Château Pape Clément
The location of Pessac-Léognan has a peculiarity: its vineyards are embedded in urban areas, in a suburb of Bordeaux. Yet it is here that one of the finest and most charming accommodations in the region is nestled: the Château Pape Clément. Ranked the best vineyard of the area, the property belongs to Bernard Magrez, a magnate who collects prestigious châteaux around the world, contemporary art presented in the Labottière hotel in the heart of Bordeaux, and ancient olive trees. This house, whose history dates back to the thirteenth century, now offers a very nineteenth century charm. Nestled amid 32 acres of vineyards, neighboring this madness of neo-gothic architecture is a glass-roofed annex by Gustav Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower. After being greeted by a gloriously British butler, guests can discover waxed woodworks, a portrait gallery and private collections that decorate the walls of the elegantly understated reception rooms. Upstairs, the poetically named rooms recall a style of travel that is perhaps a little outdated but nonetheless utterly charming. No design gimmicks to be found here. Everything is of old-world elegance, aromas of wax polish, deep leather armchairs…The perfect place to suspend time and play the lord whilst enjoying a few house wines, Château Pape Clément is of another time.
