This 17th-century site has been redesigned by the Society of Priests of Saint-Sulpice alongside Wilmotte & Associés architecture firm and Accor.

A historic transformation

Also known as the ‘Margot’, as the former residence of Marguerite of Valois, this storied site has been transformed into a new retreat. The chapel has been restored by Monuments Historiques architect, Bénédicte Gécèle, and the site now benefits from the addition of the contemporary three-storey Sulpice building.

The entrance lobby of the Domaine de la Reine Margot has been made into a living space featuring a library stocked with books on French history, gardening and ornithology, along with a boutique for guests.

The estate accommodates guests in a total of 83 rooms and suites, which are designed to have a pared-down, soft and deliberately monastic appeal. Rooms on the top floor come with a balcony overlooking Paris, while the ground-floor rooms connect guests to the natural surroundings. Attention has been paid to restoring the sprawling gardens as close as possible to their original condition.

Wellness and gastronomy

A highlight of the new retreat is its garden-facing Le Refuge de Margot spa. In three treatment rooms guests can indulge in Anne Semonin treatments, and these rooms are joined by a heated pool, hammam, sauna and fitness centre.

A garden-to-table dining experience is then offered at the Marguerite 1606 restaurant where guests can dine on the plant-based, bistro-style dishes of Jean-Philippe Perol in an indoor courtyard or, in the warmer months, on one of two terraces.

This restaurant is joined by the Marguerite bar where teas and juices are served each afternoon before the space then becomes a speakeasy offering botanical-inspired cocktails at night. A 10-seat rum bar is also found in the converted chapel, with tasting experiences introducing guests to an extensive collection of spirits that are largely from family-owned distilleries.