Jet Set: Château de Massillan

The Courtyard at The Château de Massillan in Uchaux, France

Do you have spring fever yet? Luckily, the weather has been quite warm in Houston lately. However, that doesn't stop me from daydreaming about beautiful places to get away from the daily routine. I recently came across a gorgeous hotel that had me wishing I could hop on a plane that very day!



The storybook Château de Massillan is located in Uchaux, France in Vaucluse region of Provence. It is only 10 minutes away from the cities of Orange and Avignon. There are also many important site nearby, such as the Palais du Papes, or Papal Palace, the Ancient Roman Theater, Pont du Gard, the Gorges de l'Ardeche, and the Vaison la Romaine.



The château was originally built in 1550 by Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henry II. The 24 acre manor was initially used as a hunting lodge, but the land surrounding it is now used as a vineyard.

The Gorgeous Grounds at the Château de Massillan:

The interior of the château is just as gorgeous as the fairytale-like exterior. It is presently owned by Peter Wylly and Birgit Israel, owner of the London-based interior design company, Birgit Israel Interiors. Naturally, Birgit designed the romantic interiors for the château.

Lobby/ Sitting Room

The restaurant at the château serves French International cuisine.

Notice the sunflowers, typical of Provence.

The hotel is filled with gorgeous architectural details and design elements.

Sitting Area

The 12 sumptuous guest suites are absolutely breathtaking:

Okay, I'm off to listen to Tori Amos' "A Sorta Fairytale". Seriously, isn't the chateau absolutely gorgeous? It would be perfect for a romantic getaway.

Images via Château de Massillan and Mr & Mrs Smith

Jet Set: Marqués de Riscal

Marqués de Riscal in El Ciego, Spain

Aside from my husband, travel is one of the big loves of my life. I am constantly dreaming about places that I would like to return to or visit for the first time. I've blogged about travel destinations in the past, but this will be the first official installation of my new weekly series, Jet Set. In the series, I will spotlight an interesting travel destination each week. They may be places that I daydream about on a regular basis or interesting design or cultural destinations.

I have chosen to start off with the magnificent Marqués de Riscal hotel in El Ciego, Spain for several reasons. First, it was designed by one of the most important architects of our time, Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim in the city of Bilbao, a mere 115 kilometers from El Ciego. El Ciego has quickly become a destination for wine connoisseurs and foodies alike as it is situated in the heart of the Rioja region in northern Spain. Despite the fact that there is a very sharp contrast between the traditional Spanish architecture in El Ciego that dates back for centuries and the decidedly unique hotel which was completed in 2007, they seem to coexist quite peacefully.

The Marqués de Riscal hotel is home to 43 suites, two restaurants, a state of the art gym, and Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa. It offers extraordinary views, is situated in the heart of Spanish wine country, and is sure to be the ideal backdrop for an unforgettable experience.

Architectural Juxtaposition at its Best

For more information on the Basque region of Spain including attractions and restaurants click here. For a glimpse into the visit Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Bittman, Claudia Bassols and Mario Batali paid to the Marqués de Riscal and the area for their show, Spain: On the Road Again, click here.

I must say that Spain absolutely captured my heart when I visited for the first time last June. Seeing as how I come from a Mexican and Spanish background, it was never a place I longed to visit growing up. It was too familiar and I always wanted to visit places that were different, like France or Italy. Well, after visiting all three countries, I was completely surprised to have loved Spain as much as I did. It was so unexpected. I was so enraptured by the culture, the history, and the sheer beauty of it. I think about it each and every day and hope to go back this year with my husband in tow.

All images via Marqués de Riscal Hotel