A legacy of passion

In the Alsatian village of Illhaeusern, the Haeberlin-Baumann family has perpetuated its heritage of excellence for five generations. A single goal, two addresses. The first is the Auberge de l’Ill with 2-star Chef Marc Haeberlin at the helm, accompanied by his sister Danielle and her children. The second, the Hotel des Berges, was opened in 1992 by his brother-in-law, Marco Baumann. From daydreaming to gourmet dishes, everything is orchestrated so that each guest feels pampered and privileged. At La Cheneaudière, Mireille François and her son, Nicolas Decker, also have an eye for detail. If paradise chose to nestle on this hill surveying the tree-tops, it is here that the definition of bliss would take on all its meaning. For 50 years, each nook and cranny has conveyed dedication, each gesture has revealed unbridled passion, each smile has warmed hearts. A rare experience of timeless happiness, orchestrated by the third generation which introduces sleek modernity while preserving the family spirit permeating the premises since 1974.

Further north, Le Domaine de la Klauss in Montenach was once a dream: that of Alexandre Keff. A former airline pilot back in his homeland, he created a star-rated haven of tranquillity in the wake of his father, Charles, Manager of L'Auberge de la Klauss – an institution in Lorraine, enchanting gourmets for five decades. With his wife Mathilde, this child of the "Pays des Trois Frontières" nurtures ambitions for this hotel gem offering top-notch comfort. Driven by deep fondness for the region and hospitality, they reinvent the Domaine each year. After the Klauss Beach Club with its outdoor pool, the bistronomic restaurant, Le Komptoir and its wood fire cuisine, then its summer terrace, the Paillotte, this 5-star hotel, a Member of Relais & Châteaux, is planning to extend its spa. An enchanting setting, promising to make each stay a memorable experience. Taking tradition to its peak was also the challenge accepted by 3-star Chef Arnaud Lallement when taking over the reins of L’Assiette Champenoise in Tinqueux, founded in 1975 by his parents, Jean-Pierre and Colette. In one of the finest gastronomic restaurants in the world, his cuisine pays a fine tribute to Champagne. This beautiful bourgeois address is also a 5-star hotel blending luxury and simplicity, a fine reflection of the values of hospitality dear to the Lallement family.

The seal of excellence

In the Grand Est, historic gems have become showpieces of the French art of living. Between mountains and vineyards, the village of Kaysersberg hosts Le Chambard, a noble 18th-C. residence transformed into a 5-star Hotel Spa by the Nasti couple. In Reims, Domaine Les Crayères, formerly owned by Maison Pommery, was treated to a spectacular metamorphosis at the initiative of the visionary Gardinier brothers. Luxury, refinement, and hospitality are key words for these two exceptional showcases.