A new five-star estate is coming to the Loire Valley, directly beneath the Royal Chateau of Amboise. Relais d'Amboise merges two of the town's most historic residences, Le Choiseul and Le Manoir des Minimes, into a single 63-room address.
Opening this September, the château rises on the cliff above the property, and Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years, is just a short walk away.
Artnova, an impact investment fund dedicated to preserving and enhancing cultural heritage, is behind the project, led by entrepreneur and philanthropist Frédéric Jousset. Marugal Hotel Management operates the property. Architecture and design come from LBBA, with interiors by Fabien Roque of Roque Intérieurs and artistic direction by Joséphine Fossey.
Relais d'Amboise holds 63 rooms and suites across several historic buildings, 22 of them suites. The restaurant is Le Choiseul and the bar is Le Turner, up on the roof. The property carries five-star status and membership in The Leading Hotels of the World.
The Spa des Roches is cut directly into the tuffeau limestone, holding a heated outdoor pool, a sauna, a cold bath, a sensory shower, a steam room and a yoga platform inside the rock. The wellness program runs in partnership with Clarins and myBlend.
Deeper in, the estate opens into Les Greniers de César, restored troglodyte galleries that predate the hotel by centuries. One holds a site-specific exhibition by the French sculptor Bernar Venet. A second gallery is an interactive leisure space, and a third is a wine tasting cellar.