Medieval charm at Le Chevalier Bleu

Monpazier is a small commune located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwest France. It is a bastide (a type of newly founded town built between the 13th and 14th centuries, distinguished by its regular urban layout) established in 1284 at the behest of Henry I of England, who at the time was Duke of Aquitaine.

Here, the firm ERA Enrico Realacci Architectures, working under the supervision of Bâtiments de France, uncovered traces of ancient stratifications spanning eight centuries as part of their project to create the five-star boutique hotel Le Chevalier Bleu.

The clients were two German investors who had fallen in love with the location: “One a hospitality specialist, with holdings in numerous hotel chains worldwide, and the other a real estate investor focused on high-end holiday properties,” explains architect Enrico Realacci. “One of their key requests was to achieve a 4-star classification for the hotel, a goal that was not only met but exceeded in terms of finishes, amenities, comfort and architectural quality. Some services and facilities, including a bar, swimming pool, sauna and suites for disabled guests, will be shared with a second building currently under renovation, which will offer an additional 12 rooms and suites,” adds the architect.

The most distinctive feature of the project? “The ability to blend historical and contemporary elements in a delicate balance. This ensures that guests feel perfectly at ease in a medieval building, where the charm is amplified through skilful contrasts of materials, architectural lighting, contemporary furniture design, and the diverse array of unique rooms.”

For the restoration project, the architects opted for locally-sourced natural materials such as Saint-Astier lime, oak wood, stone and local sands, which they skilfully combined with innovative, non-invasive structural consolidation techniques such as collaborating floors and steel reinforcements.

They also chose porcelain stoneware for the interior finishes due to its outstanding aesthetic quality and durability. Cotto d’Este products were used extensively, from the tiling in the common areas to the guest rooms. For the spa area, the interior of the swimming pool and the ensuite bathroom floors, slabs from the Limestone collection (14 mm thick) were selected in the Oyster variant with a Natural finish. This matte surface, with a slight patina effect, gives the material a soft and immersive feel.

To maintain continuity between the interior and exterior, the same Limestone collection was used in the courtyard spaces but with a 20 mm thickness.

“Cotto d’Este has been one of our go-to brands for at least 30 years,” says Realacci. The principles behind this choice? “Neutral surfaces on the floors, to highlight the warmth of the stone walls (limestone and sandstone), traditional plaster (recreated using a time-honoured blend of Saint-Astier lime with sand from local quarries), and oak timber, which is abundant in the region,” explains the architect.

For the hotel bar and the bathrooms in the spa and guest rooms, the Vanity collection was selected in the Bianco Statuario shade with a Glossy finish. This collection was chosen for its ability to elevate the aesthetics of elegant and minimalist marbles, featuring subtle patterns, light veining and delicate chiaroscuro effects. In the bar area especially, the Glossy finish of the counter and wall slabs adds a luminous touch, creating a striking contrast with the other materials in the room.

Both the Limestone (in the 14 mm version) and Vanity collections are part of the Protect® line of high-performance antibacterial floor and wall tiles.