Exciting news from Champagne country: In July, the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa will open after a dramatic renovation project. A member of Relais & Châteaux, the Royal Champagne overlooks the vineyards around Champillon, just north of Épernay. This is a sought-after tourist destination for oenophiles and history buffs alike; in 2015, UNESCO awarded World Heritage status to “the hillsides, houses and wine cellars of Champagne.”
This wine country retreat occupies both a modernist wing and an ancient Relais de Poste (coaching inn) where the French kings made a stopover on their way to coronation ceremonies in Reims. The renovation has sought to elevate the property with “the region’s first world-class destination spa”—to quote the official website—along with a gastronomic restaurant overseen by two-star Michelin chef Jean-Denis Rieubland. We hear that menus will be devised with specific champagne pairings in mind. The hotel also has its own sommelier on property, and guest experiences include wine tastings, private events in the eight-guest wine cellar and exclusive access to several local wine venues for harvesting, “clear wine” tastings and private picnics.
In partnership with cult brand Biologique Recherche, the spa will encompass more than 16,000 square feet, featuring nine treatment rooms, a sauna, a hammam, gym and yoga studio. We’re told the biggest treatment suite will have a large Jacuzzi built in a barrel in the middle of the room, facing the Champagne Valley. Other hotel facilities will include panoramic terraces, multiple reception rooms and two temperature-controlled, chaise lounge-lined swimming pools—one indoor, one outdoor—along with dedicated staff to deliver juice blends.
The Royal Champagne recruited top design talent for the makeover. Sybille de Margerie—who hails from the famed Taittinger champagne family—is responsible for the look of luxury hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental Paris, Cheval Blanc Courchevel and Le Barthélemy in St. Barth's. All 49 guestrooms will have Hermès amenities and views over the surrounding vineyards. Top digs: The Suite Joséphine, sprawling across 1,150 square feet.
Royal Champagne is located 90 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport by ground and 10 minutes from the Épernaytrain station. The hotel can arrange transportation; Nicolas Béliard is the general manager of the Royal Champagne.
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