Domaine Reine Margot Paris Issy, the hotel in a historic monument in a bucolic setting

Domaine de la Reine Margot, a new hotel and spa opened just a few months ago, is located at the gateway to Paris, behind the Porte de Versailles in the Hauts-de-Seine department. Nestled in the heart of the city, it occupies a seventeenth-century building spanning 6,000 square meters, and boasts a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower.

The Accor Group's MGallery Collection hotel is housed in a historic monument dating back to the 17th century. It was here that Queen Marguerite de Valois, also known as Queen Margot, daughter of Henri II and Catherine de Médicis, retreated from the hustle and bustle of Paris. Centuries later, it became a retirement home for priests, and is now a listed building. After 4 years of renovation, the 83-room, 5-star hotel has opened its doors, reinterpreted by architect, urban planner and designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

As soon as you arrive, an enveloping peace takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. On this landscaped, verdant estate, the hotel features 83 rooms and suites divided into 2 buildings named Sulpice and Margot: on the one hand, the old building, and on the other, a more recent one with large bay windows for an unobstructed view of the capital. Jean-Michel Wilmotte's architecture features clean lines and authentic materials, elegantly blending the historic heritage and modern style of this hotel near Paris.

The main building, protected as a Monument Historique, has been renovated to offer 10 rooms with views of either the chapel or the patio. The contemporary building at the entrance houses the lobby and a library on the first floor, as well as the SPA and its swimming pool, while the 72 rooms and suites on three floors offer views of Paris, the La Défense district, the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding gardens.

As night falls, the lights begin to twinkle in the garden and on the historic buildings, leading our steps towards the Monastic. The secret bar, housed in a 19th-century chapel that has retained its neo-Gothic charm, offers a unique experience with its selection of 400 different rums. In this space, where vaulted ceilings and statues create a mystical atmosphere, you can learn how to taste rum, or discover a beautiful menu with references from all over the world, in soft lighting, before sitting down to eat.

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On the menu, vegetarian cuisine using over 80 organic plant species from the garden, orchard and kitchen garden, sharing dishes, typically French recipes such as bouchées à la reine, and roasted meats, fish and vegetables.

The Le Marguerite 1606 restaurant, with its cocktail bar under a magnificent black industrial glass roof, contrasts with the rest of the Monastic and, once night falls, reveals the oldest parts of the estate in a fairy-tale light. Chef Jean Philippe Perol prepares seasonal dishes featuring products from the Jardin des Quiétudes, such as a cereal-crusted organic egg with Jerusalem artichoke purée; the excellent Bouchées Marguerite (Queen's bites); or pan-fried milk-fed veal loin served with roasted parsnips and crispy Brussels sprouts.

Before dinner or the next day, as in our case, we explore the 360m2 spa with its views, featuring 3 treatment rooms, hammam, sauna and fitness room. From the solarium, you can admire the tranquil view over the garden and vegetable patch, and the Parc André Citroën balloon in the distance. The spa menu includes facial and body treatments using vegan products, as well as relaxing body massages.

All the boutique hotel's rooms and suites are spacious, ranging from 27 to 55 square meters, so there's plenty of room to spare. These spaces, bathed in understated luxury, feature a minimalist aesthetic through the use of raw materials and sleek designs, while incorporating artistic elements inspired by Queen Margot's passion for literature. In ours, we find framed, the collet monté so dear to Queen Margot. The walls are adorned with elements such as fragments of poems, silkscreens inspired by her correspondence and portraits paying tribute to her love of the arts and letters. The state-of-the-art equipment at our disposal makes for an enchanting stay. Everything can be turned on, opened or closed at the touch of a fingertip, while night-lights light your way when you feel the urge at night.

In short, for an enchanted interlude, in a setting as mystical as it is magical, here's an address to experience for the duration of a stay, a drink or a simple meal or brunch at Marguerite 1606.

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