Burgundy Buzz: Relais Bernard Loiseau Opens Luxury Spa

The Relais Bernard Loiseau has long been a gastronomic destination, with food-loving travelers making pilgrimages to the village of Saulieu in Burgundy to indulge in Michelin-starred cuisine and fine wine. (The beloved Pixar film Ratatouille pays homage to the late great chef Bernard Loiseau through the fictional character Auguste Gusteau.) Now this luxury hotel will also be luring spa enthusiasts with the unveiling of a brand new spa called the Villa Loiseau des Sens. Requiring 15 months of construction work, the spa encompasses 1,500 square meters (more than 16,000 square feet). The Villa is also home to a new restaurant called Loiseau des Sens, focusing on healthy cuisine, equipped with a lovely terrace overlooking the garden. Atop the four-story building is a green roof where honey will be harvested from beehives.

What’s in store for clients at this “haute couture” spa? The spa was designed with two focal points: both to delight guests and also provide a multi-sensorial experience stimulating all five senses. The wet areas have an experiential shower, hammams, an ice fountain, a waterfall bucket, a “sea air cabin,” and a sauna with a view over the garden. To excite the senses, the spa has taken it up a notch with the following amenities: a phlebology area, a detoxifying bench, a Hydronox sofa, massage alcoves, a pool and a geyser.

There are 10 treatment rooms with treatments showcasing Decléor products for face/body, and Charme d’Orient for skin exfoliation. Top tip: Dominique Loiseau, the hospitality group’s owner, has created an exclusive brand called the Secrets of Cassis, which harnesses the antioxidant power of Burgundy’s famous blackcurrants. The spa offers a range of signature treatments with this line. Top-notch spa equipment includes the Hydromel, a floating bed for skin exfoliation with seaweed and mud applications, and the Medyjet, a hands-free system for dry hydromassage.

Note that spa access is not limited to hotel guests; the Villa Loiseau des Sens is also open to outside clientele.