Nestling near Narbonne, just a few minutes from the beach and the village of Gruissan, Château Capitoul, the latest addition to the Domaine & Demeure Collection, opened in April 2021. 78 hectares of vineyards, a winery, a cooperage and a cellar dedicated to tasting the 50 vintages of the Bonfils estates...
The Domaine & Demeure collection was founded in 2008 by Karl O'Hanlon and his wife Anita Forte. The couple, lovers of heritage and architecture, aim to renovate wine châteaux in the Languedoc region to offer their guests a unique experience combining heritage, wine tourism and the French art of living. Capitoul is the third establishment to join this prestigious collection.
The Château Capitoul estate covers 240 hectares of vineyards, olive groves and garrigue. The elegant 19th-century château houses 8 refined bedrooms and 2 suites (304 and 308), a Cinq Mondes spa, a gourmet restaurant le Mediterranean. 44 villas, including 26 with private pools and terraces, overlook the Mediterranean lagoon and enhance the hotel's offering. An infinity pool overlooks the vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see.
At the crossroads of luxury and terroir
Sofas, chandeliers and antique mirrors... the chateau's style is seductive right from the first steps of the staircase. It has been decorated in a "relaxed aesthete", a harmonious blend of old stone, art deco features, velvet sofas and retro baths.
In suite 308, a bathtub worthy of a novel by P.G. Woodehouse is enthroned in the middle of the room. Four windows offer a panoramic view of the vineyards. There are no shimmering colours, enticing decorations or flattery for the nouveau riche here, just quality furniture, noble fabrics and warm colours.
An exceptional venue for your seminars in Occitania
In this department of the Aude, the tourist clientele is mainly families in the high season. But in April-May and September-October, the business and seminar clientele fill the establishment. They are accommodated in luxurious private villas scattered around the estate. "We have two "Oros" seminar rooms. It's the name of a mountain but also of a vintage of our wines", explains the director of Château Capitoul.
After four hours of seminars, what better way to relax than a ride on an electric scooter through La Clape. That's the name of the hill behind us. This is a Natura 2000 area. You're guaranteed a change of scenery through the vineyards and garrigue, where you can see the Etang de Barges and further on the Corbières, the Canigou and the Pyrenees. You can also take the car and in 10 minutes you'll reach the centre of Narbonne. Founded by Rome in 118 BC and nicknamed "the daughter of Rome", the city was the capital of the province of Narbonnaise under the name of Narbo Martius. The museum Narbo Via presents the city under the Roman Empire.
And let's not forget the 78 ha of vineyards. Capitoul has AOC status; La Clappe (in Occitan " clappas ("means pebble"), in "high environmental value". The vineyard, which has been in existence since the 14th century, belonged to the chapter (capitulum in Latin) of Narbonne cathedral. Today, 3 generations of the Bonfils family work together and own 17 properties in the Languedoc Roussillon with appellations including Corbières, Minervois, Côte du Roussillon and here, Capitoul. The Bonfils have been associated with the 'Domaine & Demeure' collection since they bought Château Capitoul in 2011.
This is the ideal place to immerse yourself in the Languedoc's gentle climate, wine culture and absolute tranquillity.
Château Capitoul, gardens, vineyards and birdlife
infinity pool promises relaxation in the shade
olive trees.
Environmentalists will be delighted. Bat nesting boxes have been installed everywhere to preserve an endemic species of bat. At sunset, they can be seen flying all over the place. There are also solariums for lizards. So you can bask in good company.
Four full-time gardeners look after the 30 hectares or so. "75,000 plants endemic to the region were planted when the site was created: rosemary, lavender, sage...".. These are dry gardens with succulents that don't need watering ... ". In 2025, the price Landscape Victory has been awarded to us ", explains Frédéric Lang, the Deputy Director.
Finally, the wastewater is treated using reeds to filter the water. This filtered water is then put into a basin that has been dug out. "So we have our own water reserves" , he adds. For children, the "tour du petit vigneron" is fun: they learn about grape varieties, look at vine leaves and aromatic plants (sage, thyme, rosemary, etc.).
Spa Cinq Mondes
Alice Pascal is in charge of the Château Capitoul spa, housed in the château's former cellars. There are four cabins, one of which is double, a solarium and an area dedicated to yoga classes. "We're a Cinq Mondes spa club, so we offer a lot of services linked to the brand", explains Alice.
This 10-metre swimming pool, equipped with massage jets, a whirlpool bath, an aromatherapy sauna and a steam room, is open to residents and non-residents over the age of 16. The spa also offers a jacuzzi, sauna, four massage rooms, pedicure, manicure and facial treatments. A small Zen garden surrounds the spa, and there is a relaxation room with a view of the vineyards and... the song of the cicadas. Not forgetting the outdoor infinity pool, 31 metres long and 1.30 metres deep. "We opted for a natural shading system with olive trees and a view of the Corbières, the Canigou and the Pyrenees"..
The 50-minute Capitoul Signature treatment is a tailor-made massage based on the questionnaire completed by the customer: the Ayurvedic oil smells of vanilla and cardamom. Massages, scrubs, wraps... all treatments are performed with Cinq Mondes products.
For perfect happiness, opt for a facial treatment:
Duration: 20 min or 50 min, with the option of making an additional "5 flowers of Bali" , a skin cleansing with a very relaxing facial massage, products adapted to each skin type, and also a "skin massage" "kobido", a Japanese facial treatment. The beautician manually works all the muscles of the face in order to stimulate specific acupressure points, called "tsubo". These points are located along the meridians of the face. The result? The face is lifted and plumped. It's a kind of natural botox... surprising and very pleasant.
Quality catering
Château Capitoul is also a gourmet stopover, with two restaurants serving produce from the château's organic vegetable garden and small local producers. Add to that spa & lunch packages and a selection of gift boxes, and you have a rich culinary offering in keeping with the spirit of the estate.
Restaurant Asado
Housed in the estate's former wine storehouses, l'Asado, an Occitan grill, offers local cuisine cooked over an open fire (Asado means "grilled" or "roasted" in Spanish). Chef Jean Landes' approach combines authenticity, rusticity and elegance: he grills red mullet or meats with braised vegetables, for example.
Restaurant Méditerranéo
Housed in the château's former dining room, the Méditerranéo gourmet restaurant is aiming for the top end of the market. The restaurant's plush, Art Deco-style dining room looks out over the vineyards and the Etang de Bages. Both restaurants use the same suppliers, but with the same products, the two chefs have different interpretations. Chef Valère Diochet, who trained at Guy Savoy, is going for purity and refinement. So we discover the difference in flavours and a chef's interpretation of a product. Discovery menu | 3 sequences | €59. A culinary journey in three stages, with a few surprises from the chef. Available on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Friday and Saturday lunchtimes.
Expression menu | 5 sequences | €80.
Le Caveau Maelma: a choice of 25 red, white and rosé wines. Maelma (a blend of syrah, grenache and a hint of carignan): the ideal wine for discovering the typical characteristics of the La Clape AOC. The cellar is open all year round for visits and tastings.
Menu Expression | 5 sequences | €80
Appetizers
Mediterranean red tuna, green beans, spiny artichokes, spring onions, Granny apples and green strawberries in olive oil with lemon lovage and wild flowers.
Mediterranean red mullet, red mullet juice, wholemeal pasta with squid ink and lemon basil.
Roast duck breast, glazed peach, courgette flower and purslane.
Field-grown strawberries, tagetes oil, strawberry sorbet and oreillettes
Candied apricots, toasted brioche heart, local stracciatella ice cream
Mignardises
A wine and food pairing is offered by the sommelier at €50 per person.
What more is there to say? Capitoul is much more than a château. It's a place to live, to meet and to remember, where the history of the Languedoc blends with the aspirations of sustainable, exceptional tourism.
Château Capitoul
Route de Gruissan, 11100 Narbonne
www.chateaucapitoul.com
Text : Michèle Lasseur
Photos : DR
