Is Château Saint-Martin & Spa The Wedding Venue For You?

Why book?

Perfectly situated overlooking the Cote d’Azur, Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a provençal gem in the South of France boasting a private Chapel, Michelin starred dining, an enormous swimming pool, award winning spa as well as beautifully maintained gardens.

The ancient Knights Templar Château is a short drive from Nice International airport, the gateway to the French Riviera, and easily accessible from the UK and the rest of the world.

Discreet and attentive staff, organic fresh and locally sourced food and plenty of varied activities to enjoy in the vicinity adds to it being the perfect venue. From world famous artists’ favourite picturesque village, Saint Paul de Vence to the Glitzy Cap d’Antibes, where you can also enjoy sister Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Venue style:

Château Saint-Martin & Spa is the perfect French hotel that will cater for all needs. It is French Riviera chic with the guarantee of balmy weather, phenomenal local food and drink, and a top professional bilingual team led by Megane and her formidable eye for detail.

Set the scene:

Set overlooking ‘la baie des anges’ and the ‘Cap d’Antibes, Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a magnificent and beautifully restored large Knights Templar Chateau dating back to the 12th Century. It also boasts 6 private villas and in 2019, was awarded the prestigious PALACE distinction. The entire property, including 41 spacious bedrooms and 6 private villas, the private chapel, as well as the impressive swimming pool and spa can all be hired for a complete takeover for weddings.

The drive to the main part of the Château sets the scene surrounded by elegant cypress trees, olive groves, lavender and clematis bushes leading to the stunning chateau with remnants of some of the medieval ruins and the showstopping gate.

Event spaces:

Château Saint-Martin & Spa is the ideal venue for an elegant large international wedding with a maximum capacity of 150 guests. The beautiful landscaped gardens are ideal for a smart marquee and the obvious choice with its different terraces and variety of flora. There is a stunning terrace overlooking the coast that also lends itself perfectly to ceremonies as a spectacular setting and is easily accessible to the indoor options, in the unlikely event that the ceremony should move inside including the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Saint Martin. The professional team are on hand working with a wedding planner who will magically make the wildest wishes come to life – the options are practically endless.

Food and drink:

Executive Chef Jean-Luc Lefrançois’ refined and modern/traditional cuisine using the finest local and seasonal produce is showcased at top One Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant “Le Saint Martin” – one of the unmissable addresses of the French Riviera. The restaurant overlooks the Mediterranean with its stunning panoramic views, perfect for sharing romantic moments and celebrations. It is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and only open for breakfast and dinner in high season when the summer restaurant L’Oliveraie takes over for lunch.

L’Oliveraie is beautifully set in the gardens near the pool in the shade of the century-old olive trees. On the menu of the summer restaurant: barbecued dishes, a rotisserie, plancha and wood fire pizzas – the perfect more relaxed option to enjoy lunch with friends and family. It is open for lunch from May to September and for dinner from Friday to Sunday only from May to September.

Bar Le Rossini is a jaw-droppingly stunning bar decorated with 18th century Gobelins and Aubusson tapestries. The ideal place to enjoy a few cocktails pre or post dinner, and also offers a light menu throughout the day. It is also one of the spaces recommended for the dancefloor and bar and parties late into the night.

Accommodation:

Château Saint-Martin & Spa offers 41 bedrooms, suites, junior suites including the magnificent newly opened Chagall suite and 6 separate villas (on the property). The renowned interior architect and designer, Bergit Grafin Douglas of MM Design, reimagined Château Saint-Martin & Spa in 2019 with her contemporary touch while maintaining its elegant classical French style. For the interior connaisseurs, fabrics and trimmings are made in France by the likes of “Pierre Frey”, “Manuel Canovas”, “Fadini Broghi” as well as British brands “Colefax & Fowler” and “Baker Lifestyle”. The colour palette includes soft pastel colours as well as typical provencal hues, such as coral, mint green, lilac, plum and terracotta red.

Depending on the size of the wedding, wedding guests can stay at the Château Saint-Martin & Spa or be recommended an extensive choice of top hotels in the vicinity including sister property Hotel du Cap- Eden – Roc in glamorous Cap d’Antibes.

The story:

Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a fortified structure dating back to the Roman times. Due to its strategic location, it played host to the Bishop of Tours in 350 A.D. and kept its name from then onwards. Handed over to the Crusaders on their return from Jerusalem by the Count of Provence, it became the stronghold of the Knights Templar in 1150 A.D., whose message of faith still shines through the Chapel Saint Martin. The Chapel remains to this day a place for special occasions such as weddings. The current building was built and completed on the foundations of the ancient Templar Commanderie perpetuating the legend of the famous Templar treasure which has never been found. The picturesque ruins can also be a dramatic backdrop for a wedding ceremony.

A Parisian industrialist, Fernand Genève, bought the property in 1935 and transformed it into a hotel in 1954. The six villas were built in the 1960s. In 1994 the Oetker family became the owner of Château Saint-Martin & Spa.

Eco-friendly:

Château Saint-Martin & Spa is committed to protecting the environment and its historical heritage. It is set on 14 hectares and has been a « Refuge LPO© » since 2013, which means it is engaged in biodiversity programmes including nesting boxes, beehives, and the use of organic fertilisers. The park produces its own delicious honey and olive oil from its four hives and olive trees.

The property is also in partnership with the city of Vence and the French Heritage Foundation and committed to restoring the emblematic “Villa Le Reve”, also known as “Villa Matisse”, as it was a refuge for the 20th Century painter, Henri Matisse in the 1940s where he painted some of his most famous masterpieces. Guests are invited to contribute to the renovation of this villa by making a donation of 50 Euros at check-out.