Only a few kilometers away from Saint-Émilion, in the small village of Sainte Colombe, we have discovered a true gem which ended up being the perfect romantic getaway week-end: the Château du Palanquey & Spa !
A true sense of hospitality
Let’s be honest: Alexandra’s degree from Les Roches Hospitality management school, and travelling around in some of the best places tend to give us some quite high expectations in term of hospitality, but still, Mélanie and Laurent, owners of the place, have been amazing hosts during our incredible weekend!
A luxurious guesthouse in the middle of the vineyards
First, look at what they have done to the place: 2.5 years of work construction, but it was definitely worth it! In an old vinery, they have renovated the whole place to offer 6 luxurious suites, a spa, a sauna, an indoor pool, few jacuzzis, several living-rooms, a billiard room, and a game room. Outside, in the middle of the vineyards, you will find a splendid garden, with many areas for relaxation and meals, and of course, an outdoor pool as well.
An excellent “table d’hôtes” in a dreamy place
Mélanie and Laurent do not only host well, but they also cook some delicious food. If you are staying for the night, you will enjoy a delicious continental breakfast: chocolatine (the South-West way to call a “pain au chocolat“), croissant, fresh bread, butter and homemade jams, fruit salad, eggs, bacon and fresh orange juice… you are all set for the day!
You can also choose to have dinner there while staying at Château du Palanquey: only name any food restrictions you may have, and trust them with the rest. We were lucky enough to have dinner there: homemade foie-gras, duck and zucchini custard tart, herbed goat cheese and nuts… If you are a fan of typical French cuisine, this will be heaven for you! Plus, they have their own garden where they grow the fruits and vegetables they use to cook. Can it get any better than that?
Actually, it can! If you don’t have enough time to spare for a week-end there, you can still come to the Château for lunch in the garden. Don’t forget to call before to book a table!
A very romantic suite
You can choose out of the 6 large suites for your stay: Cépage, Vignoble, Château, Vendange… you can start to dream about your upcoming stay with the magical – and typical – names chosen for the room. Our advice, of course, would be to choose the Vendange one, so you can enjoy your own large terrasse with a terrific view over the pool and the vineyards around, from the first floor, but also your private jacuzzi. You could even add a bottle of champagne to that, for the ultimate romantic apéritif !
How to keep you busy
You will sleep perfectly, and eat some delicious meals and rest by the pool(s). If that’s not enough for the perfect romantic stay, here is what comes next: Wine lessons (from beginner to expert), cooking classes in the amazing open kitchen in the Château, massage (100 euros/hour), or yoga classes, on Sunday afternoon, in the garden, surrounded by the vineyard. For any activity, please advice your hosts in advance.
Of course, the area of Saint-Émilion has a lot to offer, and Mélanie and Laurent will give you some great recommendations of what to do in the area. This is coming in our next article, so stay tuned!
Practical information about the Château du Palanquey
🌍 Website: https://www.chateaudupalanquey.com (you can book directly online as we did)
🗺 Address: Château du Palanquey 2 Lieu dit Palanquey, 33350 Sainte-Colombe
💸 Price per night: around 250 euros/night (up-to-date prices on the website)
📷 Points of interest nearby : Saint-Emilion, Vineyards of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, many castle and domains
🏃♀️ Activities: Wine tasting, biking, gastronomic restaurants, hiking
We loved our stay at the Château du Palanquey for a short week-end! We think it is a perfect place to stay while visiting South-West of France. It is easy to include in an itinerary passing by Bordeaux. We recommend it for anyone looking for a luxurious relaxing week-end to discover the region of Bordeaux and its vineyards.
5 Comments
Wendy | Perthtravelers
May 5, 2021 at 8:08 amWhat a beautiful romantic getaway you had at Château du Palanquey. The suites look so luxurious and I’d enjoy dinner with those gorgeous views.
Lannie Travels
May 11, 2021 at 2:11 pmwhat an incredible place! Looks sooo relaxing and wonderful. Sign me up for the continental breakfast, but also the luxurious jacuzzi!! 🙂
Carina | bucketlist2life
May 11, 2021 at 3:19 pmA castle, vineyards and a spa? Count me in!
Jennifer Nilsson
May 11, 2021 at 5:23 pmOh, this post = serious travel goals. I am wildly jealous. I loved St. Emilion, but didn’t make it outside those steep, cobblestoned hills and wineries. I must return. Thank you for the inspiration!
Tango & Rakija
May 12, 2021 at 11:54 amWoww such a fantastic place to enjoy doing nothing and eating!
Thanks for sharing this great location! The jacuzzi is always a great addendum.