Château St. Gerlach - luxury hotel estate
Desire a romantic weekend away in Burgundy but lack the resources*? There’s no need to travel long to get a taste of France: just travel 2 hours south towards Château St. Gerlach. It’s breathtaking, relaxing and divine!
Château St. Gerlach and baroque gardens.Breathtaking
The moment you enter the private drive way and set eyes on the estate, you will wonder “am I in France or in The Netherlands?” The castle, adjacent church, grand farmhouse and baroque gardens are truly magnifique.
The sense of being in France is further strengthened, when going for lunch in the bistrot. The menu features French-oriented dishes in the home-cooking style, which can be described as ‘simple and pure’. When possible, all the ingredients come from the estate itself and were picked that very morning. Here I enjoyed the tastiest salad ever in The Netherlands.
Restaurant St. Gerlach is set in the former library, ladies room and reception room.Fancy fine dining over the country style bistrot? I agree, the royal surrounding of the château actually do call for a luxury lunch or a grand dinner. In three reception rooms of the aristocratic family that used to live in the Château now accommodate a top-quality a la carte restaurant. Ask the waiter about the history of the room, enjoy the discoveries of the sommelier and indulge in the culinary delights from chef Nijenhuis (who I wish was my uncle, but no, we are not related).
Calming 
The rose garden on the St. Gerlach estate.
Chateau St. Gerlach is the way to detox from your hectic city life. I personlly thoroughly enjoyed a walk around the different gardens: the formal baroque gardens, the homely herb garden, the romantic rose garden and a stroll around the orchard and vineyard. Yes, you read it right: vineyard! The sparkling estate wine equals many Prosecco, Cava and Kaapse vonkel bubbles. (Out of fear of upsetting my French friends, I won’t compare it to Champagne). 
Roman SPA of Château St. Gerlach.Prefer to ‘recline and relax’? Then come to your senses at the Roman SPA on the estate. Besides the usual treatments, you can give your body and mind a rest in the pool, sauna and steam room. Mostly Dutch magazines are present, as are towels - bathrobes & slippers you find in your room.
Gerlachus church - one of The Nertherlands' most beautiful chuches.Spiritual nourishment can be sought in the Saint Gerlachus church dating from 1725. In 2007, the church has been fully restored to its former grandeur, including the frescos on the ceiling. The church is one of the country's most treasured national monuments. One needs not to be Christian to appreciate the church.
Divine
Now I trust you expected me to elaborate on my culinary experiences, but no… what makes a visit to Château St. Gerlach divine is how the estate can detox you from your busy city life.
As commented about Restaurant Château Neercanne, design city hotel Kruisherenhotel and Gentlemen’s farm hotel & restaurant Winselerhof, what is most enjoyable about visiting these places is the service. People are genuinely hospitable, they take their time to anticipate to your wishes and are kind by nature. It must be the Burgundy lifestyle of Limburg, which makes people happy to be there and share with you the treasures of the region.
*Resources you needed for a "French" weekend away:
- 1 weekend free
- E160 for a double room at Château St. Gerlach, access to gardens, SPA and church.
- E 15 for a Plat du Jour as lunch in the Bistrot
- E 45 3-course Menu Jubile, aperitif wine and amuse at fine dining Restaurant St. Gerlach
- Car, gas and driver's license OR train ticket (E46.40 for a weekend return ticket to Maastricht)
Conclusion
You can save time and money by escaping city life and visit Château St. Gerlach, instead of going to Burgundy.
Special offer for Life in Amsterdam readers: a complimentary gift from the estate in your room upon arrival. Do mention in your reservation that you are referred by “Life in Amsterdam” or me, Kira Nijenhuis.
Château St. Gerlach, Joseph Corneli Allée 1, Valkenburg aan de Geul, The Netherlands. T. 043. 608 88 88
Summer wellness package
- An overnight stay in a luxury hotel room
- Extensive buffet breakfast with several hot and cold items
- A 3-course dinner in Bistrot de Liège
- Spa treatments: welcome by our therapist with a smoothy. Followed by a Sothys summer treatment of 45 minutes: you can choose between a
- Facial treatment (cleansing, facial massage, face mask and day care) OR
- Body treatment (massage and gommage)
- During your stay at the Spa we will serve you a fruit salad
- Free use of the roman indoor swimming pool, sauna and turkish steam bath
- Free shuttle service (Château St. Gerlach offers a free shuttle service (max. 7 persons) on request in Maastricht area. Available between 9.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m.)
The price is from € 195 per person. Price based on double occupancy in a Luxury room.
The package is valid until September 2012.
To book click online resrvations (right column), call +31 (0)43 - 608 88 88 or e mail to gerlach@chateauhotels.nl
Verger de Camille package
- An overnight stay in a luxury hotel room
- Extensive buffet breakfast with several hot and cold items
- As a welcome gift, 2 'le Verger de Camille' products (homemade products made from ingredients that grow in the gardens at the country estate)
- A 3-course dinner in Restaurant Château St. Gerlach including an appetizer, 2 glasses of wine, water en mocha
- Free use of the roman indoor swimming pool, sauna and turkish steam bath
- Free shuttle service (Château St. Gerlach offers a free shuttle service (max. 7 persons) on request in Maastricht area. Available between 9.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m.)
The price is from € 165 per person. Price based on double occupancy in a Luxury room.
The package is valid from Tuesday until Saturday and until August 2012.
To book click online resrvations (right column), call +31 (0)43 - 608 88 88 or e mail to gerlach@chateauhotels.nl
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