Executive Chef of our gastronomic restaurant, the Salles des Gardes. After having gained his first experience at the celebrated gastronomic restaurant, Amphycles (**), first as First Assistant Chef, then as Executive Chef, Matthieu Fontaine became Executive Chef at Leon de Lyon for five years and contributed to their second Michelin star in 1994 (**). Whilst working there he received the heads of state during the G7 conference in 1996. This talented young chef also directed the restaurant at Château de Divonne (*), selected by the Gault Millau guide in 2001. He has brought with him a new style, which uses local produce and long, slow cooking methods, thus preserving authenticity and flavour. His refined cuisine is diverse and balanced and always in search of perfection. Matthieu Fontaine offers his clients an authentic regional cuisine, inspired by the treasures from the local markets, which vary from season to season. Whilst rooted in local tradition, he does not hesitate to adopt other creative and inspired paths. A fervent defender of fresh and seasonal produce, he makes each dish a journey towards flavour and pleasure. |
 Health and Leisure
Our heated swimming pool is at your disposal, in a park created especially for your enjoyment. It is open during the summer months and is for our hotel guests only. The pool is 17.5 metres in diameter and 1.49 metres deep. The château would also be delighted to organise guided horse riding for you during your stay. Horses can be hired at Le Bois d'Oingt, minutes away from the château, or at Denice, four kilometres from Villefranche. Alternatively, you can take in some of the spectacular views of the Beaujolais by balloon ride, where you can take off directly from the château. Departure time is dependent on the season, and flight time is approximately one and a half to two hours.
Meetings
The Château de Bagnols is an ideal place to entertain on almost any scale - from a dinner in the secret Chambre de Donjon or an intimate party in the Salon de Chasse, with its charming 18th-century wall paintings, to a grand reception for as many as 300 guests in the vast Cuvage, with its magnificent 'cave' where the best of the Beaujolais crus can be tasted. To make your party an even more memorable occasion, music, entertainments or a brilliant fireworks display can be organised.
For those who would like to mix business with pleasure, the most up-to-date audio-visual and communications systems are available. The fantastic Library has been recently equipped with a 50-inch plasma screen with DVD, video recorder and ADSL high-speed Internet access. The château also provides a unique venue for product launches and events requiring a setting rich in cultural heritage, combined with the most modern facilities and surroundings of the highest quality. |
 Concierge
A warm welcome to the Château de Bagnols in the heart of Beaujolais country from me, Head Concierge at the hotel, and my team.
The château has a wide terrace with spectacular views across the valley, where guests can have their summer meals under the shade of lime trees. Wine tastings, parties and concerts can be held in the Cuvage. In the area immediately surrounding Château de Bagnols, the most satisfying activity is a gentle walk or drive through the glorious countryside. For wine enthusiasts, there is a good Beaujolais wine trail. Few of the local châteaux are open to the public, but 30 minutes away in Lyon there is an abundance of historic buildings and two dozen museums celebrating the city's 2000-year-old history.
As well as the activities listed below, vineyard tours, trekking and car and mountain bike trips can be arranged.
The Wine Trail
Local villages
Lyon's Glories
Carriage rides
Gastronomic excursions
Cooking and wine courses
Shopping
We look forward to welcoming you at Château de Bagnols, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries. |
 La Boutique
Whilst carrying out the restoration of the château, Lady Hamlyn spent over four years developing a collection of over 500 items specially designed for the château. After extensive research into 17th- and 18th-century designs, the craftsmen who perfected the final products were chosen from all over the world for their dedication and expertise. The glassware, which was made in France, is based on an 18th-century Burgundian design, and the handblown glass itself was specially formulated to recreate the translucence and colour of the original. The same wish to avoid the somewhat clinical finish found in modern china manufacture led to the creation in Limoges of a porcelain which returns to the patina and individuality of the 18th century. Great attention has been paid to the manufacture of the silverware. The pistol-handled knives are made in Sheffield, England, from an 18th-century original. The blades were cut to a design which has not been in production since the end of the 19th century. All the silver has been carefully patinated to achieve a softer, antique effect. These are but three examples which reflect the overall concept behind this collection, the aim of which is to return to the traditional standards of the past. All of these products can be bought at La Boutique, situated in the village of Bagnols, a stone's throw away from the château. We hope that the objects available at La Boutique will prove a lasting memory of the special atmosphere that has been created at the Château de Bagnols and that you will find them a source of continued enjoyment and pleasure. |
| Property Facilities Summary: |  ADSL Connection | Audio/Visual Service | | Banquets | Bar | | Beauty Treatments | Bicycle Rentals | | Bus Tours | Business Centre | | Candle Light Dinner | Car Rental | | Casino | Ceremony Management | | Chauffer-Driven Limousine Services | Child Friendly | | Concierge Service | Conference Packages | | Congresses & Meetings | Cooking Courses | | Currency Exchange Service | Dry Cleaning | | Fax Machine | Fax Service | | Golf | Groups Allowed | | Guide-Dogs Welcome | Guided Tours | | Heated Pool | Helicopter Service To/From Airport | | Home Produce | Horseback Riding | | Internet Connection | Internet Point | | Internet Wireless | Ironing | | Laundry & Ironing | Lift | | Luggage Storage | Manicure, Pedicure | | Massage | Medium Pets Welcome | | Meeting Room | Newspaper | | Outlet Tours | Overhead Projector | | Porter Service | Private Parking | | Private Transfer To / From City | Private Transfer To/From Airport | | Private Transfer To/From Bus Station | Private Transfer To/From Rail Station | | Restaurant | Shoe Shine Service | | Silver Cutlery | Small Pets Welcome | | Special Events | Sun Terrace | | Tennis Court | Tennis Lessons | | Tennis Rackets | Ticket Reservation Service | | Towels for Swimming Pool | Valet Parking | | Wake Up Service | Wedding Management | | Wi-Fi | Wine Tasting | | Wine Tours | | | |
 Set among vineyards, forests and green hills in the heart of the glorious Beaujolais countryside, yet only 15 miles north of Lyon, the Château de Bagnols offers its guests a unique journey through the history of France. A little-known region of France, the Beaujolais is the hilly area between the Loire and Rhône basins. The Beaujolais' eastern border is the placid Saône River, which empties into the tempestuous Rhône at nearby Lyon. Château de Bagnols lies in the eastern Beaujolais, which has been likened to Tuscany for the beauty of its countryside. The rolling hills covered with vineyards are dotted with hilltop villages, picturesque châteaux, fine churches and farms built from the local pierres dorées (golden stones).
You can fill your days visiting the Beaujolais and Burgundian vineyards or exploring the small market towns and villages with their enchanting Romanesque churches and abbeys - the area is full of cultural and gastronomic delights - or you can simply meander among the vines, which nestle up to the village, or relax in one of the rocking garden chairs. For those who are more energetic, there is a tennis court within walking distance and a golf course 15 minutes away. |
| |
|
