Château Louise de La Vallière is located near the picturesque Loire Valley, close to the town of Reugny, France, and represents an exquisite example of 17th-century architecture. The château was built by Louis XIV for his renowned mistress, Louise de La Vallière.
The building ensemble is surrounded by 23 hectares of woodland, with the main approach passing through a ceremonial entrance gate, to which a dovecote tower is attached. In addition to the château itself—the oldest and dominant structure within the ensemble—five smaller buildings are located nearby. These were historically used as a stable, orangery, kitchen, barn, and storage facility. The estate also includes a classical French formal garden (jardin à la française) situated near the main building, as well as several more recent additions, including a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a parking area.
The task of our team was to transform the building ensemble from a private family residence into a luxury five-star hotel. The owners established authenticity and historical accuracy as guiding principles for all interventions, aiming to immerse guests in the spirit of the era.
Our work began with a detailed measured architectural survey and a series of meetings with the chief architect and the mayor of Reugny. We were particularly impressed by the well-structured system France has established for working with listed heritage buildings. The owners received from the municipality a list of licensed architects and selected one to prepare a condition assessment report of the château.
The report represented a thorough historical study, including detailed surveys and material analyses of all façade ornaments and their condition, along with precise guidelines for their restoration. It also clearly defined the permissible interventions within the building, which greatly facilitated our work on the conversion.
In the main building, we preserved the entrance hall and the two ground-floor salons, transforming them respectively into a hotel reception, a lounge with lobby bar, and a restaurant. The restaurant kitchen was located in an existing annex connected to the main château. On the second floor and within the attic space, we positioned some of the most luxurious rooms in the hotel.
In the buildings formerly used as the orangery and stable, we designed additional hotel rooms. The high-volume space of the former barn was transformed into a conference hall, while a storage building located in the most remote part of the complex now houses a luxury spa center.
From a structural perspective, the project required the removal of existing and the addition of new intermediate floor levels, as well as the construction of new staircases. A major challenge was the additional load from the newly constructed bathrooms, which would have overstressed the centuries-old wooden floor structures. This issue was resolved by structural engineer Yonko Kondarev through suspending the sanitary units from the roof structure. The roof itself was a remarkable example of craftsmanship and engineering ingenuity characteristic of the region and the period.
The hotel’s heating and ventilation systems were designed using a water-to-air heat pump system, with convector units discreetly integrated into the wall paneling, according to the design by engineer Alexander Marinov. A particular challenge in the HVAC design was the selection of a ventilation system for the professional kitchen, which had to be integrated into a limited space due to the relatively low ceiling height.
The plumbing and drainage (MEP) design was developed by a Bulgarian engineering team led by engineer Emil Tsanov.
The interior design of the main building was executed using authentic materials and period furniture, based on a design by French designer Jacques Garcia, one of the few specialists licensed to work at the Louvre. The design of the hotel rooms in the auxiliary buildings and the spa center was carried out by the Bulgarian studio VIArchitects.
The complex opened its doors in 2023 and has already secured a place in several prestigious tourism and hospitality rankings, while the restaurant is confidently preparing for its first Michelin stars.
