Discover Le Relais Bernard in the Heart of Burgundy

At Le Relais Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu, Burgundy, you feel the French Touch the moment you arrive. This five-star hotel and two-Michelin-starred restaurant offer a mix of gastronomy, history, and relaxation, creating the Real-Deal of Fine Frenchness. My own stopover here felt like a cultural crash course, almost magical, with that je-ne-sais-quoi charm that only France can deliver.

The spa, spread across 1,500 m², invites you to a relaxing break with top equipment and every treatment to stimulate the five senses. From the gourmet menu bursting with flavors to the value for money that surprises many travelers and food tourists, it’s a perfect destination. Whether you’re chasing well-being, a culinary adventure, or just the reputation of Relais & Châteaux, this restaurant-hotel balances rigorous detail with an effortless, almost Parisienne café-like ease.

A mecca of French gastronomy

Walking into La Côte d’Or in Saulieu, I could almost hear echoes of Edith Piaf, Salvador Dali, and Charlie Chaplin, who once dined here when French gastronomy was at its height in the 1930s. Under Alexandre Dumaine, known as the king of chefs, the restaurant first gained its Michelin star in 1931, soon achieving three stars across consecutive decades, shaping the legend of the Côte d’Or.

Later, Bernard Loiseau carried this reputation beyond borders in the 1980s, becoming a celebrated three-star chef. I still remember seeing him on television in the 1990s, his influence unmatched, until his tragic death in 2003. Today, guided by Dominique Loiseau, his husband’s work and expertise continue to shine, with two Michelin stars in 2021 honoring Bernard Loiseau’s classics.

At the hotel, waking up in the breakfast room of this Historic Monument, surrounded by gardens, a modern building with a 1500 m² luxury spa, feels like pure wellness. This 5-star Relais & Châteaux escape in Burgundy welcomes the finest gourmets of France and abroad, perfectly placed between Paris (just a 2.5-hour drive), Lyon, and Geneva (3 hours). It offers not just gastronomy but also a soothing break in timeless elegance.

A charming hotel rooted in its territory

Tucked away in Burgundy, this small charming hotel blends antique woodwork, terracotta tiles, and period furniture with a gentle touch of modernity. Its rooms and suites, spread across four floors and five categories, are accessed by a majestic oak staircase inside a graceful tower—a typical architectural feature of the Relais style.

Each space is uniquely decorated with oak beds, exposed beams, and elegant details that adorn the living rooms, fireplaces, balconies, terraces, and bathrooms with classic bathtubs. Sizes ranging from 30 to 80 m² provide a wealth of comfort, while the largest accommodation offers an apartment with study, relaxation area, and even a whirlpool tub in one of its two bathrooms.

For wellness enthusiasts, the VIP Spa Suite is a sanctuary with facilities like hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, and soothing treatment rooms—a perfect romantic getaway where privacy and pleasure meet. Outside, the garden—created by Dominique Loiseau, proud owner of Relais—feels like a flowery gem, with paths, terraces, fountains, aromatic herbs, and collections of old roses. A heated pool, designed in the shape of an arena, stays constantly exposed to the sun, inviting peaceful strolls and bright moments of joy.

A beautiful modern spa on 4 floors

At Le Relais Bernard, the Loiseau des Sens Spa feels like an exceptional place where the charm of the original building is beautifully preserved. Spread across several levels, this magnificent place opened in 2017 and welcomes guests with decor that blends tradition and modern style, while keeping the vision of Dominique Loiseau alive.

The spa includes treatment rooms, relaxation areas, and two unique spaces: the Volupté Universe and the Multisensory Universe. I remember enjoying the saunas, hammams, and even the sea air cabin with garden views, all creating a true sensory experience. The located spa menu offers facial and body treatments, beauty treatments, and massages using Decléor products, Secrets de Cassis, and Charme d’Orient with ancestral traditions like rassoul, black soap, and argan oil.

The fitness room is fully equipped with high-performance equipment that helps activate muscles through modern fitness equipment and techniques like aquabiking and counter-current swimming. The balneotherapy with multiple jets, Medyjet® dry hydromassage system, and Hydromel® floating bed makes recovery easy, while healthy cuisine at the restaurant completes the journey. This is a complete experience that truly deserves special mention.