Château du Grand-Lucé

Don’t just take our word for it — the relevant French authorities deemed this 18th-century neoclassical château one of the country’s most significant, and when an American designer bought it and modernized it, they mandated that its historical elements be preserved as faithfully as possible. It was a meticulous restoration, and it was always a shame it didn’t get a wider audience. Now, though, in its latest incarnation as a luxury boutique hotel, the Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé is open to paying guests.

It’s got just 17 rooms, which doesn’t exactly entail Louvre-like foot traffic. All the same, the inhabitants of those 17 rooms are treated to what’s easily one of the most impressive new hotels in France. Neoclassical grandeur is still the order of the day, though your hosts haven’t been shy about complementing Jean-Baptiste Pillement’s 1760s-vintage work with some 21st-century elaborations. And the comforts are as lavish as they come, exactly as you’d want a chateau to be.

The fact that it’s set in the Loire valley, less than an hour by train from Paris, feels almost too good to be true. The grounds feature gardens inspired by Versailles, and one of the outbuildings contains a very modern spa and fitness center. And while it’s early days, great things are expected of Le Lucé, the fine-dining restaurant by chef Maxime Thomas. Bottom line: if 21st-century castle living holds any appeal, this is one you’ll remember for a long time.