On a recent trip to the Netherlands, we were kindly invited to enjoy a stay at Château St. Gerlach: a historic five-star superior hotel set alongside nature reserve Ingendael along the Geull River in the south of the Netherlands. The hotel is part of Oostwegel Collection and Relais & Châteaux and boasts two Restaurants, a bar, Spa & Wellness and Conference Centre (St. Gerlach Pavilion) – it is a beautiful place to spend time whether for business or leisure. Read on for the full review.
Featured image by © Chantal Arnts
Location
Located within Valkenburg, on a nature preserve and along the Geul River, and just a 10-minute drive from Maastricht, the charm of Château St. Gerlach is apparent upon arrival. The long driveway towards the reception instantly creates a feeling of grandeur which is further enhanced by well-manicured gardens, varied and colourful pieces of artwork add interest, but it is the Château itself which is the stand-out centre piece.
History
The now five-star superior hotel, resort and destination restaurant was restored to this fine luxury estate in 1997, and beyond its excellent and modern-day facilities lies a storied past.
Dating back to the 13th century the historic estate was originally built as a monastery for pilgrims to rest after visiting the grave of hermit Gerlachus. With other noble uses in between, it wasn’t until the 19th century that it was then converted into the castle-like manor house with working farm buildings and church. For years Baron Robert De Selys de Fanson, a Belgian Diplomat, lived in the Château however, with no heirs to take on the estate, he bequeathed it to the local church council of Houthem. Left derelict it became increasingly dilapidated; however, the estate had already caught the eye of local boy, Camille Oostwegel Sr., who had grand plans to restore and rebuild the estate to its former glory and after the two-year intricate and meticulous restoration project, Château St. Gerlach opened as the beautiful hotel we recently had the pleasure of visiting.
Arrival & Check In
The hotel team had arranged a transfer for us from Château Neercanne, which was approx. 20 mins drive. The driver was smart and punctual and the car was immaculate – transfer services to and from the hotel can be pre-booked by guests.
The reception area of the hotel is located towards the end of the long driveway and was once the grain lofts. The exterior of this building is more modern than the Château and is also home to some of the 114 rooms and residences. Contemporary interiors complement original features and a well laid out space comprises a lounge, bar, and a general place to sit and relax.
The receptionists greeted us warmly, check-in was quick and easy and we were informed about the facilities available. The porter, who was also very knowledgeable and took pride in his role took us to our room which was also located in the former estate farmhouse.
Rooms & Suites
Our room was beautiful, with modern interiors that highlighted original features such as the exposed beams and windows. A neutral colour pallet created a relaxed ambience and sliding doors opened to a stylish and spacious bathroom with walk-in shower, oversized bath and twin vanity unit. Sothys is the chosen brand for bathroom amenities.
Ample wardrobe space kitted out with bathrobes, slippers and a handy tote bag (should we need to carry our belongings to the spa) were provided along with an umbrella, well-stocked mini bar, safe, clothes steamer and tea and coffee station.
The king-size bed was extremely comfortable, and the TV showed a film of the hotel highlights. A welcome note and some handmade chocolates were laid out for our arrival – this was a perfect place to call our home for the next 24 hours.
The hotel comprises 59 five-star superior rooms ranging from deluxe rooms, deluxe terrace to spacious suites with a private garden and 55 four-star serviced apartments overlooking the orchard. The choice of room types makes this a great hotel for families, friends or couples.
The Estate
We explored the estate with the hotels’ GM, Bastiaan Klomp, giving us a comprehensive guided tour. Bastiaan has worked for the Oostwegel family in various properties for over nine years and could not speak more highly of the operation. He clearly enjoys his role and shares the same passion for Château St. Gerlach that the Oostwegel family does.
I was so pleased he showed us around as we learned so many little nuances and discovered places we may have otherwise overlooked.
The estate covers 400 acres and includes, a fruit orchard, bee hives, vegetable garden, 11,000 vines, a rose garden (which was not yet in bloom) a cute little bridge named after Dutch Princess Amelia.
On our way to see Sint Gerlachuskerk the church within the grounds which is dedicated to the holy Saint Gerlachus, Bastiaan points out the design of the original paving in the courtyard which reflects the beams of the original monastery.
It is a true spectacle with the 17th century fresco’s depicting such intricate and visual stories of that time. Pilgrims continue to visit the site to pay respects to St. Gerlachus. Visitors will also notice a small red wooden shutter high up on the right side of the church. Bastiaan tells us this used to be a window to the Baron’s private room from where he could watch the services – and it was said that when he got bored, he’d sit and read the papers instead or simply draw his red curtains to show he’d had enough!
This was also the church in which the Oostwegel family shared important moments such as weddings, baptisms or communions and this is also available for guests to book for such occasions.
Another place of historic interest is the small museum located next to the church which showcases the bust of St. Gerlachus, which using his actual skull was expertly reconstructed and very life-like. The project had several contributors including The Rolling Stones, who had visited whilst staying at the Château and were truly captivated by the story.
Perhaps my favourite story that Bastiaan shared with us was the one about the Baron, who once invited some armed forces for dinner during World War II. Lots of good food and wine were enjoyed and one of the soldiers accidentally fired his pistol in Les Salons, it went straight through one of the windows and the bullet hole still remains….although this piece of history was almost lost forever – during the restoration project the builders thought that they had damaged the window and were about to dispose of it!! Luckily Camille Oostwegel Sr. was so involved that he managed to salvage it, and the window remains today as a great talking point and piece of living history. Look closely and you can see the bullet hole in the picture below.
Food & Drink
There are two restaurants at Château St. Gerlach: Burgemeester Quicx ideal for lunch, coffee or something stronger and Les Salons, the casual fine dining restaurant. Besides that there is The Lobby Bar for casual drinks and downtime
Breakfast: On the Go! We had a super early flight to catch so didn’t have breakfast here, however upon check-out were kindly presented with ‘brekkie-to-go’ – a bag filled with cheese and ham sandwiches, pastries, an apple from the orchard, water and juice.
Lunch: Burgemeester Quicx We enjoyed a light lunch at Burgemeester Quicx which was once a farm building and has been restored to maintain this rustic vibe. It was a beautiful day, so we sat outside in the sheltered courtyard area. Simple tables, chairs, wooden benches and farm tools adorn the walls to – it’s not fancy but it has a great atmosphere, and the food was excellent quality and plentiful in portion size. Menu options range from a variety of breakfast style dishes, sandwiches, creative salads, burgers, local cakes, coffee, smoothies, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Most dishes are made from home-grown produce and from local suppliers. It opens from 10am during the weekend and 11am midweek, we got there just before the lunchtime rush and I’m glad we did as it was a popular spot buzzing with a mix of local people and hotel guests.
Inside, the vibe is also ‘country-kitchen’ with a wooden fit-out and a choice of seating options (high bar and stools, standard dining tables and chairs and low lounge seats). Deli-style produce, tableware, books and other home-style gifts are available to purchase. It was also busy inside with quite a few people working from their laptops – I really liked the relaxed vibe here.
Dinner: Les Salons This is the casual fine dining restaurant located in the historic Château. There are four different dining rooms here to cater for every type of occasion. We dined in the main dining room – an elegant and ornate space with intricate and detailed wall panelling and cornicing. Dark wood with varying shades of green formed the colour scheme. Banquet style and free-standing tables and chairs set out the dining spaces with French doors opening out to the front terrace.
It has a bustling vibe with Head Sommelier and his team of waiters and waitresses smartly presented in uniform.
Chef Guido Le Bron de Vexela leads the gastronomic offering here with an inventive menu and as with all restaurants within Oostwegel Collection, dishes are created using seasonal, home grown and local produce. You can choose a four- to six-course menu, and each dish is also available à la carte. We enjoyed a glass of champagne and a tasty amuse bouche as we pondered over the menu. I opted for four-courses and my young teenage niece opted for the a la carte Seabass fillet.
Freshly baked bread with creamy butter sitting in a vibrant green basil oil was served before my first course, it was so moreish that it was difficult not to fill up on this alone. Pickled salmon, vegetable ceviche and citrus gel was the first of my four courses with fresh and zest notes complementing the rich salmon.
Next was Seabass fillet served with pickle, Dutch shrimp compote and a Dutch shrimp bisque. The fish was succulent with a slightly crisp skin and the bisque was creamy but light and slightly salty. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Limburg Lamb with falafel, pea cream and Limburg asparagus followed. The lamb was so tender, served pink, and it simply melted in the mouth. The rich jus added depth whilst the firm asparagus and falafel created a complementary texture with the slightly sweetness of the pea cream. More of a fish girl, surprisingly this was my favourite of the four courses. It really was divine!
To finish (or so I thought!) Yogurt mousse, rhubarb compote and rhubarb and liquorice sorbet – all flavours are characters in their own right; however, they were perfectly balanced and hints of each glided on the palate to create a creamy yet slightly refreshing dessert.
I then ordered a peppermint tea which was served with a selection of handcrafted petit-fours; the glossy chocolate, shimmering sugar-coated jelly cubes and all-round bite-size morsels of temptation were too good to resist!
All dishes were so beautifully presented and the portion size – just right!
Wine paring is available; and as tempting as this was, I chose to enjoy a single glass of the wine. Recommended by the knowledgeable head sommelier, I opted for the house wine made from the vines grown in the estate which was named Hommage Camille in tribute to founder and original owner Camille Oostwegel Sr.
Facilities
Spa and Wellness: Before dinner we spent the afternoon in the Spa and Wellness centre which is in a stand-alone building and guests can wander to in their bathrobes should they wish. A beautiful indoor swimming pool reminiscent of a Roman bath is the main attraction with a Turkish sauna and steam room also available for guests to use. The floor-to-ceiling sliding patio doors lead out to the garden area where lounge beds, table and chairs with sun parasols await. It was a beautifully sunny and hot day, so we made the most of this outdoor space before we ventured for our massage.
There is a range of relaxing and rejuvenating therapies with the treatment rooms located in the arches of Château St. Gerlach’s ancient cellar, creating a relaxing and quite enchanting ambience. The therapists were friendly and tailored each treatment to individual needs. We only had time for a 30-minute massage which was a much-needed release for my tense muscles – I could have stayed longer!
Conference Centre: The state-of-the-art St. Gerlach Pavilion covers 760m2 with a capacity for 1,000 guests and is used for both business and pleasure.
E-Bikes: Guests wishing to explore on two wheels can make use of the complimentary e-bikes.
Walks: I urge you to take time to wander around the estate and familiarise yourself with it as there are so many spaces of natural beauty.
Seasonal Events: There are many different events and seasonal offerings so be sure to check the website events calendar to discover what’s on offer before you visit.
Final Thoughts
Our 24-hours here were absolutely brilliant! The service from the team was exceptional, as was the food and the whole atmosphere is one of natural tranquillity. I came away feeling really refreshed and would happily take my family back to visit. I highly recommend!
Contact Details
Website: www.oostwegelcollection.nl
Address: Joseph Corneli Allee 1, 6301 KK Valkenburg, Netherlands
