{"id":163759,"date":"2025-06-06T19:44:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T19:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/163759\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T19:44:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T19:44:16","slug":"the-road-to-happiness-still-begins-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/163759\/","title":{"rendered":"The Road to Happiness (Still) Begins in France"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"chateaux<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Relais & Chateaux<\/p>\n

In 1954, a group of visionary hoteliers set out to re-imagine hospitality along France\u2019s popular vacation route, the Nationale 7. What started as a charming group of eight countryside inns would eventually evolve into Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux<\/a>, one of the most prestigious hospitality associations in the world. Today, R&C makes up almost 600 independently-owned luxury hotels and restaurants\u2014with eleven new members joining this past quarter.<\/p>\n

Each property curates guest experiences in the local culture, gastronomy, and\u2014true to French tradition\u2014the art of living. On a recent trip to Aix-en-Provence, we experienced firsthand the R&C magic\u2014that unique blend of high-touch luxury hospitality with all the intimacy and comforts of an ancestral home. Just a short walk from the center of town and between the French Riviera and the Luberon, the 18th-century Italianate Villa Gallici<\/a> presides over Aix-en-Provence amid seven acres of terraced parkland. With its collection of maximalist Baroque furnishings\u2014think tufted Louis XV toile and lavender-filled gardens\u2014and formal though somehow not fussy restaurant, the 23-room property is at once wonderfully anachronistic in its haute-Frenchiness and yet utterly welcoming<\/a>. No matter the season, the temperate climate and preponderance of roses lures you outdoors; we couldn\u2019t resist taking our afternoon tea in the dappled sunshine beneath the canopy of London plane trees even in November. Although there are any number of compelling dining options in town, we found it hard to pull ourselves away from our hushed candlelit two-top overlooking the gardens in the intimate dining room. <\/p>\n

To understand how the now-global network has remained so intimate, thoughtful, and loyal to its founding values, we sat with Laurent Gardinier, the President of R&C, and Laurent Mounet, Ma\u00eetre de Maison of Villa Gallici in Aix-en-Provence\u2014an R&C property that perfectly captures the spirit of its original vision.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start at the beginning. What are the \u201cRoutes du Bonheur\u201d and how did they give birth to Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux?<\/p>\n

Gardinier:<\/strong> The Routes du Bonheur, which means \u201cRoads to Happiness,\u201d are our personalized itineraries\u2014and a distinct part of our identity. In the 50s, Marcel and Nelly Tilloy, music hall entertainers and owners of La Cardinale hotel and restaurant in Ard\u00e8che, partnered with seven other hoteliers to create a consortium of hotels. These first eight establishments were all located along a famous vacation route from Paris to Nice\u2014the Nationale 7\u2014and aimed to attract guests with their focus on authentic hospitality, exceptional cuisine, and art de vivre. Soon, the journey between these hotels took on the name \u201cLa Route du Bonheur,\u201d and it laid the foundation for Relais & Chateaux\u2019s not-for-profit association.<\/p>\n

How have you expanded since\u2014and what has stayed the same?<\/p>\n

Gardinier: <\/strong>Our mission is to bring together the most exceptional collection of independent hotels and restaurants\u2014those brought to life by artisans who protect their culture and pass on their passion to others. We expanded beyond French borders in the early 1960s, first with greater Europe, then beyond. Now, Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux has 580 properties in 65 countries and 149 Routes du Bonheur<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the amount of properties in our network, you will never find a Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux that is like any other. The association holds its quality to the highest of standards, and has stayed true to its DNA for 70 years: the unique experiences, the authenticity, and the gastronomy that defined us back then still do today. It is all about connecting our guests with a sense of place\u2014whether you\u2019re enjoying the French Riviera, embarking on a Kenyan safari, or experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen.<\/p>\n

One of your properties in Aix-en-Provence, Villa Gallici, feels like the prime example of this philosophy. Can you share its origins and how it became part of the R&C family?<\/p>\n

Mounet: <\/strong>The story of Villa Gallici begins in the 18th century: its owner, Monsieur Gallici, was a passionate traveler and art dealer who often brought back mementos and treasures from his journeys. Over time, the residence evolved into a mansion celebrated for its refinement and exotic charm.<\/p>\n

In 1992, three aesthetes and decorators\u2014Charles Montemarco, Daniel Jouve, and Gil Dez\u2014fell in love with the home, and decided to transform it into a hotel. Nine years later, Madame and Monsieur Polito (founders of the Baglioni Hotels group) discovered the villa and were captivated by its charm. It had always achieved acclaim, but their stewardship marked a renewed ambition to embody luxury and hospitality. Mr. Polito envisioned Villa Gallici as an artistic oasis, and today, it offers a timeless and unique experience\u2014a seamless combination of the grandeur of baroque decoration and classic, elegant French style.<\/p>\n

\"sculpture<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Relais & Chateaux<\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite the microcosm of place. How do you maintain a connection to the region’s art and gastronomy?<\/p>\n

Mounet: <\/strong>We always invite our guests to immerse themselves in an authentic Proven\u00e7al experience during their stay, particularly with regional art. The open-air gallery at Villa Gallici features works exclusively by Proven\u00e7al artists\u2014from L\u2019Envol by J-M Fondacaro to Johnny by Bruno Catalano\u2014and you can also admire reproductions of C\u00e9zanne and Picasso, both of whom lived and worked in the region. <\/p>\n

Gardinier: <\/strong>Cuisine, similarly, has always played a central role in Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux\u2014from the quality restaurants of our roots to today\u2019s network of 377 Michelin stars and 41 Green Stars. Hospitality and gastronomy go hand in hand. All our chefs are committing to serving cuisine that embodies the uniqueness of where they are: its biodiversity, its cultural environments, and its agricultural traditions and history.<\/p>\n

Mounet: <\/strong>And at Villa Gallici\u2019s restaurant La Taula Gallici\u2014taula means \u2018table\u2019 in Proven\u00e7al\u2014our chef, Christophe Gavot, and his team craft daily dishes using only the finest seasonal ingredients. Our signature ingredients are also all local, from Sisteron lamb to fresh fish sourced from our local fishermen. It\u2019s a harmonious blend of France and Italy, a reflection of the heritage of the hotel and of Provence alike.<\/p>\n

Aside from your core tenets\u2014cuisine, art, and hospitality\u2014R&C has also become a leader in sustainability. Tell us about your green initiatives.<\/p>\n

Gardinier: <\/strong>Sustainability has always been a part of our association, even if we didn\u2019t call it by that name. But we all know that the world is struggling now: increasing climate change effects, alarmingly rapid biodiversity loss, and social crises everywhere. In 2024, the Association presented its 12 Commitments to Sustainability: In Harmony with All Life on Earth, with the support of UNESCO. These are designed to preserve the world\u2019s hospitality and culinary traditions, contribute to the protection and development of biodiversity, and take daily action for a more humane world. Running parallel to this, Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux members are also partnering with UNESCO Sites to conduct projects on sustainable conservation and use of the land\u2014while also respecting local cultures and preserving the natural heritage.<\/p>\n

\"Lettermark\"<\/p>\n

Pilar Guzm\u00e1n is the Editorial Director of Oprah Daily, overseeing content strategy across the brand\u2019s platforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Courtesy of Relais & Chateaux In 1954, a group of visionary hoteliers set out to re-imagine hospitality along…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":163760,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[1329,68706,1331,2000,299,36,1381,68705],"class_list":{"0":"post-163759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-content-type-feature","9":"tag-contentid-ecc1f85f-364e-4f4e-89c6-15b1329b6471","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-eu","12":"tag-europe","13":"tag-france","14":"tag-locale-us","15":"tag-shorttitle-the-road-to-happiness-still-begins-in-france"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114638138168808734","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}