Château de Sully

As you well know, we’re all for innovation around here, but there are some classic forms of hospitality that don’t need reinventing. Among them is the French château experience; it’s hard to imagine the Château de Sully would be improved by replacing its furniture with modern pieces, or by giving its rooms a minimalist contemporary makeover.

The setting, in the Norman countryside between Bayeux and the D-Day landing beaches, is bucolic, the 18th-century château surrounded by immaculately maintained parkland. Its rooms and suites are decorated in a style that’s true to the era, though contemporary comforts like satellite TV and in-room Nespresso machines have not gone overlooked.

There’s a heated adults-only indoor pool attached to the spa complex, which incorporates jacuzzis and a sauna as well as massage and beauty treatments. Of particular note is the Château de Sully’s restaurant, where chef Nicolas Fages has earned a Michelin star for his artful and inventive seasonal cooking; sommelier and maitre d’hôtel Grégory Colleville contributes a list of over 300 wines. And for daytime diversions, bikes are available for hire, and a nearby golf course and equestrian facility are at your disposal.