At the end of the Grande Rue in Pommard, a 12th-century château has come back to life. After four years of restoration overseen by France's Bâtiments de France heritage authority, Château la Commaraine has become Burgundy's first 5-star hotel set within the vines. For travelers looking for a hotel in Beaune who would rather wake up to vineyard views than city streets, it offers a rare balance: Burgundy's wine capital just ten minutes away, and outside the window, the rows of a Pommard Premier Cru Clos.
Nine Centuries of History, Carefully Restored
Once a fiefdom of the Dukes of Burgundy, La Commaraine was given in 1193 by Duke Eudes III to Jean de Pommard, the knight who saved Princess Mathilde. In 1787, Thomas Jefferson, then touring Burgundy, ordered 124 bottles of a wine he described as being "of excellent quality." Seized during the French Revolution, the estate was bought in 1920 by the Jaboulet-Vercherre family, who carried its name abroad for decades.
In 2017, Denise Dupré and Mark Nunnelly, the founders of Champagne Hospitality and the team behind Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, acquired the property. Led by architect Richard Martinet and the design studio Affine Design (Hôtel de Crillon, The Peninsula Paris), the restoration chose restraint: Burgundy stone shaped by local craftspeople, pale wood paneling, timber frames restored to their original form. Restoring without erasing is the guiding idea of the château, a living place that reflects Burgundy rather than a museum piece.
37 Rooms and Suites Overlooking the Vines
The 37 rooms and suites borrow their names from the language of wine: Bourgogne Rooms with private terraces onto the courtyard, light-filled Premier Cru Rooms, Grand Cru Junior Suites and Monopole Suites with a separate living room. Many of them look straight out over the vineyard. Each of the Signature Suites tells part of the estate's story. The Cuverie Suite overlooks the winery, the Rotonde Suite sits inside the 14th-century medieval tower, the Commaraine Suite has a double view over the Clos and the courtyard, and the Mathilde Suite (70 m² / 750 sq ft) has a fireplace and panoramic vineyard views. For families or groups of friends, the Villa des Vignes, a 211 m² (2,270 sq ft) private house within the Clos, has four bedrooms and suites.
Comfort is all in the details: beds at least 2.10 m (nearly 7 ft) long, reinforced soundproofing, full blackout, Diptyque bath products, and in every room a pair of boots and a raincoat so you can walk out into the Clos whatever the weather.
Clos de la Commaraine, the Heart of the Estate
Before it was a hotel, La Commaraine was a wine estate. Its 3.63-hectare (9-acre) walled Clos, a Pommard Premier Cru Monopole in a single plot, is the heart of a 7.48-hectare (18.5-acre) vineyard spread across ten climates, from Chambolle-Musigny to Saint-Aubin. Under winemaker, agronomist and oenologist Paul Krug, the vines are farmed biodynamically, with certification obtained in 2025 after seven years of work.
The wines are made, aged and bottled in the winery rebuilt inside the château itself. Hotel guests enjoy privileged access: winery tours, private tastings at the estate and, depending on the season, the chance to join the team in the vines.
Two Restaurants and a Wine List with a Story
Dining is overseen by Christophe Raoux, Meilleur Ouvrier de France and executive chef of Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, and brought to life every day by chef Jérôme Rioux.
- Le Clos, with windows opening onto the winery, serves simple, generous seasonal cooking: trout meunière, bœuf bourguignon, game in the fall, and classic French desserts.
- Le VIII, the fine dining restaurant set in the estate's old vaulted cellar, offers an à la carte menu and three set menus: Nature, Parcellaires and Expression.
The wine list, created by sommelier Victor Petiot, starts in Burgundy and then travels further: great estates, small-grower discoveries, close to 50% biodynamic or sustainably farmed wines, and bottles from €45. In the evening, the bar hidden in the medieval tower keeps the conversation going.
The Spa, the Château's Quiet Space
The spa includes a heated outdoor pool, sauna, hammam, hot tub and cold plunge, along with three treatment rooms, one of them for couples. Facials are by myBlend, the brand founded by Dr. Olivier Courtin within the Clarins group, and hair rituals by Flora Lab Paris. RedPulse far-infrared massage tables and 360° immersive sound make each treatment a truly restorative experience.
A 5-Star Hotel 10 Minutes from Beaune, France
Pommard lies on the Route des Grands Crus, 10 minutes from Beaune and 45 minutes from Dijon and its high-speed TGV station. Among hotels in Beaune, France, Château la Commaraine offers something different: the town is close at hand (the Hôtel-Dieu, the wine cellars, the Saturday market), yet every evening you come back to the quiet of the vines.
The château's Guest Experience Makers plan each stay around you: visits to Burgundy wine estates, a ride in a vintage 2CV or a hot-air balloon, the Hospices de Beaune and the Cité des Climats, local markets or Burgundy cooking classes. Private transfers are available on request, and you'll find every idea on the Experiences page.
Key Facts
- Burgundy's first 5-star hotel set within the vines, at 24 Grande Rue, 21630 Pommard.
- 37 rooms and suites, including four Signature Suites, plus the 211 m² Villa des Vignes.
- Clos de la Commaraine: a 3.63-hectare Pommard Premier Cru Monopole, farmed biodynamically.
- Two restaurants, Le Clos and Le VIII, a bar in the 14th-century tower and a wine list by Victor Petiot.
- Spa with heated outdoor pool, myBlend and Flora Lab Paris treatments.
- 10 minutes from Beaune and 45 minutes from Dijon.
FAQ
Where is Château la Commaraine located?
The château is at 24 Grande Rue in Pommard, in Burgundy's Côte-d'Or, 10 minutes from Beaune and 45 minutes from Dijon. It is an ideal choice if you want a hotel near Beaune surrounded by vineyards.
Can non-residents visit the restaurants and spa?
Yes. Le Clos, Le VIII and the spa all welcome outside guests by reservation.
Can I tour the estate and taste its wines?
Yes. Tours and tastings are offered seasonally, and hotel guests enjoy privileged access to the château's winery.
Which rooms have vineyard views?
The Bourgogne Vineyard View Room, the Premier Cru Vineyard View Rooms, some Monopole Suites and the Mathilde Suite all overlook the vines, while the Villa des Vignes sits right inside the Clos.
