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We are delighted to share a recent feature on Château des Tesnières, published by ItArtBag and written by Véronique Spahis, who visited the Château and captured the spirit of this remarkable place in an article exploring its history, cuisine, gardens, art and the people bringing its next chapter to life.

Entitled “Château des Tesnières: la renaissance d’un joyau breton entre patrimoine, gastronomie et art de vivre” — “Château des Tesnières: The Renaissance of a Breton Jewel Between Heritage, Gastronomy and the Art of Living” — the article offers an evocative portrait of the estate and the vision behind its transformation.

For more than eight centuries, Tesnières has been part of the story of this corner of Brittany. From its earliest recorded history in 1196, through the construction of the present Neo-Renaissance château in the 19th century, periods of decline and successive restorations, the estate has continually evolved while retaining the character of the place.

Today, that history is entering a new chapter.

Under the vision of internationally acclaimed South African chef Chantel Dartnall and her family, Château des Tesnières has been reimagined as something far greater than a hotel or restaurant. It is becoming a meeting place for gastronomy, art, nature, heritage and hospitality—a place where each element contributes to one larger experience.

At the heart of this vision is Mosaic, Chantel Dartnall’s gastronomic restaurant and the expression of her distinctive philosophy of Botanical Cuisine. Flowers, herbs, leaves, roots, seeds and other plants are not merely decorative; they become part of the culinary language itself. At Tesnières, this philosophy is evolving through a dialogue between two landscapes: the South African environment that shaped Chantel’s culinary identity and the rich terroir of Brittany.

As Véronique Spahis describes in her feature, the result is a cuisine that feels like a journey through nature—one that connects seasons, landscapes, memories and emotion.

But the story of Château des Tesnières extends well beyond the dining room.

The article explores the international team gathered around Chantel Dartnall, including Johanna Mathekga, Antro Davel, René Veldhuizen, Mari-Louise Roux, Amélie Dufrène and Cobus du Plessis, whose individual talents contribute to the experience being created at the Château.

It also shines a light on the estate’s extraordinary collection of South African art. Works by artists including Adriaan Boshoff, Tienie Pritchard, Hugo Naudé, William Timlin, Alexander Rose-Innes, Gregoire Boonzaier, Hennie Niemann, Conrad Theys and Lynn-Marie Eatwell create an unexpected cultural bridge between South Africa and Brittany.

This connection between places and cultures is fundamental to the identity of Château des Tesnières.

The same philosophy can be found throughout the suites, each imagined as a journey of its own. From Anne of Brittany and Mumtaz Mahal to the Queen of Sheba, Empress Cixi, Scheherazade, and Yama & Thida, every room has been created with its own story, atmosphere and sense of discovery.

The gardens form another essential part of this vision. The approximately 15-hectare estate is being progressively developed into a living landscape of romantic pathways, botanical spaces, historic plant varieties and future garden projects. At its centre is the kitchen garden, where the relationship between the land and the plate becomes tangible.

It is perhaps this sense of connection that best captures the spirit of the Château.

Nothing exists in isolation.

The gardens influence the kitchen.
The kitchen reflects the landscape.
The art speaks to the history.
The wine connects cultures.
The architecture holds the memories of generations.
And hospitality brings everything together.

We are deeply grateful to Véronique Spahis and ItArtBag for taking the time to discover Château des Tesnières and for sharing its story with their readers.

Her article beautifully recognises something that is at the heart of our journey: that restoring an historic château is not simply about restoring walls, rooms and gardens. It is about giving a place its soul again—and allowing that soul to evolve.

More than 160 years after the present château was built, Tesnières is once again opening its doors to the world.

A new chapter is being written here.

One inspired by the past, rooted in nature, shaped by art and cuisine, and carried forward by people who believe that the most memorable places are not simply visited.

They are experienced.

With our sincere thanks to Véronique Spahis for her beautiful feature, and to ItArtBag for sharing the renaissance of Château des Tesnières with its readers.

Read the full feature on ItArtBag:
“Château des Tesnières: la renaissance d’un joyau breton entre patrimoine, gastronomie et art de vivre” — by Véronique Spahis.