Château Valmy

Chateaux
4-Star 9.4(109 reviews)
Chemin de Valmy, 66700 Argelès-sur-Mer, France

Overview

Constructed in 1900 during France's Belle Époque, Château Valmy offers a magnificent rural escape surrounded by verdant vineyards, the scenic mountains of Occitania, and the Gulf of Lion. Spend a relaxing afternoon by the pool, sipping the chateau's signature wines while basking in the Mediterranean sun. Dine on delectable Occitan gourmet cuisine at La Table de Valmy, the signature terrace restaurant overlooking the farms and mountains. Choose from the five stunning guest suites available, each uniquely themed and decorated, with bright windows providing lovely views of the region. And you need not limit your admiration of Occitania to just the scenery. Book exciting trips around the area, visiting other wine estates and ancient castles, or bonding with Mother Nature at beautiful beaches and national parks.

History

The Belle Époque is fondly looked back on as a time of peace and prosperity, set between the ravages of the Franco-Prussian War and the First World War. It was at this time that romanticism and idealism filled the hearts of the French people, inspiring new styles of artwork, design, and architecture that heavily influenced this era. At the same time, many classical conventions were also revived, particularly the Renaissance.

Château Valmy was a product of this age, designed by the famed Danish architect Viggo Dorph Petersen. The chateau would be built in 3 years, starting in 1888 and finishing in 1900. Petersen applied the prevalent Art Nouveau style, featuring walls that shine in the sun, though without the overly intricate flourishes such as filigrees and vine patterns. The chateau was actually built atop a much older residence from the 13th century named Mas d'En Frère. It was commissioned by Jules Pams and his wife Jeanne Bardou-Job. Madame Jeanne Pams was the heiress of a cigarette paper magnate, and she wished for a grand estate befitting their ambitions.

By 1911, Jules Pams achieved a title he had so coveted in his career and became the Minister of Agriculture. He used his position to promote the many fine wines of France, eventually reaching even the tables of foreign royalty such as Czar Nicholas II. Château Valmy thus also cultivated a reputation as a home for those who were steeped in knowledge about wine culture.

History
Exterior of Château Valmy
$253.00 /night for 2 adults

The chateau's next owner was Victor Peix, a distillery owner who came from a much humbler background. Initially, Valmy was still out of reach with his wealth, but he struck upon the idea of acquiring old army trucks from World War I and using them to transport the marc, or residue, from local winegrowers. His distillery business grew, and he finally could afford to buy the castle. Victor would also expand into winemaking, establishing the VALMYA brand, known for its sweet wines. His wife Jeanne Peix took over after Victor died in 1952, continuing to produce and sell VALMYA's signature vintages until the 1980s.

Though the estate remained in the hands of Peix's family, the wine businesses did not restart. Victor's grandson, Bernard Carbonnell, took the reins. Using his success in real estate, Bernard revived and rebranded the property and enterprise as the Château Valmy we know today. Together with his family, they manage various aspects of the estate, from the luxurious stays to the processing of the year's harvests and vintages.

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Interiors of Château Valmy
$253.00 /night for 2 adults

Design and Architecture

Château Valmy is a fine example of Art Nouveau architecture, designed with white walls that shine in the sun. Complementing the Belle Époque designs are traditional regional conventions of Occitania, particularly the red roofs and tiles made with the region's clay. This blend of two styles is used throughout the property, even for newer buildings such as the Vall Maria Hall.

For its interiors, the chateau has dedicated its lounges and salons to its previous residents. The Salon de Jeanne Pams is a dining hall featuring antique furniture, named after the Madame who chose the scenic location where the chateau now stands. The guestrooms, on the other hand, are given a more contemporary style, opting for modern furniture designs and vivid color themes.

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Guest suite at Château Valmy
$253.00 /night for 2 adults

Amenities

Parking

Parking

Free parking

Parking on site

Private parking

Parking garage

Electric vehicle charging station

Accessible parking

Food & Drink

Restaurant

Breakfast in the room

Services

Meeting/banquet facilities

Ironing service

Luggage storage

Private check-in/check-out

Rooms

Standard Double or Twin Room


Guest

Room 1 Bed Type 3

Room size 39 m2

Benefits


Check with the property for details.

Price per night

$253.20

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Dining

La Table de Valmy is the signature restaurant of Château Valmy, situated on the grassy terrace overlooking the vineyards. Though only open seasonally, guests can partake in the restaurant's delectable wines and sumptuous gourmet fare from spring until autumn. Savor the diverse flavors of Occitan cuisine, made with local produce, seasonal pickings, and fresh catches from the Mediterranean. Each meal is carefully crafted to be paired with Château Valmy's own produced wines, elevating the experience beyond being an outdoor gourmet meal.

Opening hours: 12 pm - 1:30 pm (Lunch); 7 pm - 9:30 pm (Dinner)

Reservations are highly recommended and can be made through the hotel's phone contact number.

Dining
Outdoor dining at Château Valmy
$253.00 /night for 2 adults

Destination wedding

Château Valmy is proud to offer its wondrous estate as a distinguished setting for your wedding reception. Provided are two venue options, one indoors and another outdoors, both of which are suitable for grand galas celebrating a blessed and romantic union.

Vall Maria Hall

An absolutely gorgeous modern banquet hall with stunning views of the landscape. The hall comes equipped with elevator access, a video projector for presentations, and even cold storage catering.
Capacity: 180 guests

Outdoor Pool Area

Set your celebrations by the swimming pool terrace and the grove of century-old cedars, basking in the warmth and comfort of the French countryside. Feel free to make the castle the backdrop of your photos and videos. You can also step away from the sun and shelter inside the first-floor lounges, socializing with other guests in a relaxing atmosphere.
Capacity: 300 guests

Destination wedding
Grounds of Château Valmy
$253.00 /night for 2 adults

Events and experiences

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences

Château Valmy lies nestled in Argelès-sur-Mer, a paradisiacal commune along the Mediterranean and close to the Spanish border. Its warm climate provides a fantastic rural retreat, with access to the beautiful mountains and beaches of Occitania. Of its many beaches, the closest one to Château Valmy is Plage du Racou. Though smaller than the other beaches in the area, it is well-liked for its fine sand and charming heritage as a fishing village.

Visitors who would like to explore the mountains will find many hiking trails close to the chateau, especially in the National Nature Reserve of La Massane. Cycling enthusiasts can also check out the various bike trails close to the borders of Spain and France. Also situated next to the border are the ruins of Bellegarde Fort, a mountain citadel built during the 17th century and captured by the Spanish during the War of the Pyrenees.

Events and experiences
Outdoor pool of Château Valmy
$253.00 /night for 2 adults

Occitania is a region known for its diverse agriculture, particularly when it comes to viticulture and winemaking. Château Valmy counts itself among the area's renowned wine estates, boasting an impressive 25 hectares (61.8 acres) of vineyards producing different varieties of grapes. Guests of the chateau are encouraged to book tours to see and experience the diligent work put into the farm. Their wine cellars are also available for visits, and it is there that the Carbonells showcase their winemaking facilities, using both modern and traditional methods. Another famous wine estate you can visit is Château de Corneilla, a former fortress of the Knights Templar that has since been converted into a family chateau.

Other Celebrations

For those planning any private celebrations, you can reserve a lounge or seminar room instead of the larger banquet venues. The Vall Maria Hall has rooms equipped with audiovisual equipment, and can be privatized not just for seminars but also for birthdays and anniversaries. You may also instead request a private table at the restaurant, La Table de Valmy, along with personalized service, such as commissioning a cake.

$253.00 /night for 2 adults

Local Info

Plage du Racou

Small but scenic sandy beach next to a peaceful fishing village (6-minute drive)

Château de Corneilla

13th-century castle originally built by the Knights Templar then became the wine estate of the d'Oriola family in 1485 (14-minute drive)

Bellegarde Fort

Mountaintop fortress built in the 17th century and situated next to the Spanish border (33-minute drive)

Nearest Airport

The nearest airport to Château Valmy is Aéroport Sud de France Perpignan (PGF), 36 minutes away by car.

Nearest Railway Station

The nearest railway to Château Valmy is Argeles-sur-Mer Station, a 6-minute drive from the chateau.