Le Saint James ★★★★

As we drove along the narrow road through the vineyards, with Bordeaux and the Garonne River glistening in the sun, I quickly understood why the village of Bouliac is known as the ‘balcony of Bordeaux’. Already in love with the setting, my husband and I arrived at Le Saint-James only to be even more impressed by the hotel itself. With a typical eighteenth-century farmhouse building at its heart, the hotel was designed by architect Jean Nouvel in 1989. To house the bedrooms, he added four contemporary pavilions that lead off from the original building, inspired by the tobacco barns of days gone by. Le Saint-James is a unique and surprising place that fits in perfectly with the wonderful panoramic views.

The light streaming in through the enormous windows in the hotel’s bedrooms is a stunning sight. Our bedroom was bathed in sunshine, and outside we could see the vineyards stretching out to Bordeaux and the Landes forest. We had a generously-sized bed with soft linen and gorgeous designer furnishings from the most famous twentieth-century names. There’s high-tech comfort too, with a flat screen television, a music system, free Wi-Fi, and a spacious bathroom - perfect for relaxation. This is a real sanctuary in the Bordeaux countryside.

To make the most of the afternoon sunshine, my husband suggested that we try out the hotel swimming pool. Located on the terrace and surrounded by extensive gardens, it’s a true oasis of peace where you can sunbathe with a book or take a dip in the water. There’s also a sauna next-door, which is great for some real pampering. As the hotel has only eighteen rooms and suites, you can be sure that the atmosphere will always be calm and tranquil.

In the early evening, we escaped to the stylish and cosy hotel bar and enjoyed a celebratory glass of champagne. With an exceptional view over Bordeaux, it opens out onto a large terrace, perfect for afternoon tea or evening drinks in the warm summer months. I noticed a delicious-looking selection of homemade French pâtisseries and made a mental note to come back the following day. Luckily my husband has a sweet tooth too!

That’s not to say that we didn’t appreciate the savoury delicacies on offer. In fact, we very much enjoyed our supper that evening at the hotel restaurant. The talented chef, Mathieu Martin, prepares truly succulent dishes made from local and seasonal products that he finds at the market each day. You will experience the delights of the Aquitaine region through his inventive and creative reinterpretations of the classics of French cuisine. The restaurant setting itself lives up to the high standard of the food too. Once again designed by Jean Nouvel, the chic minimalism of the interior is surrounded by the greenery of the vineyards: a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

On returning to our room, content with our first afternoon and evening at Le Saint-James, we were greeted by the marvellous sight of the twinkling lights of Bordeaux at night.