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RESTAURANTS - CHEFS - HOTELS - REVIEWS & STORIES |
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Domaine du Roncemay****,
Aillant-sur-Tholon, Burgundy, France.
A Fabulous "Find" in Burgundy! Excellent cuisine, lovely classic French rooms,
18 hole golf course and spa just a stone's throw from Paris!
Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2006-2020
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Back in 2005, renowned three Michelin starred chef M. Marc Meneau of l'Esperance fame took over this lovely property and transformed it. He transformed the cuisine, completly remodeled the hotel side in a charming country traditional style yet with totally modern facilities and upgrded th 18 hole golf course.
Today, all his work has been taken over by new owners who are again upgrading and improving the hotel and restaurant. The pandemic has caused problems and delas with our latest coverage of the estate and we have had to move our new coverage back to Spring 2021 but this coverage remains in force and we will report on the improvements that will only make the establishment that much better.
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View of the Chateau to the left, the main hotel and restaurant building to the right with the putting practice green in the foreground. |
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On the links with the Chateau in the distance and a pond to the left.
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The rooms and suites are all on the second floor which have open ceilings filled with traditional pegged wood beam systems.
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Golfers enjoying a well earned refreshment on the terrace of the hotel with a fairway in view and the Chateau in the background.
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The Domaine consists of the charming, small Château du Roncemay and the hotel/restaurant complex a few paces away and boasts a world class 18 hole golf course, spa and other outdoor activities. Todays Domaine was begun in 1995 when the structures were restored in true traditional Burgundian style inspired by the country manor houses of the 1800's. The 18 hole golf course was laid out as well as the new spa and completed in 1997. Even in the middle of winter, with a blanket of white snow, the fireplaces inside radiate the warmth of a country welcome. In spring, the wild flowers blanket instead of the snow and the blossoms create color all around. Summer is heaven.
Marc Meneau's intention was not to create another l'Esperance but to expand the type and style of his offerings. Domaine du Roncemay is just 1 1/2 hour's drive away from l'Esperance at Vézelay, so a 3 star meal is within reach while a simpler but excellent dinner is available just below your room. There is even a light lunch menu served inside or on the terrace overlooking the links from the bistro "Le Club-House".
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Typical of the charming interiors of this lovely hotel.
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Flower display in reception.
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Pool to the right, rooms 2nd floor left and dining rooms ground floor left. Spa is just a few paces behind camera position.
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The rooms and suites are styled in the traditional country French manner with open beamed ceilings, antiques, very comfortable beds and fully modern bathrooms. Most have a view out over the acres of fairways and woods. Internet connection, TV by cable and satellite are standard as is mini-bar in every room. Most rooms are air conditioned. Most rooms have tall French windows which flood the rooms with light and air. But the designers were considerate enough to provide each window with not only a railing and grill for safety but also a Plexiglas shield to prevent accidents with very small children and pets.
The heated swimming pool is just below the rooms and two steps from both restaurants and the cozy bar and lounge. The Spa is just a few paces from the pool with massage and Turkish baths and gym with exercise machines. Tennis just another couple strokes away as is the Pétanque court. The Domaine sits on 145 hectares (approx. 300 acres) of a natural reserve including green pastures, woods, lakes and ponds and further on the hills and vineyards. These can be explored on foot or bicycle. Equestrians will find stables nearby and wine enthusiasts will find the area teeming with vineyards and wine tasting cellars.
Golfers will enjoy one of the loveliest 18 hole courses in France with fairways covering 85 hectors (approx. 170 acres) laid out cutting through woods, around lakes and ponds. It was laid out by M. Jean Garaialde. There is a practice putting green and driving range. Green’s fees range from 40 Euros in low season mid week to 100 Euros in high season weekends. And it is just 140 kilometers (approx. 88 miles) from Paris. If you stay at the hotel, you can qualify for discounts or vice versa. The Domain du Roncemay site is filled with information for golfers from green's fees, extras, services and even a map of the fairways with "zooms" of all the fairways that show distances etc. go to>>
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Restaurant of Domaine Roncemay |
Cuisine:
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The dining room with window walls around 3 sides that show the golf links as far as the eye can see.
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Entré with a "soup" of Petits pois with lettuce and écrevisses sitting on an island of mint.
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Spa and Fitness Facilities:
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The exercise center. |
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One of the "Hamman" style Moroccan steam rooms.
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The Spa at Domaine Roncemay.
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Another of the "Hamman" style Moroccan steam rooms.
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The Spa and Fitness center offers an exercise room with a variety of machines to burn off calories. There are also other activities such as the marvelous walking through their 325 acre natural park reserve with beautiful pathways and green pastures, lakes and ponds. Then outside the grounds are miles of hills and vineyards to hike through or use the bikes supplied by the Domaine. The countryside is gently rolling, so biking is not a great challenge to the less than athletic.
There is a tennis and pétanque court as well. The Spa has a couple of "Hamman" style Moroccan steam rooms, massage and body and skin treatments.
Domain du Roncemay - Château de Roncemay
89110 Aillant-sur-Tholon - France
Tel : +33 (0) 3 86 73 50 50
Fax : +33 (0) 3 86 73 69 46
e-mail
Web Site
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All rights reserved peter d'aprix ©1985-2019.
No copying, reuse or partial reproduction permitted without written permission by the authors, Peter and Linda D'Aprix.
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