Les Bordes Estate and Golf Club - Living One’s Best Life in France’s Alluring Loire Valley
If you ask wine connoisseurs to name the most famous wine area in the world, many would cite the brilliant Loire Valley in central France, a UNESCO World Heritage Region. It’s famous for its châteaux, medieval towns, rolling hills and world-class wines. Kings, queens, dukes and aristocrats travelled here to build their châteaux from as early as the 9th century – that’s why the area is sprinkled with some of France’s most opulent estates. Many of these are just a stone’s throw away from Les Bordes Estate and Golf Club.
Neighboring the historic village of Beaugency and approximately 90 minutes south of Paris, Les Bordes is spread across 1,400 acres of the Sologne Forest. It was originally established in 1987 by Baron Marcel Bich, with lanes weaving between the forest, glimpses of red deer, wild boar and pheasants, sweeping lakes and natural clearings. In addition to countless outdoor pursuits for the whole family, the Estate is home to the world renowned Les Bordes Golf Club – a private members golf club which aims to consistently offer the best combined 46 holes of golf in continental Europe.
Les Bordes is making it possible for people to be part of a community that radiates connection with each other and the bountiful Loire Valley. The Estate will become a gratifying playground for members and real estate owners, with access to endless activities and adventures at their fingertips. Masterfully designed in a safe and secure environment, they can enjoy fully serviced, hassle-free home ownership year-round.
Adventure abounds at Les Bordes. Some of the amenities include equestrian facilities, walking and cycling trails, and a natural swimming lake with white sand beach. Archery, fishing, and a tennis center are others, and zip lines are coming later this year.
Les Bordes was created in response to a growing demand for community living centered around wellness and a wholesome, coveted lifestyle. Set amongst a woodland with a variety of natural features, the project is founded on core values of sustainability, respectfully using the unspoiled landscape to create areas for the community to enjoy.
Michaelis Boyd, known for their work designing interiors for Soho House (LA, Berlin, Oxfordshire), and The Groucho member’s club in London, were tasked with injecting new, invigorating life into the existing clubhouse and 24 members’ cabins and designing the residential development of new homes in varying styles that remain distinct to the local architecture. Each residence and property has been individually oriented by Michaelis Boyd to get the most from the light and sunshine whilst ensuring optimum energy efficiency.
London-based Morpheus & Co are the creatives behind the residential interiors and have designed a variety of furniture collections for future owners, combining tactile and relaxing interiors with biophilic features for a feeling of comfort and inspiration, and immersion into the surrounding environment both inside and out.
Red and roe deer roam freely throughout the land. Natural surroundings have an invaluable positive impact on both physical and emotional health, and the Estate has embraced this by creating facilities and services that promote wellness amid Mother Nature’s masterworks.
Separate from the residential community, Les Bordes Golf Club is exclusively private and governed separately from the rest of the estate. The opening of its highly anticipated second 18-hole course will take place this summer. Named the New Course, it was created by globally acclaimed golf architect Gil Hanse, who authored world top-100 courses Castle Stuart and Ohoopee Match Club as well as the 2016 Rio Olympic Course. The New Course is Hanse’s first project in continental Europe.
Lauded for his restoration work including two of the next three US Open venues – The Country Club and The Los Angeles Country Club – Hanse has already completed work on an accompanying 10-hole short course at Les Bordes. Named The Wild Piglet, Golf.com immediately placed it in its top-25 par-3 courses in the world.
The recently developed new golf courses join the existing Old Course (Robert von Hagge design), to provide members with a diverse yet complementary array of playing options. Commissioned by Baron Marcel Bich in 1987, the Old Course is one of Europe’s premier golf courses. A tree-lined, par-72 course measuring more than 7,000 yards, it weaves through the Sologne Forest, intertwined with a stunning complex of lakes that offer a sublimely serene setting.
Widely considered to be Von Hagge’s masterpiece, the Old Course has been consistently ranked amongst the top three courses in Europe over the past 30 years. In addition to creating the New Course and Wild Piglet, Hanse spent time revitalizing some aspects of the Old Course, reinvigorating the acclaimed layout and enhancing its high quality.
In addition to the two 18-hole courses and the par-3 course, the club offers members and their guests’ access to a number of other club facilities. These include driving range, short game practice area, two practice putting greens, a new putting course designed by Hanse (“The Himalyas”), clubhouse including members bar and outdoor terrace, finely appointed locker rooms, private lounge with indoor golf simulator, games room and library, and 24/7 restaurant.
Formed in August 2019, it is accessible to members only and their guests, and includes members of Pine Valley, Merion, Riviera, Sunningdale, Royal St. George’s, LA Country Club, Friar’s Head and Royal Melbourne among the approximately 150 current members.
Additionally, Michaelis Boyd completed a full renovation of the clubhouse and 24 of the 39 member cottages thus far, while work on a new member gym, sports bar and private lounge and games room, including golf simulator, was recently completed.
Near-term plans include the announced partnership with Six Senses for the transformation of the on-site 19th century ‘Chateau Bel Air’ into an 88-key luxury hotel and spa. Also, the creation of a community village square with restaurants, shops, a farmer’s market and outdoor amphitheater centered around the estate’s 13th century priory, and, of course, the variety of residential homes architecturally designed by Michaelis Boyd, to which there has been a lot of interest from existing golf members prior to the general release.
For more information: www.lesbordes.com,
Follow the journey on Instagram: @lesbordesestate