A new luxury eco-lodge spa resort in the south of France
A new lodge and spa concept is currently taking shape near Montpellier in southern France. Lodge St. Germain is the brainchild of Andrew Whittaker, a New Zealander who moved there from London with his French wife Sofy and children in 2003.
His idea was to create the kind of place where he and his friends and family and would wish to escape to – combining authentic hospitality and original experiences in an exceptional environment.
The development would encompass 79 luxurious rooms and 8 villas - arranged around a restaurant, lounges and bar, and a spectacular spa (run in partnership with luxury spa experts Payot) – all set in a 140 acre estate. So impressive are the plans for the development, that it has been accepted into the prestigeous 'Small Luxury Hotels of the World' group - even before being built.
In a Nutshell:
Property types:
Luxury 'rooms' and 'suites' - all sleeping 2 people each. 8 villas - from 3 to 5 bedrooms - with pools.
Nearest village/town:
St Bauzille de Montmel
Total no. of units:
79 rooms and suites, 8 villas
Drive from village/town:
5 mins
Prices from:
€155,000
Nearest airport:
Montpellier
Opening:
2010
Drive from airport:
30 mins
Drive from beaches:
35 mins
About the developers
It was back in 2005 that Andrew Whittaker first fell in love with this hidden valley. Andrew is a New Zealander with a background in international investment banking, who moved from London to Montpellier with his family in 2003.
Widely travelled, he was interested in bringing to southern France a concept common in Africa and Australasia - the ‘Lodge Experience’; combining a love of adventure and activity with a sense of relaxed hospitality in harmony with nature. Domaine St Germain provided the perfect setting.
At the heart of the estate stands the old stone chapel and Mas that form the basis and inspiration for Lodge St Germain. For most of the last thousand years, St Germain has belonged to the Baron of Montlaur’s estate. In the twelfth century, a chapel was erected on the foundations of an ancient Roman villa. The estate was gifted to the church in 1233 and became home to an Augustine convent (St Germain de Fournès) with its cloisters built around the chapel. When the convent closed in 1435 the last Prioress Jeanne de Montlaur sold the property back to her brother, Hector, Baron de Montlaur. Since then, the estate has seen numerous activities from sheep farming, olive, lavender and wine growing to silkworm breeding.
The development would encompass 79 luxurious rooms and 8 villas - arranged around a restaurant, lounges and bar, and a spectacular spa (run in partnership with luxury spa experts Payot) – all set in a 140 acre estate. So impressive are the plans for the development, that it has been accepted into the prestigeous 'Small Luxury Hotels of the World' group - even before being built.
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