Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Collection

We stayed in one of the houses on the property. We even got our own car to use while on the property. Food was very good and the castle and location is spectacular.

Pros -The property is breathtaking. A beautifully restored 13th-century château set on 2,500 acres of meadows, forests, ponds, and pastures. The scenery is spectacular in every direction. -Morning coffee overlooking the ponds at our cottage is peak tranquility. -Horseback riding and tour of the farm with limousine cows were highlights of our experiences. The gentleman that gave the tours is a sixth-generation farmer of the land and was full of interesting knowledge. -The heated indoor pool was excellent for our kids. -My wife loved her spa treatment. Cons -Limited air conditioning. Only the bedrooms have A/C. The game room, library, living room in our cottage, and most common areas became uncomfortably hot in July. Even some fans would have helped make the spaces a lot more usable. -Dining was confusing and disappointing. Michelin-starred Dyades was closed during our stay and is only open on select days. The one day we ate lunch in the hotel restaurant was very slow service and the lasagne was so badly burned it was black on top. Breakfast was expensive for what you get. Very limited hot options and if you get there late in the breakfast window it’s pretty well picked over. We booked the in-cottage barbecue expecting a prepared meal. Instead, staff delivered raw meat and vegetables and told us to cook everything ourselves. This wasn't disclosed when booking. The staff member delivering it admitted guests are frequently surprised because the front desk doesn't explain it. No sauces, seasoning (other than salt), meat thermometer, or serving platters were provided. Grilling was enjoyable, but at over $100 per person, we expected the hotel to do the cooking—not just light the grill. -Wine tasting was mishandled. We arrived for our 5:00 p.m. reservation, but the sommelier never showed. After waiting more than 40 minutes, management admitted they couldn't reach him and asked us to reschedule. Unfortunately, we couldn't, so we missed an experience we had been looking forward to. They did comp two bottles of wine at dinner that night though so that was considerate. -Outdoor pool service was inconsistent. There weren't enough lounge chairs or umbrellas, and poolside service was available one day but absent the next. -The special libraries advertised on their website were unavailable for visitation. We were told by guest services that we could visit the next day, only to be turned away on the next day due to private events. My wife is a book enthusiast so this was a big disappointment as well. Overall The château and grounds are absolutely stunning and easily the property's greatest strength. Unfortunately, the service and overall guest experience fell well short of what I'd expect from a five-star hotel charging five-star prices—especially an Auberge property. There were simply too many operational misses: confusing and lackluster dining, inconsistent service, poor communication, and missed experiences. Without the extraordinary beauty of the es

We spent one night at Domaine des Etangs courtesy of Mr and Mrs Smith. We stayed in Mars which was a spacious room in one of the castle turrets. The room was huge, it felt more like a flat to be honest! King size bed with a window overlooking one of the many lakes. Ensuite bathroom and large shower. Tea/coffee facilities, fridge, hairdryer, TV, bluetooth speaker. The pool was a very good size and opening hours are decent. There is also a games room on the top floor. We ate at Dyades and the food and drink was excellent, as was the service. Breakfast the next day was also wonderful. Very good buffet selection with lots of options. The grounds are huge with so much to explore. Bike hire (manual or electric) are free there is also a row boat you can use to explore the lakes. All the staff were brilliant. Special mention to Charly for his warm welcome and Nina for helping us too. Nicola, Anton and Olivia at dinner were excellent as was Harrison at breakfast and Emile at the pool. Special mention as well to Jean Francois for the history tour of the castle and area. The hotel is incredible, it looks stunning and there is so much to see and do within the grounds. We loved it and are already planning our return!

This is a magical place even in “Grisatre” of winter. It is very expensive, but with our AmEx platinum perks, we could splurge. Loved hiking for hours in the cold and rain to feel nature and peace. We were upgraded to the Soleil suite. It was enormous and had a view of the inside of the turret. It’s hard to look generosity and complain, but I’m particularly sensitive to light and in the suite’s main living room there is a a neon modern art sculpture that cannot be turned off, and the major light fixture is beautiful/enormous but cannot be dimmed. If you are sensitive to light, you might want to consider that when booking. The breakfast was excellent. We did not dine in the Michelin starred dining room, but our room service meal was perfect and with hot soup. We both were struggling with colds and were pleased that the food was hot when delivered. Special thanks for Charly, Louis, Bernadette and Leticia (sp?). The heating system does make a good bit of noise, and I get that it’s a very old building, but if you’re sensitive to sound (I guess I sound pretty sensitive!), noise canceling earbuds are helpful. The thermal area was very nice and clean. The cattle are beautiful and I was glad to hear they’re allowed to live their lives out on the estate; it made ordering my husband’s meal a little easier to think his beef was not one of the ginger-colored Limousin steers I had just watched hours before.

Amazing location with a wonderful and luxurious atmosphere with generous and fabulous rooms, we will revisit very soon

Beautiful location but very isolated with not much to do on property. I have always loved auberge properties but this one does not compare to others

Our stay at Domaine de l'Auberge des Estangs was absolutely wonderful. The property is stunning, peaceful, and beautifully maintained, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind. Every detail felt thoughtfully curated, from the charming accommodations to the breathtaking surroundings. The staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring that we felt at home throughout our stay. We especially loved the tranquil atmosphere, beautiful grounds, and the opportunity to truly disconnect and enjoy nature. This was a memorable experience that exceeded our expectations, and we would not hesitate to return. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a luxurious and serene getaway!

Overall an absolutely incredible experience. Everything is perfect. There are activities (tennis, gym, pool, walking, biking, etc) whenever we wanted to do something. And there is relaxation (big rooms, spa, great food) whenever we needed to take a break. We will definitely be returning! Not to mention the service was 100 out of 10. We felt like we were family during our trip.