Saint Victor La Grand' Maison

Behind every elegant country getaway, there’s a lady of the house with impeccable taste. In the case of the Saint Victor La Grand' Maison, the lady in question is Marie Rouet Grandclément, a lifelong native of the Berry region who snapped up a 16th-century hilltop chateau in 1981 and spent three decades carefully renovating it. The result is a picturesque boutique hotel that looks straight out of a magazine spread. Outside, ivy clings to stone walls and graceful turrets stand out against the rolling wooded landscape. Inside, the look is traditional and sophisticated, with tall bookshelves lining the walls, fires burning in fireplaces, a baby grand piano in the corner, oil paintings in gilded frames, and antique vases filled with fresh flowers. A handful of charming suites are located in the estate’s beautifully renovated outbuildings. In the main house, guest rooms are quiet and refined, with gleaming parquet floors, high-end linens, and family heirlooms; many open directly onto the surrounding gardens, where two swimming pools offer refreshment in summer.