History: a chateau in Provence

Some country estates are designed to resemble fortresses. And then there are those that are cheerful and inviting – that is the essence of Château de Montcaud. The chateau was built by Alexandre Eugène Collain, who amassed a great fortune trading silk. In 1848, he purchased a large piece of farmland in the northern part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region to make his dream of owning a country estate a reality.

The worthy successor

After Alexandre Eugène Collain's passing, his son, Florentin Collain, continued his father's legacy. When his sister died tragically of malaria contracted during her honeymoon, Florentin became the sole heir, and as such he upheld his father's humanist beliefs. He had a passion for horses and music, employed his own orchestra, and held countless concerts at the chateau.

A deep love of Provence

As mayor of the town of Sabran, Florentin Collain established himself as a patron of the local schools as well as culture and music. He funded a number of projects personally: it was thanks to Florentin that nearby Bagnols-sur-Cèze became the first town in the region with a working telephone. To this day, his generosity can still be seen in the form of the church in Combes along with countless fountains, all of which he had built with his own resources.

Well-deserved accolades

What was truly remarkable for the time was the work Florentin Collin did to help the working class of the region: farm workers, servants and labourers. As a member of the General Council of the department of Gard and the mayor of Sabran, he spent 38 years addressing the social issues affecting this group. As a result of his genuine concern for others and his good deeds, he was given the title of Chevalier, or knight, in the French Legion of Honour in 1934.

From country estate to hotel

Florentin Collain sold the chateau to his godson Paul Constant, who later bequeathed it to his seven children. The property changed hands numerous times, and was all but abandoned before hotelier Rudy Baur breathed new life into the estate in 1992 by turning it into a hotel.

Restored to its former glory

After closing in 2013, the chateau once again went into hibernation. In 2016, Swiss businessman Jürg Witmer acquired the property. His goal was to build a hotel surrounded by a landscaped park that would be clearly different and would set new standards in the region. He entrusted the renovations and the operation of the hotel to his son-in-law Rolf Bertschi, a hotelier with a wealth of international experience, and his daughter Andrea. Their job is to rekindle the building's original spirit and give Château de Montcaud a new lease on life.

An oasis in turbulent times

The first few years of the new Château de Montcaud were anything but peaceful. The Yellow Vest protests in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic severely hampered the success of the fledgling business. The aftermath of the pandemic years, the increasingly noticeable effects of climate change and a general shift in social habits presented Château de Montcaud with unforeseen challenges. However, it has found its niche, where it feels at home: that of an independent, family-run boutique hotel with a clear focus on the luxury of simplicity. 

Past and future

Today, the history of the château is evident in many of the hotel's facilities, where modern comfort meets simple elegance and exceptional service. The well-being of guests is always the top priority: they enjoy personal, attentive yet unpretentious hospitality.