Valdepalacios Hotel Gourmand

There’s very little of the typical hotel experience about Hotel Valdepalacios, an hour and a half outside Madrid. Take the setting: the villa nestles among fields and orchards, as far as the digital camera’s eye can see. Nicely proportioned nooks, white wash, and soft light abound. But “villa” doesn’t really cover it. “Deluxe country estate” works better. One room might feature a bed festooned with snowy drapery and a window accented by flowery curtains, while another has a decidedly less dainty vibe, thanks to the bold striped fabrics and a private entrance off the courtyard. Some are on the ground floor, while some are in the attic (offering better views of the palm trees, meadows, and distant mountains). In the center, a nod to the area’s long-ago Moorish past, a tiered fountain, gurgling and burbling its message of relaxation to all.

Despite the secluded, old-world setting, the kitchen skews slightly modern, with updated takes on traditional Catalan specialties. Veggies, fruits, and eggs come from on-site producers. If you’re going out to roam for the day, ask for a picnic to take with. Consider asking too for use of the hotel’s horse and cart. Or for a rowboat to ply the lake. Or a sangria on ice to sip as you sit by the pool. Alas, you’ll probably have to bring your own walking stick and sturdy shoes to roam the hundreds of hectares that constitute the grounds. Luckily you don’t have to bring anything but you to the spa, where treatments range from standard beauty pick-me-ups to hydrotherapy.


How to get there:
From Madrid, Valdepalacios Hotel Gourmand is a one and a half hour drive, located 9 kms from Exit 148 of the A-5 national main road, on the Oropesa-Puente del Arzobispo road.