The Faces of France - Château de la Treyne
The Faces of France
At The Bordeaux Concierge, our aim is to introduce our clients to the real France. This includes meeting the people that make France what it is today. As part of this effort, we will bring these vibrant personalities to our audience at home through our series, The Faces of France.
Stéphanie and Philippe Gombert, Owners of Château de la Treyne
Château de la Treyne, located in the Lot region in southwest France, is perched majestically on a clifftop overlooking the Dordogne River. The earliest record of the chateau dates back to 1342 and today the property is listed as one of France’s monuments historiques. In our latest interview, we present to you the owners of Château de la Treyne, Stéphanie and Philippe Gombert, who work tirelessly as the guardians of this enchanting property.
Stéphanie, tell us a little about your role and Philppe’s role at Château de la Treyne and Relais & Châteaux.
I’m the general manager of Château de la Treyne. I’m at the chateau every day, leading and working with our wonderful team, I take care of all of our guests who visit us from all over the world and I aim to give each of them a personal welcome. I also do all the floristry around the chateau which is a passion of mine. I also manage all of the day to day operations of the chateau.
Philippe is the chairman of the Relais & Châteaux association, which means he’s not always at the chateau because his office is in Paris. With regards to the chateau, Philippe is in charge of all the technical aspects - organizing all the renovations, managing the financials and the accounts – all the behind the scenes things that no one sees, but is key to the functioning of our property.
You have been custodians of Château de la Treyne since 1982, what first drew you to the property?
Philippe’s family is from this region, not exactly the Lot, but Averyon, which is nearby. At the beginning it was a project of Philippe’s mother. She was looking for a special building to create a hotel and she fell in love with the outstanding setting of Château de la Treyne and its unique position overhanging the river.
How has the property transformed under your ownership?
As I mentioned, it was and still is a family project and very dear to our hearts. Philippe and I very quickly became involved in the business. At the time, we lived in Paris and would come to the chateau every weekend to help out with the property and running the business. When Philippe’s family bought the property, it was a private home, not a hotel. We started out as a bed & breakfast, full of charm but little comfort. Initially we were only open for 6 months of the year, and the rest of the year we would dedicate to restorations and improvements. In 1992, we joined the big Relais & Châteaux family and in 2001, our talented chef Stephane Andrieux was awarded a Michelin Star - both of which were significant milestones in our history. These days we’re open from March to November, and for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Given the situation with COVID, we don’t plan to reopen until May so we’re using this as an opportunity to do some major enhancements - which we wouldn’t usually have time for - including a brand new kitchen, a new bar and a wonderful new wine cellar.
Tell us a little bit about the guest experience at Château de la Treyne.
We have many regular guests from all over the world who come back to stay with us again and again. Our guests always say how they love the setting, the incredible view, and the special ambiance which the property offers. Many of our staff members have been working at the chateau for more than 20 years so our guests are always so happy to see the same friendly faces when they return. There’s a strong sense of family at the chateau and guests can feel that and be part of it. Guests often get to know each other during their stay. Its very quiet and laid back, but also luxurious which is a wonderful combination.
“...our guests are always so happy to see the same friendly faces when they return.”
Do you have a favorite room or suite?
Absolutely. My favorite room is our Louis XIII Suite because of the exceptional view of the river and the special pieces of furniture. You don’t often find this kind of room at a hotel. Our newest suite, which will be available from this summer, is La Prison Dorée and I think this suite will be one of the jewels of the chateau.
Stéphane Andrieux was recently awarded his 20th consecutive Michelin star at Château de la Treyne’s restaurant – congratulations! What is the secret to his success?
Work, work, work! Stéphane is very involved in the business. He likes traditional food, but with a new modern twist. He shares his passion for his job with his team. We are in a fantastic area where you can find so many wonderful local products including lamb, truffles, mushrooms, fish from the river, local cheeses and excellent produce. Stéphane only works with small, local farmers offering seasonal products. We also have our own vegetable garden. The foundation is to work only with the best products. And then of course, you need creativity. Stéphane has been working with us for 23 years, and our pastry chef, Maric, has been with us for 25. To me this means that they must really love what they do, and that comes across in their creations..
In 2020, you started to offer private dining in various locations throughout the grounds of the property. Do you plan to do the same for 2021?
Yes, we will be doing that again this year. Our clients loved it as it takes the dining experience to another level. Can you imagine dining privately beneath a centuries-old yew tree overlooking the chateau and gardens? It is just magical.
Which is your personal favorite spot to dine?
Personally, my favorite spot is just in front of the chateau, close to the formal French garden. In summertime, it is much cooler here, and if I have time, I enjoy a quick appetizer before joining our guests on the terrace overlooking the river to say hello and welcome them. When the weather isn’t so nice, my favorite place is at the bar. From here you can see the entire service and the kitchen too.
“Can you imagine dining privately beneath a centuries-old yew tree overlooking the chateau and gardens? It is just magical.”
Château de la Treyne is majestically perched atop a cliff overlooking the Dordogne River. What do your guests most enjoy doing in the surrounding area during their stay?
All of our guests come for leisure and relaxation which means they have plenty of time to enjoy the local area. We have over 600 castles in the area and dozens of prehistoric caves such as Lascaux, Peche Merle and Le Gouffre de Padirac so there’s a lot of history to enjoy. We also have fantastic local markets which move around from village to village each week. Our more active guests often do some fly-fishing in the Dordogne or even go canoeing down the river. The area is a UNESCO listed ‘biosphere’ which means it is brimming with nature and natural beauty.
Château de la Treyne is part of the Relais & Châteaux collection. Philippe, tell us about what it means to be part of the Relais & Châteaux association?
Today there are 580 charming landmark hotels and outstanding restaurants in 65 different countries in the Relais & Châteaux association - all operated by independent innkeepers, chefs and owners who share a passion for their businesses and a desire for authenticity in their relationships with their clientele. These properties represent the living embodiment of a single idea of hospitality, generosity and the art of living. Relais & Châteaux offers guests an introduction to a lifestyle inspired by local culture and a unique dip into human history. All of our members have a driving desire to protect and promote the richness and diversity of the world’s cuisine and traditions of hospitality and they are committed to preserving local heritage and the environment. All of this really sets Relais & Châteaux apart from the rest.
Relais & Chateaux recently launched a new initiative called “Les Amis”, tell us about that.
“Les Amis” means friends in English. Each Relais & Chateaux owner or Maître de Maison selects their best clients – and by best we do not mean the ones that spend the most money, but the ones that share our vision, that relate the most to our values, and that feel like part of the family. Each property selects around 20 guests. This makes the program much more special and unique than the previous program which was more based upon money spent in Relais & Chateaux properties. The members of this program are offered an even more privileged welcome and extra care during their stay, with various perks including upgrades if possible and late check out. But most importantly, we want to share our passion for unique experiences with them.
What are you favorite Relais & Châteaux properties in France?
One of our favorite Relais & Châteaux properties is Les Prés d’Eugenie, at Eugenie les Bains in southwest France, not far from the Spanish border. It is a refined place with exquisite taste but it also has a sense of simplicity. The property also offers an incredible dining experience.
One of our other favorites is Les Maisons de Bricourt, near Cancale in Brittany. The setting, right on the ocean, is gorgeous, and the seafood is excellent. The owners, the Roellinger family, have some extraordinary philosophies.
Let us introduce you to Stéphanie, Philippe and Château de la Treyne on your next visit to France
