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Saint-Émilion is a small town near Bordeaux; exactly 35 km northeast of Bordeaux, between Castillon-la-Bataille and Libourne, at an average altitude of 23 meters above sea level. Administratively, Saint-Émilion belongs to the department of Girona, in New Aquitaine.
Since 1999 it has been considered a World Heritage Site. It is famous for its winemaking activity and for its beautiful steep and somewhat narrow streets left by medieval times. It is known that the first people to plant vineyards were the Romans.
Later, in the 8th century, a monk arrived and settled in a hermitage inside a rock, called Émilion; and it was the monks who followed him who started the commercial production of wine. Therefore, it is one of the main red wine areas of Bordeaux, together with Pomerol, Médoc and Graves.
The most important being Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a little Cabernet Sauvignon in some châteaux. The Hôtel de Pavie is located in the heart of Saint-Émilion, near the incredible prehistoric caves in the Dordogne. From its terraces you can discover the wine-growing panorama of the ancestral vineyards; moreover, the place has been renovated, which we will explain below.
Let’s talk a little about the history and renovation of the Hôtel de Pavie:
The Hotel de Pavie once served as a convent, offering protection and assistance to pilgrims. After the revolution the building became a post office. Then it was a hostel and a hotel-restaurant, in 1927, baptized Hostellerie de Plaisance. After World War II the place was used as a tavern; closing its doors in 1960 to be converted again into a Hotel Restaurant.
By 2000 a family named Perse began to host this place. In 2007 the hotel began to expand, thanks to the acquisition of a very close and old house of Roman tiles of the eighteenth century, but which is linked to the main house, across the garden.
Then, because it was a heritage site, authorization had to be requested from the organization in charge of this protection; thus, the renovation project could be carried out. This new building is now called La Casa de las Suites or Maison des Suites, respecting the preservation of this heritage, with the typical white stone of the area being the protagonist.
These renovations were made by Jean Philippe Nuel; reflecting in the new building the historical value, but at the same time has modern touches, mixing the sober and elegance that expresses the life of the French. A perfect reflection of the locality in this 5 star hotel.
By 2020, it continues to accelerate its development thanks to Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. Thus the Hostellerie de Plaisance becomes the Hôtel de Pavie and La Table de Pavie, its restaurant.
Let’s talk about the rooms offered by the Hôtel de Pavie:
The hotel has about 5 suites and 14 rooms in total. The architect in charge of the design was Alberto Pinto, who designed them with a good size, ranging from 80 to 130 square meters. As for the decoration, the armchairs were made by Jean Philippe Nurel, while Studio JMW designed the beautiful ceiling lamps.
The suites have a queen or king size bed, alarm clock, air conditioning, telephone, coffee maker, television, mini-bar, bathroom with bathtub and shower, iPhone charging station, wireless internet connection, hairdryer, ADSL connection and more.
Within the structure of the main building are located 9 rooms with its contemporary and elegant style. Each one allows for a very tranquil experience, which takes you back in time; in addition, its location allows you to be very close to walk from the hotel to other important places in the city. The hotel also offers dry cleaning, laundry services and private parking.
A 1 minute walk away is the Collegiate Church of Saint-Émilion, as well as the Belfry and the monolithic church of the city. But a little further, 2 minutes away, we find the King’s Tower Castle and also the Cadene Gate. And just 3 minutes away we find Le Donjon du Roy.
The Restaurant La Table de Pavie:
The Hôtel de Pavie offers you gastronomic delights prepared by Yannick Alléno, in the 2 Michelin stars restaurant “La Table de Pavie”. Associated with a French wine list, including of course the local Premier Grand Cru. The chef is inspired by the products available on the market depending on the season.
In the restaurant you can taste, for example, apples in puff pastry with rich artichokes and pieces of celery sprinkled with cognac; also crepinettes with oysters, which are his favorite dish. Sauces in general have their connection with the vine, as this type of cuisine is closely linked to wine and winegrowers in general.
Other dishes include Koji Zoto, which is made with Graves wine, foie gras with Verjus and Sabayon with a spectacular cognac. The hotel also offers breakfast, which is the first course of the day, with a good variety of hot drinks and seasonal fruits, fresh or in juices. They can be served in the room, in the living room or on the terrace with panoramic views of the city.
It can be a traditional French breakfast, which includes a variety of bread, which is made by the local baker and is accompanied with delicacies or with the sweet bee made by the bees of Pavia Castle. But if you prefer it savory then the gourmet type formula applies, with a plate of cold meats, cheeses or smoked trout and also eggs.
What other services does the Hôtel Saint-Émilion offer?
From the Hôtel de Pavie, visits to the different vineyards are also coordinated, for example to the Pavie Castle, which is one of the 3 cellars of the Perse family. But also, as mentioned above, very close to the hotel and on foot groups can be coordinated to reach the monolithic church, which is said to be the largest in Europe, or the subway monuments.
Saint-Émilion has many wines classified as Grand Cru; others within the Premiers Grands Crus Classes A, Classés B and Grands Crus Classes. This means that there is a wide variety of vineyards to visit.
