Domaine de Verchant

By now you know everything there is to know about the south of France — from the farmhouses and vineyards of Provence to the waterfront glamour of the Côte d’Azur. Less storied, perhaps, though no less worthwhile, is this bit of the Languedoc countryside just outside of Montpellier, a place where the estates are still French, and some of them are quite contemporary. Look around the Domaine de Verchant, for example — were it not for the acres of parkland and Southern vegetation outside the windows, it could almost be mistaken for a chic little city boutique.

That’s no coincidence. The designer, Raymond Morel, is no stranger to modern hotel interiors, and these twenty-six rooms and suites are effortlessly chic, not just pleasing to the eye but as comfortable as any country-house hotel room. Space is plentiful, beds are massive, and the bathrooms are impeccably equipped. It’s the complete country-escape package, with a full-service spa and a restaurant that serves light and healthy fare alongside richer, more traditional dishes. And the surroundings are hard to top — from the pool and sundeck to the vineyards and the gardens, which feature a variety of breeds of roses, it’s a little slice of country heaven.

How to get there:
Domaine de Verchant is approximately a 15-minute drive from Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport (MPL).