Traveling happiness leads to Relais & Chateaux

Relais & Chateaux organized a group of unique hotel properties throughout Europe more than 60 years ago  (wikipedia)

FRANCE – One of the great rewards of travel is discovering unique accommodations filled with charm, character and personality. More than six decades ago, Relais & Chateaux formed an association in the south of France to capture that spirit and travelers have been the beneficiaries ever since.

Each hotel is distinctive in its own way  (wikipedia)

It was the vision of two music-hall artists, Marcel and Nelly Tilloy, who owned Hotel La Cardinale in the Rhone Valley, that inspired the exciting inn-keeping concept that captured the imagination of globe-trotters from every corner of the planet.

As with so many things that reach a pinnacle of success, the magic erupted from the simplicity of the idea. Combining the authenticity and history of eight entirely different off-the-beaten-path properties between Paris and Nice, the Tilloys organized a non-chain chain of hotels that provided diverse travel experiences in their own right.

Many of the properties are French chateaux but there are also manor houses and townhouses that capture the imagination  (wikipedia)

United by common values of the highest quality amenities, exquisite culinary adventures, the individual personalities of their owners and a love of life and living, the original octet merged to become the prestigious hotel Association of Relais & Chateaux.

Today with more than 530 properties in 65 countries on 5 continents, most Relais & Chateaux properties are historic landmarks that include castles, manor houses or townhouses nestled in idyllic surroundings featuring magnificent cuisine.

Superb cuisine is a hallmark of Relais & Chateaux properties...Dining room at Hotel Georges Blanc  (georgesblanc.com)

As President Philippe Gombert sums it up, Relais & Chateaux offers “a better world through cuisine and hospitality.”

It’s a difficult argument to dispute.

Breathtaking scenery is also part of the philosophy  (wikipedia)

Membership is not awarded without strict adherence to the “Five C” method of evaluation; Caractere, Courtoisie, Calme et Cuisine. The words may be French but the meaning is universal. Though each property is distinctive with its own personality, all members must meet the same rigid standards:

The soul of the Innkeeper – Each property owner must add his or her own personal touch within its environment. As Relais & Chateaux likes to say “each property beats to the innkeeper’s heart.”

The taste of the land – Member inns must reflect the local surroundings including the environment, architecture, landscaping, leisure activities and, of course, the food.

The passport of friendship – All Relais & Chateaux member share the same core values of making guests feel welcome by getting to know them personally.

The celebration of the senses: More than a just place to sleep and to eat, Relais & Chateaux properties immerse their guests into the local culture in ways that appeal to each of the senses.

An awakening to the “Art of Living” – There was a time when travel meant that “getting to” a destination was as much a part of the adventure as the destination itself. Relais & Chateaux renews that spirit by making each visit a journey of discovery.

Chateau Mirambeau between Bordeaux and Cognac is another example of the Relais & Chateaux experience  (wikipedia)

La Cardinale Hotel/Restaurant was an authentic 17^th century farmhouse overlooking the Rhone Valley and the mountains in the distance. With rich fields of fruit, lavender and sun-flowers plus vineyards, these were the seeds that evolved and grew into the Relais & Chateaux Association of today.

To celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Relais & Chateaux in 2014, 60 chefs met in Ain, France for a luncheon at the Vonnas Georges Blanc along with historical members and journalists from around the world. Several gourmet festivals were organized throughout the year including 11 in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 32 in Italy, 30 in the UK and 15 in Austria, Eastern Europe and Northern Europe.

Accommodations that are a feast for the senses  (wikipedia)

There is no question that each of the chefs at a Relais & Chateaux property sets his personal standards as being a “virtuoso of taste.”

With its distinctive fleur de lis-style vector logo designed to reflect the joy and happiness of a four-leaf clover, Relais & Chateaux has earned the distinction that travelers recognize as something truly special much in the way they understand that a UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a one-of-a-kind experience.

Flower boxes and half-timbered facades adorn Hotel Les Saules  in Vonnas in the Rhone Valley (wikipedia)

Way back in 1954 the eight original inns were linked as a culinary itinerary along the road that ran parallel to the tracks of the world famous Blue Train. The advertising slogan, much like the hotel concept itself, was simple; “La Route du Bonheur” or basically “the road to happiness.”

Exterior of the Georges Blanc restaurant at dusk  (georgesblanc.com

Marcel and Nelly Tilloy were visionaries who created a new world of elegance and charm for travelers. You might say they developed their own personal “unchained melody.”