Grand it appears, and some of the makers of that grandeur – Knights Templar, princes and prime ministers – gaze down on you in the dining room, a favourite restaurant for the discerning palates of Grenoble. Yet the atmosphere is of an intimate family hotel. The whole place is awash with antiques and heirlooms, breakfast is delicious, good taste prevails and flowers add that touch of life and genuine attention. And there are massages galore in the sumptuous spa. Bedrooms are in four buildings, old and new, adding to the sense of intimacy. Rooms in château and chalet are traditional with carved wooden beds and gilt-framed mirrors, though some of them give onto a small road. The Orangerie’s rooms (as you’ll discover once you have negotiated the rather plain corridors) look out over fine parkland, and are deliciously peaceful. The least expensive rooms are in the Petit Pavillon, on the roadside. But whichever you choose, you will be beautifully looked after by the Beaumont brothers – they grew up here – in this smart suburb of Grenoble.
