Les Hauts de Sancerre | Jérôme Lescrenier

Perched high on its rocky spur, the Château de Sancerre has long watched over the Loire Valley in silence — a familiar silhouette, yet closed off from the world. Since the late 19th century, it had belonged to the

Marnier-Lapostolle family, who transformed it into a private residence, hidden behind the trees. For decades, it remained inaccessible. Forgotten. Untouched.

Until now.

Driven by a deep love for heritage and terroir, a couple dared to imagine the impossible: bringing the château back to life. That dream is now becoming reality.

In July 2025, the first chapter of Les Hauts de Sancerre begins with the opening of a five-star hotel. 8 refined suites, a gourmet pop-up restaurant, a wellness space, and a wine library in the château’s original 12th-century cellar will mark the first phase of this evolving project.

By 2026, more rooms will open, along with a signature restaurant, a permaculture garden, and a landscaped pool. Between 2026 and 2027, the estate will expand further with 10 to 15 unique accommodations tucked into the surrounding forest—offering intimacy, deep connection with nature, and uncompromising comfort . A full spa experience is also being imagined. Here, everything evolves in harmony with the rhythm of the land, the seasons, and the stories shared along the way.

Yet beyond its luxury, this is above all a renaissance —a revival of history, a story of transmission, intuition, and passion.

A CASTLE AWAKENED BY PASSION: A LETTER AND A VISION

It reads almost like a modern-day fairytale. David Chicard, born in Nevers, grew up between the Nièvre and Sancerre regions, with the Château de Sancerre ever present on the horizon—an emblematic landmark etched into his childhood memories. At 15, he left his native region to travel the world, first as a mechanic for the Dodge racing team, then turning to real estate. He would go on to found and lead the Belgian branch of Sotheby’s International Realty for nearly a decade.

In 2020, together with his wife, Audrey Dumont, he began restoring a family home near Nevers.

The couple discovered a shared love of hosting and reconnected with the region. This passion soon led them to create Collectible.house, a tourism investment fund devoted to breathing new life into exceptional, often forgotten sites.

Late in 2022, during a walk through Sancerre, they dropped a letter into the mailbox of the château—a bold, almost whimsical gesture, expressing their dream of acquiring the place. To their astonishment, a reply came. A relationship of trust grew with the Marnier-Lapostolle family, and soon, the château was theirs. Their first major project had begun.

In 2024, they opened the gates to the public for a special exhibition honoring Victor Vasarely. The response was overwhelming: over 30,000 visitors wandered the grounds, explored the Tour des Fiefs, and stood in awe of the surrounding vineyards. Now, Les Hauts de Sancerre is preparing to open as a refined hotel and cultural destination—yet it will remain partially open to the public, with exhibitions, events, and guided tours. For Audrey and David, this is more than a renovation. It’s a legacy. A story of return. A memory to be shared.

To guide the château’s transformation, David and Audrey turned to interior designer Jérôme Lescrenier. His mission: to honor the soul of the place while bringing it a new, understated elegance.

The project embraces a deeply respectful approach to the château’s original architecture, with meticulous attention to space, light, and noble materials.

Natural stone, fine woods, and soft, muted fabrics shape a serene and welcoming atmosphere. Every element has been thoughtfully chosen to create an experience where heritage meets contemporary art de vivre— where history is not only preserved, but quietly reimagined.

ART AS A COMMON THREAD: A LIVING GALLERY

Since welcoming the public in 2024, the Château de Sancerre has asserted itself not only as a place of hospitality, but as a cultural landmark. That summer, in partnership with the Vasarely Foundation, an optical art exhibition drew over 30,000 visitors—laying the first stone in the château’s artistic identity. With the opening of Les Hauts de Sancerre, that vision takes root. Contemporary art is now woven into the very fabric of the estate.

Artistic direction is led by Stanislas de Poucques, former head of the Brussels Museum of Contemporary Art, who signs here his first hotel project. His curatorial eye has shaped a refined yet accessible visual universe, blending curated furniture, original works, and site-specific pieces—always in conversation with the château’s heritage and emerging artists.

For this inaugural season, two European artists have taken over the space. In the lobby and salons, Belgian artist Emma Terweduwe, trained in textile arts, presents a series of fifteen woven works. Wool, linen, and cotton converge in geometric compositions that evoke softness, abstraction, and materiality.

In the suites, each room features a piece by Roan van Oort, a young Dutch painter known for his textured canvases made from sand, lime, and earth. Subtle and raw, his paintings reflect the imperfection of nature and echo the tones of the château and its landscape.

Outside, ‘Hexa 8’ a monumental sculpture, vestige of the Vasarely exhibition, continues the dialogue between art and environment, anchoring this living gallery in both past and present.

LA CHÊNAIE SPA : WHERE NATURE NURTURES, AND THE OAK TREE INSPIRES

Just a short drive from the château, nestled in the village of Murlin, La Chênaie was born from the Bertranges Forest—one of Europe’s most majestic oak woodlands. Created by the Charlois family, master coopers for generations, the brand brings the strength, longevity, and resilience of oak into the world of skincare and wellness.

At Les Hauts de Sancerre, the La Chênaie SPA offers more than treatments—it offers a forest- inspired escape. Each ritual is designed like a walk through the woods: soothing, grounding, and deeply revitalizing. Gentle movements, rich textures, and subtle, woody scents come together to awaken the senses and calm the mind.

Infused with patented oak extracts packed with antioxidant and regenerating power, La Chênaie’s exclusive formulas blend advanced dermocosmetic science with a holistic approach to wellbeing. Backed by research, this connection between the forest and the body helps reduce stress, boost natural defenses, and restore inner harmony.

True to the spirit of the place, La Chênaie SPA embodies a mindful, rooted kind of beauty—one that, like the oak, only grows stronger with time.

In its initial phase, the wellness space at Les Hauts de Sancerre includes a treatment room (for face and body rituals, full menu available here) and a fitness studio.

Photography: Pierre Vachaudez