Domaine de Biar

Domaine de Biar is an 18th-century Montpellier «folie», a pale-stone country retreat with wrought-iron balconies and corner turrets, built on land first recorded in 1155 as the «Manso de Biars». In 1727 the estate passed to Joseph Bonnier de la Mosson, treasurer to Louis XV, who enlarged the buildings; in 1882 it was taken on by the agronomist Henri Marès. You arrive through a bamboo grove, and the house opens onto a park of several hectares with ancient trees, lawns and grazing horses, on the outskirts of Montpellier.

Today it is a four-star hotel with thirteen rooms and suites, La Table de Biar restaurant, an outdoor pool overlooking the park, a wellness area with hammam, and rooms for receptions and events. The estate has been awarded Michelin Keys and the Green Key eco-label. Central Montpellier is about 10 kilometres away.

Since 2021 the estate has been run by the Eoden group with an environmentally minded approach: land farmed without pesticides, a path towards energy self-sufficiency, and short-supply-chain cooking. On request the staff arrange walks, bicycle hire, airport transfers and excursions in the area.

Free private parking with electric-car charging points. Pets are welcome; the property is entirely non-smoking.

The rooms are named after figures and places from the estate's history: Maguelone, Henriette, Aurore, Eden, Henri Marès and Cocoon are double rooms of 18 to 26 square metres, while the Augustin Coste, Guilhem, Bonnier de la Mosson, Jacques Vabre, Magali, Genesis and Canopée suites range from 33 to 56 square metres. Period pieces sit alongside contemporary design, with views over the garden and park.

All are air-conditioned and soundproofed, with private bathroom, desk, safe and free Wi-Fi; some suites have a balcony or terrace.

La Table de Biar is led by chef Mathieu Garcin, who works with local and organic produce from small growers in the region; the menu follows the seasons and the Languedoc repertoire. The restaurant holds the Ecotable label for sustainable dining and two Gault&Millau Toques.

It is open for lunch and dinner, also to non-residents; in summer meals are served on the terrace facing the park. Breakfast, with fresh pastries, cheeses and fruit, is not included in the base rate. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus are available on request; booking is recommended for dinner.

The estate's wellness area has a hammam and treatment rooms for massages and face and body treatments, by appointment. Yoga classes are held in the park, and the outdoor pool, overlooking the trees of the estate, is open in the warmer months.

Lavérune is a small village in the Hérault on the edge of Montpellier, the Languedoc university city with its historic Écusson quarter, Place de la Comédie and Promenade du Peyrou. The estate lies in open countryside among vineyards and garrigue, about 10 kilometres from the centre and 15 from Montpellier-Méditerranée airport.

The Mediterranean beaches at Palavas-les-Flots and Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone are about half an hour away by car; Sète and the Étang de Thau 35 minutes, the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and the Pic Saint-Loup around 40 minutes. Nîmes and the Pont du Gard are just over an hour's drive.