Counting the days...

There has always been something magical about arriving at Château Saint-Martin & Spa. Perhaps it is the breathtaking setting, standing gracefully amidst the rolling Provençal hills. Maybe it is the fragrant gardens overlooking the medieval town of St Paul de Vence and the iconic Côte d’Azur. Or perhaps it is the timeless elegance – an atmosphere of relaxed southern French charm that fits so effortlessly with its surroundings. Then there is the outstanding food, the stylish, airy suites, the award-winning spa... and now there are even more reasons to celebrate, to realise that every stay at Château Saint-Martin is an occasion.

This summer season, as the hotel reawakens to the sparkling Mediterranean light and wafting scent of southern France in bloom, we are so pleased to welcome Malo Le Cras, our new 27-year-old pastry chef. His considerable talents were honed in some of France’s top restaurants and hotels, including Alain Ducasse’s Rech, Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort, and the Michelin-starred Hostellerie de la Pointe Saint-Mathieu. He joined Oetker Collection in 2013 and has since worked in L’Apogée Courchevel and Eden Rock-St Barths.

He will now be bringing his light touch to our elegant, one Michelin-starred Le Saint-Martin, the open-air L’Oliveraie, set in the dappled shade of ancient olive trees, and the sultry Le Rossini bar, with its terrace overlooking the sea. Sweet surprises that await guests include the delicate ‘Le Chocolate’, a dessert that is as visually intriguing as it is delicious.

St Paul de Vence is, of course, celebrated for its long and illustrious ties with the art world, which is why we are delighted to be exhibiting a variety of important works by Manolo Valdés this year. The Spanish artist, born in Valencia in 1942, has exhibited everywhere from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, to the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Four impressive bronze works will be waiting to be discovered in our dreamy gardens, each one a monumental addition to their setting, while his paintings will be displayed in our light-filled gallery.