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France: Champagne’s first contemporary luxury hotel, the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, has opened this week.
Set among vineyards in the heart of Epernay, hotel guests will be given exclusive access to Champagne houses that are normally closed to the public and can curate their own Champagne tastings and grape picking sessions, while Michelin-starred chef Jean-Denis Rieubland is in charge of the food at the 49-key hotel.
Having been closed for refurbishment for the last four years, the property has been redesigned by Reims-based architect Giovanni Pace. The building features the original 19th century post house where King Charles X of France stopped over before heading to Reims for his coronation.
In 2014 the hotel was acquired by the Boston-based Champagne Hospitality group, which owns a collection of boutique luxury hotels including Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa in St. Barths.
The spa features nine treatment rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, a wood-lined yoga studio, a eucalyptus-infused sauna, and a mosaic-tiled hammam.
