When you think of the South of France, it’s easy for your mind to naturally wander towards the Côte d’Azur, but move a little to the left on the map to the region of Languedoc and you’ll discover endless vineyards, beautiful quiet towns and Plane tree-lined roads – a big and less busy slice of French paradise. So when the beautiful Château St. Pierre de Serjac, located in the heart of Languedoc, asked TLE to come along to enjoy some of the balmy French autumn sun and experience their simply stunning property, how could we say no! Read on to find out more.
Background and Concept
In 2006 Irish husband and wife team Karl and Anita O’Hanlon left their busy Dublin lives in search of the more relaxed pace of living in the South of France. They opened their first hotel the Château Les Carrasses which is set on a hill between Béziers and Narbonne in 2011 and then in 2016 they set their sights on a second property in the area and Chateau St Pierre de Serjac was born.
Serjac was a former vineyard owners family home which, like many châteaus in the region, fell upon hard times and ended up lying derelict. Karl and Anita saw the building’s potential and in partnership with French independent winemaker Laurent Bonfils invested £25 million pounds into renovating the property into 8 bedroom hotel and turned the outhouses into a series of independently owned 1 to 4 bedroom rental apartments.
Style
Think chic French sophistication, with rooms decorated in soft greys and pastels, finished with vintage chandeliers, antiques and knick-knacks scouted out from around the local area. On the ground floor of the property is the bar area which has the feel of an exclusive speakeasy jazz club. To the right the hotel’s restaurant has a truly Parisian feel to it.
Upstairs lies the hotel’s eight luxuriously finished rooms and outside the poolside terrace is perfect for summer evening dining setup. Beyond that the hotel’s infinity pool is perfect for days sunbathing and for spa lovers there is an indoor pool, sauna a spa treatment complex as well.
Couples and Families
Serjac is perfect for couples and the 36 self catering apartments which lie in the former outhouses are ideal for families and larger gatherings.
There is a range of activities on the property including swimming, boules, tennis as well as bikes to explore the extensive grounds and vineyards.The stunning Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park is just 30 minutes from the Château, a paradise for outdoor pursuits offering hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, canoeing and swimming in the gorges along the River Orb.
Location
The property is located between the archetypal French villages of Pouzolles and Magalas. The nearest airports are Beziers a 30 minute drive and Montpellier is around 1 hour drive depending on traffic. TGV trains run from London and Barcelona to Beziers and I was surprised to learn that Barcelona is only two hours from Beziers meaning you can easily fly in and out of Barcelona too.
If you are yearning for a beach the coast is under 40 minutes drive from Serjac. The fortified town of Carcassone is an hours drive and well worth seeing and if you need a spot of retail therapy Montpellier is well worth heading to with its bars, restaurants and retail galore.
Accommodation
The main building is home to 8 luxuriously fitted bedrooms coming in standard and luxury rooms. All rooms are quintessentially French in style think terracotta floor tiles and French-grey walls with chandeliers, shuttered windows that open out to draw dropping views of the vineyards. Rooms are spacious, with bathrooms that include walk in rain showers and luxury rooms include roll-top baths in the room!
Our Room
What a view to wake up to in the morning!
Chapel Room
If you are looking for a room with an OTT WOW factor then the Chapel room is for you. With original hand painted walls brought back to life in vibrant Technicolor it is truly magnificent and a very unique space to spend a night in.
Apartments
Serjac is also home to 36 self-catering apartments and houses located in the sensitively restored outbuildings. The apartments feature open-plan kitchens and small gardens and many with private pools and sun loungers. Apartments sleep between 2 and 8 people and are finished to a luxuriously high spec, include all the mod cons you expect; wi-fi, iPhone docks and cable TV and being independently owned each have their own small idiosyncrasies.
Serjac is also only a ten minute drive from the nearest supermarket making it ideal for self catering holidays and if you love some fresh morning pasties and bread these can be ordered and collected from reception each morning. And if you want to spend a day exploring you can even order picnics from the restaurant.
Food and Drink
Serjac includes a fine dining restaurant with a Mediterranean menu headed up by head chef Ludovic Laurenty. Service is on point but relaxed and in the summer you can dine outdoors on the terrace overlooking the infinity pool.
Breakfast is served in the main restaurant too, it is a small but perfectly formed offering with a good selection of fresh croissants and pastries, fruits and yogurt, cereals and a selection of hot items. If you are staying in the apartments you can pick up breakfast too.
If you are looking for a pre dinner drink or nightcap before bed head to the bar on the ground floor and you must try their signature La Serjac cocktail; gin, amaretto, sugar, lime, basil, elderflower and basil, it is simply delicious.
Spa and Pool
I loved the Cinq Mondes Spa, and we had it to ourselves when we visited after breakfast. A 12m indoor pool, sauna, steam room and 3 different showers are the ideal place to chill out in. Now we were there in October and the sun was still splitting through the sky, so the outdoor pool and sun-loungers are still very much useful!
Weddings
One of the large outhouses next to the main building has been transformed into a banqueting area and ideal for large weddings, you can even have a party next to the massive wine barrels!
Final Thoughts
I have to admit I didn’t know anything about the region of Languedoc before visiting, but I went and fell in love with it! Serjac is beautiful, simply stunning, Karl and Anita have created something really really special. I guarantee you are sure to fall in love with Serjac like I did!
Address: Chateau St Pierre de Serjac, D30 entre Pouzolles et Magalas, 34480 Puissalicon, France
Web: www.serjac.com
D30 entre Pouzolles et Magalas, 34480 Puissalicon, France
