Château Saint-Martin in Vence – the Knights Templar's hill became a palace

The Romans fortified the hill, the Knights Templar built a fortress here in the 12th century, and a Parisian industrialist turned the ruins into a hotel in 1954. Today, Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a Palace with views over the Mediterranean.

On the hill above Vence there is a legend of a treasure. The Knights Templar, who had a castle here from the mid-1100s, are said to have hidden it somewhere on the grounds. No one has found it. Instead, today there stands Château Saint-Martin & Spa, a hotel with Palace status, Atout France's highest rating, with views over the hills down towards the Mediterranean.

The hotel is part of the Oetker Collection and holds one Key in the Guide Michelin hotel selection. It is situated on a 14-hectare estate, a half-hour drive from the coast.

01From Roman fortification to Templar castle

The site has a long history. According to Tatler, there was a Roman fortification here, and around the year 350 the place was named after Martin, Bishop of Tours. In 1150, the hill became a stronghold for the Knights Templar, and the Saint-Martin chapel remains from that period. The Guide Michelin describes the site as a former Templar commandery.

Around 1900, the castle was a ruin. A Polish count partially rebuilt it, and the ruins are today protected as historic monuments.

02Fernand Genève and the hotel from 1954

In 1935, the Parisian industrialist Fernand Genève bought the estate, and in 1954 he turned it into a hotel. In 1960, six villas in Provençal style were built on the slope above the château, each with one to three bedrooms.

In 1994, the Oetker family bought the hotel and turned it into a luxury hotel. The interior has been renewed by Bergit Gräfin Douglas of MM Design in Frankfurt, and today the house has 47 rooms and suites according to Atout France's register. Yonder describes bureaux in Louis XV and Louis XVI style, tapestries from Aubusson and Gobelins, 18th-century clocks and Persian and Turkish rugs.

03Restaurants and the olive grove

The hotel's gastronomic restaurant is called Le Saint-Martin. Michelin describes a modern cuisine with views of the Mediterranean, and the kitchen has been led by Jean-Luc Lefrançois. In summer, food is also served at L'Oliveraie, a restaurant in the olive grove, and the house cocktails are mixed at the Le Rossini bar.

The olive trees are what make the garden. Yonder writes that their scent fills the air over the property, and old olive trees stand by the poolside cabanas.

04Spa, pool and helipad

The spa is run by La Prairie. There is also an infinity pool, tennis courts, a gym and a helipad. The villas have their own butlers and priority access to restaurant tables, pool cabanas and in-room spa treatments.

05Vence, Saint-Paul and the art of the hinterland

From Château Saint-Martin, you can quickly reach Matisse's Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence and the galleries of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, where La Colombe d'Or still has the artists' paintings on its walls. More about the coast can be found in VERA PI's guide to the French Riviera, and more Riviera destinations are collected at metromode.co.

06How to plan the stay

Check opening dates directly with the hotel before planning. Ask for a room with a sea view, spend an evening at L'Oliveraie during the summer and set aside a day for the hinterland's art.

For a weekend. For a lifetime.