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Hotel Mas de Torrent***** ,Torrent, Girona, Spain.
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Charming old world hotel with all modern luxury.
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Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2004
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The 5 star luxury hotel, member of the Relais et Chateaux chain, “Mas de Torrent” is one of those truly special oases of comfort and calm set on a slight rise over looking a lovely open valley just a few minutes drive from the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava not far from Girona in one of the very special regions of Spain called Catalonia.
The main hotel is housed in a beautifully converted and enlarged golden stone farm complex typical of the region. In 1987, the old structure, dating from 1751, was cunningly reformed from a farm building complex where the farmers lived in warmth and comradeship side by side with their animals (especially in winter) to arguably one of the best hotels of its type in Spain. While we were first drawn to Mas de Torrent because they said they welcomed small dogs (click for more on this), we soon fell in love with the old world charm coupled with all the modern touches, comforts and ambiance.
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Line of lemon trees giving off their sweet scent in the warmth of the sun.
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Arial view of the hotel and grounds.
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Warm morning sun streaming through the large windows of the writing room at the end of the reception area.
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Photos Peter D'Aprix © 2004
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Front of the original farm house with the kitchen herb garden shown in the foreground
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Some of the 10 suites are in the old structure and drip with character from the ancient wooden beams, eccentric door ways, bed alcoves and spacious bathrooms and convenient to all the public rooms from the library to the billiard room, from the bright lounge to the bar in the original kitchen complete with stone sink and high brass spigot. But for dog owners who need quick and easy access to the outside and for those who want private sunbathing terrace, the 29 garden suites that flow down the slope in the direction of the sea in gentle arcs are the way to go. Though lacking the old world charm, of the accommodations in the main building, they are well equipped with spacious, marble tiled bathrooms (although ours had fixtures where the chrome was worn through) comfortable large beds and full cable TV (no internet hook up) and front and terrace entrances as well as very spacious storage and mini-bar. 10 of the suites were added in 2000 and boast their own mini-swimming pools, two baths, one a Jacuzzi, plus a separate living room.
Citrus trees line the walkways in giant pots or planted in long beds between the various curving lines of suites. In spring, the breeze is heavy with the powerful aroma of citrus blossoms and large baskets of lemons decorate the covered walkways from which you enter the rooms. The sweep of the driveway is bordered with ancient olive trees and the parking spaces are shaded with water and sun proof roofing.
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Bar and card room that was the original kitchen.
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Basket of lemons from the lemon trees that grace the walkways.
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Detail of a corner of the salon.
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The billiard room in what was originally the entry hall.
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The pool is very private off to one side of the property but close at hand for either the apartments or the rooms in the main building. Everywhere there are olive trees, benches, baskets, tables and chairs and huge urns and pots of flowers and Bougainvillea. The hotel is well equipped with umbrellas both in the reception and in all the rooms in case you arrive in a down pour as did we. If you are wearing your expensive "nothing" evening pumps, your feet can certainly be soaked by the time you make the dining room and we did not see any galoshes in the vicinity, but that, after all, is what gallant husbands/boyfriends/lovers with strong arms and backs are for.
While arriving guests enter the golden reception area that is today’s front entrance, horse lovers will be happy to know it was once the stables though no evidence remains of its previous function. Just as well! Today we are not forced to go around to the back of the building to enter through the grand portal into what is now the billiard room as charming as that is. The designers succeeded in making this luxury hotel into an informal, luxurious yet homey place to let down and leave behind the stresses of the city. Soft lighting, over stuffed lounge chairs and sofas upholstered with cretonne and jacquard fabrics, esparto grass mats, warm stuccoed walls, vaulted ceilings, large plate glass windows and fireplaces in every public room, all make this hotel a pleasure even during the cool months.
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The very private swimming pool with the main building in the background.
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Pots of bougainvillea that dot the grounds.
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One of the bedrooms in the main building.
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One of the new suites with four poster bed and private mini-swimming pool.
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Bedroom in the main building.
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The restaurant with one of the best chefs in Spain, Joan Piqué Navarro, completes the picture of self-contained enchantment. All except, that is, the quite remarkable breakfast buffet that takes up half the old dining room. They are obviously not only catering to breakfast traditions from countries like England and Scandinavia but French, Italian, Spanish (of course) and notably those who are on a diet and also want high fiber, low sugar choices. With its own table away from the others are low fat yogurts, skim milk, fiber cereals and granolas. Cheeses, meats, fruits, other cereals and granolas and muesli, breads, sweet rolls and pastries, fresh squeezed juices are all there. It is hard to find anything missing. Makes you want to stuff it all down and have someone strong carry you out to the lounger at the pool to sleep away the morning until lunch.
The hotel is in the center of a holiday region filled with historical and cultural interest. Just 90 minutes from Barcelona, an hour from the French border and less than half an hour from tiny white fishing villages wedged in gullies at the bottom of serpentine roads winding and twisting their torturous way down to sea level. Medieval villages top small mounds dotted across the wide valley floor. Most have been preserved and restored and are now the haunts of artists, cafés and other tourist destinations. The Dalí Museum is in nearby Figueres. There are three golf courses at Empordà, Pals just across the valley and at Aro. Horseback riding is available at Sant Climent de Peralta. Bikes are provided as a courtesy and the flat valley makes for easy peddling.
This is a place to spend weeks on vacation or a weekend of romance.
Rates:
39 rooms: 250-540 € s.n.i.
250 EUR / 540 EUR
Breakfast Included.
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