Les Lumières invites guests to channel their inner Marie Antoinette, with a spa skincare line by Brad Pitt and a brasserie by macaron maestro, Pierre Hermé. Olivia Palamountain reports
Les Lumières Versailles has opened its doors, housed in a 17th-century mansion that was once gifted to French aristocrats by the “Sun King”, Louis the XIV.
Located steps away from Château de Versailles, the Relais & Châteaux property has undergone an extensive restoration project to restore its regal majesty while maintaining its historical integrity.
Decor is designed by architect Didier Benderli and fuses old school heritage with modern elegance inspired by Château de Versailles itself – think soft, warm tones, marble, rich textiles and plenty of lush greenery in the covered courtyard.
The 31 rooms and suites each pay homage to a luminary of the Enlightenment era such as Rousseau, Condorcet and Descartes, are are scented with refreshing floral fragrances crafted by renowned Versailles candlemaker Trudon.
Inside each suite, guests will find weighted blankets, thought journals and meditation boxes, to encourage contemplation and repose. Rates at Les Lumières start at US$428 per room per night, including breakfast.
The hotel has a wide menu of excursions, which immerse visitors in four key themes – Rejuvenate, Inspire, Connect and Engage – through meetings, tastings, experiences and workshops.
Central to the hotel’s concept is a library reading room, which regularly hosts debates and discussions with historians, philosophers, writers and scientists, and is home to a large collection of first edition tomes.
Guests can visit the Versailles Campus, where master craftsmen demonstrate calligraphy, leatherwork, stained glass, upholstery and embroidery, or tour the Osmothèque of Versailles – a scent library and the first ever perfume conservatory, housing more than 3,200 perfumes from historical scents to forgotten essences.
Activities on the property are suitably opulent and include opera performances, equestrian shows and water extravaganzas in the gardens, plus horse rides through the estate.
Wellness facilities, including a hammam, sauna and fitness room, join a subterranean spa that uses Brad Pitt’s skincare line, Beau Domaine, a hotel first.
Expect holistic, anti-aging treatments, some of which combine organic ingredients with “crystal vibrational energy”, plus pressotherapy and massage.
The spa is also home to a “dream machine”, a unique self-hypnosis experience designed to restore and revive, that involves immersion in various light frequencies.
Dining options encompass Le Café Pierre Hermé Paris (the first in a hotel from the celebrated patissier), the Bar des Philosophes, which serves exclusively French spirits and a fine dining restaurant, Table des Lumières.
The latter is helmed by Chef Erwan Le Thomas, recently awarded the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France title, who focuses on local, seasonal and predominantly plant-based cuisine.