Modern twist on a manor house weekend break near Arras

You’ll start relaxing into your manor house weekend break from the very moment you see Le Clos Barthélemy’s grand iron gates and sweeping hydrangea-lined driveway. The château-hotel’s friendly owner Arnauld will be there to greet you on the front steps before showing you around the unique and elegant interior, where time stands still ─ for the space of a weekend at least. Notice the striking (and lifesize!) black horse statue, an injection of modern French style recalling the manor’s history, then head up the stately staircase to the Ralph suite with its hints of British and equestrian style, claw-footed bath and balcony. Or there’s the Baronne room, with its stylish orange flourishes, its balcony and its gorgeous freestanding bath, straight out of the pages of an interiors magazine. Once you’ve settled in, grab your robe and head to the hot-tub – book a session all to yourselves – or take a dip in the heated outdoor pool closely followed by champagne-for-two on the luxury poolside loungers.

Like any good Frenchman, Arnauld’s a foodie and will be happy to provide you with a recommendation for a perfect romantic dinner, maybe at French chef Franck Gilabert’s restaurant ‘Air Accueil’ in nearby Brebières (if your tastebuds could be tickled by sweetbreads, steak and truffle sauce, and a white chocolate, berry and saffron dessert, that is). It’s certainly a ‘bonne adresse’ as we say in France ─ you’ll find it in the Michelin guide!

Luxurious lie-ins are an absolute must on romantic weekend breaks, and you can make the most of one here with buffet breakfast served right up until10:30am on weekends. Of course, it tastes even better with a magnificent view, so enjoy your coffee and croissants on the terrace overlooking the lovely grounds. Should you feel the need to work off your breakfast at some point, Le Clos Barthélemy has a small gym including a running machine, cross trainer and exercise bike ─ or if you have something gentler in mind for your French château holiday, opt for a romantic stroll in the grounds.

Prising yourselves away from such a magically relaxing environment can be difficult but Arnauld will almost certainly urge you to do so, especially if you’ve not been to Northern France’s iconic Arras before. Just a few minutes’ drive away, it’s one of the region’s most charming destinations and with its pedestrian shopping streets, intriguing medieval tunnels, art gallery and romantic parks and gardens, it’s not somewhere you’ll forget in a hurry. Be sure to squeeze in two Arras essentials: stopping for a coffee and chocolate rat at ‘Pâtisserie Thibaut’ on Place de Héros square and climbing the emblematic UNESCO-listed belfry, jewel in the crown of your romantic weekend break in Northern France.