Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé

Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé, a neoclassical château turned hotel in the Loire Valley

Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé occupies a French neoclassical building constructed between 1760 and 1764 by Baron Jacques Pineau de Viennay in the village of Le Grand-Lucé, in the Loire Valley, about a 55-minute train ride from Paris. The property, presented as a French national treasure, was restored and reopened as a luxury hotel with 19 rooms and suites.

The estate extends over eighty acres (about 32 hectares) and retains the original medieval wall that surrounds it. The main building, of about 45,000 square feet (roughly 4,180 m²), is built from tuffeau, a distinctive white limestone quarried in the village of Le Grand-Lucé itself.

Accommodations and interior design

The hotel has 19 rooms and suites spread across the main château. The decor combines limestone and French white oak floors, walls with original boiserie, crystal chandeliers and sconces from various periods, Persian rugs and fabrics from French houses such as Pierre Frey, Nobilis, Christian Lacroix and Jean-Paul Gaultier, along with furniture and artworks spanning several centuries.

Gardens, grounds and outbuildings

The grounds include classic French gardens, the Jardin Anglais at a lower and warmer elevation, potager gardens and orchards that supply the hotel's kitchen, a lake, fields and meadows, and a historic white oak forest where statues given as a gift by King Louis XV are preserved.

In addition to the main château, the property has several outbuildings. The former stables were transformed into a large ballroom; the former laundry is now a spa and fitness center overlooking the gardens with a private courtyard; and the orangerie keeps its traditional use, with citrus trees in winter and as an event space in the warmer months. There are also buildings awaiting restoration.

Cuisine

The hotel has two dining venues: Le Lucé and Jack Pine's.

Events, weddings and photo shoots

The property offers spaces for weddings and events, with a ballroom and salons, and also hosts photo shoots. The gardens and grounds are presented as a setting for celebrations and productions.

Service and experience

The service is described as a reinterpretation of the French valet, geared toward today's guests, with personalized attention ranging from unpacking on arrival to the morning café au lait, the selection of cheeses and wines — possibly in a forest clearing — or an evening cognac during a stroll through the classical garden.

History and restoration

The château was built by Baron Jacques Pineau de Viennay between 1760 and 1764 and, according to the hotel's own presentation, was conceived to host both royalty and Enlightenment philosophers. After its restoration, the building has been converted into a hotel, retaining original elements such as the boiserie and the medieval wall surrounding the estate.

Location and contact

7 Place du Château, 72150 Le Grand-Lucé, France · Phone: +33 (0)2 55 48 40 40 · Email: info@chateaugrandluce.com