Hostellerie Briqueterie, the 5-star Champagne refuge

Épernay, a name that inspires wine lovers the world over. Just a stone's throw from the city, in the heart of a 4-hectare park of vineyards and rose gardens, lies this recently restored country residence, bearing the Relais & Châteaux label. Now owned by the Beauvallon group (which also owns the Cèdre & Spa hostellerie in Beaune), this 5-star retreat infuses a contemporary aesthetic with a contemporary flair.toiles a contemporary and refined aesthetic, designed by architect Marie Cordouan, who has restored volume and light to the spaces. Red, once ubiquitous, has been replaced by shades of white, khaki and grey, doused in a stunning cherry red that illuminates the 40 rooms and suites, with their blond wood floors and soft materials - bouclette fabrics for curtains and headboards. In the bathrooms, the terrazzo covering the walls and floors extends this spirit of modernity, highlighting the English-style fittings and beautiful chrome-plated pedestal sinks. The same elegance can be found in the 4 suites, two of which have their own champagne cellar.

If you don't opt for these exclusive spaces, the lounge - the beating heart of the hotel - is just as ideal for tasting. Deep sofas and armchairs in front of the fireplace, a huge counter and backlit shelves... Here, you can savour the finest vintages from the surrounding champagne houses. From Épernay, in the heart of the "Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne" Unesco World Heritage area, to the prestigious Moët & Chandon and Perrier-Jouët. The tasting continues in one or other of the Briqueterie's restaurants, led by talented chef Nawal Rezagui, who offers a cuisine based on short circuits - and even very short circuits, with certain vegetables and fruit from the kitchen gardens.and fruit from the estate's vegetable gardens and orchards - in a gastronomic version served in the sumptuous dining room adorned with a bow window opening onto the park, with its fountains and ponds.

In the heart of these gardens lies the estate's spa. A showcase for absolute relaxation, with an indoor pool topped by a glass roof, a whirlpool bath that provides a sensation of deep muscular relaxation, and cabins offering Codage facial treatments and Maison Caulières massages. It's an opportunity to indulge in a wellness break and forget all your worries and constraints, including those of your parents, since children have their own playground here; a warm, playful space with table soccer, arcade games and tables for painting and drawing. A rare place that embodies an art of living designed for the well-being and pleasure of everyone.

Three questions for architect Marie Cordouan

How did you go about restoring the building?

Marie Cordouan: This 19th-century brick factory had been converted into a private home, then into a hotel. Today, it still takes the form of a large country residence, with exposed roof timbers that we have carefully preserved. The idea was not to turn our backs on the past, but to preserve what could be preserved to offer continuity while writing a new history. We kept the volumes of rooms in the two wings of the building, beautiful spaces whose colors and light we reworked above all. The omnipresence of vines inspired my colorimetry, with greens, ecru and bronzes. The "cloud" printed carpets designed by Christian Lacroix were also preserved, in the bedrooms and corridors.

Did you design the furniture?

M.C.: We mixed period pieces with furniture designed exclusively for the premises - light oak headboards, cupboards and English-inspired bathroom furniture. In the living room, dining room and bar in the central building, we kept the roof timbers but covered the walls with panoramic wallpaper to highlight the large fireplaces. I designed the imposing 4 m long walnut bar, lit by beautiful brass lamps. These living spaces all open onto the large terrace and the magnificent park, which has been extensively redesigned.

This address is part of the Beauvallon group, as is Cèdre & Spa in Beaune, which you restored. Did you set out to build a collection?

M.C.: These two hotels are part of a wine tourism spirit, and have certain points in common with the vineyard landscapes that surround them. Over and above these similarities, our aim is to create a collection of hotels, each with its own unique character. To offer the same quality of service and refinement, while telling a story that reflects the history and soul of each address.