QUEBEC: SPA AT THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU MONTEBELLO
by Josephine Matyas
The Spa: Spa at Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Montebello, Quebec.
The Location: The award-winning resort (the largest log “cabin” in the world) and spa are located in a spectacular, 200-acre wilderness setting. You’ll get there from Ottawa in the time it takes to spin through a CD on the car stereo (80 km). It's just a bit further from Montreal (124 km).
The Environment:. Built in the woods of what was once a 17th century seigniorial estate, this impressive log château is tucked between the wide Ottawa River and the rolling Laurentian Mountains. There are trails to jog or walk along, water to swim in or paddle on and snowy slopes to slide down. The focus at Le Château Montebello is on clean air, relaxing surroundings and a slew of energizing outdoor activities. Nearby, the hamlet of Montebello offers craft and artisan shops and several unique eateries.
The Distinction: Politicians, foreign dignitaries and jet-setters have passed through the heavy front doors, sipped hot cocoa in front of the lobby’s massive six-sided fireplace and wandered the five-kilometres of trails that wind along the woods and riverfront.
The Experience: At the heart of the spa is the Salon La Clairière (it means “clearing in the forest”), a calm gathering place with cathedral ceilings, a toasty fireplace, herbal teas and health snacks, a wrap around porch and a view over the great outdoors.
I cuddled up with one of the spa’s signature oversized, green blankets - they’re scattered throughout on chairs and in treatment rooms. In keeping with Montebello’s outdoor theme, green is the symbol of the Canadian outdoors: health, comfort, balance and harmony.
With a little bit of gentle coaxing, I traded my warm green blanket for the calm and warmth of the treatment room (there are heated mats tucked under the sheets on all treatment beds). The payoff was the Maple Sugar Body Scrub, a treatment with a distinctly Quebec-flair. For 30 minutes, I was massaged using rough maple sugar as an exfoliant. This was followed by a warm shower and an application of scented, maple-based body lotion. I eased my way back to my room in a completely blissed-out state.
What could be more Quebecois than products from the maple tree? The spa uses the Canadian-based B. Kamins product line; the main ingredients are based on bio-maple (made from the sap of the maple tree which has the same ph as human skin).
If you are visiting the spa as a duo, the couples’ suite features a fireplace, Japanese style duo-soaking tub, double-head jungle rain shower and side-by-side treatment tables.
Beyond the Spa: Montebello truly is a four-season destination. Embrace the Great Canadian Winter with curling, skating, broomball, ice fishing, sleigh rides, tobogganing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and tube sliding or simply cuddling around the massive lobby fireplace. Indoors you’ll find a fitness centre plus an almost Olympic-sized pool and fitness centre plus indoor tennis courts. Spring, summer and fall you can ride a bike, saddle up a horse from the stable on grounds, fish, swim, hike, canoe and kayak, take the old-fashioned route and throw some horseshoes or be hip and cool and sign up for the Land Rover Experience Driving school.
What I liked best: I love the outdoors and the hiking trails are calming and relaxing at any time of the year. The well-behaved family dog is welcome at Le Château Montebello and for a nominal fee ($30/night to cover cleaning expenses) you get an in-room wire kennel and a food bowl (bring kibble from home – it’s not on the room service menu). On an early morning walk along the trails with our tail-wagger, we heard a pack of coyotes howling in the distance. It was magical.
Josephine Matyas is an Ontario-based freelance travel writer.
For more information: www.fairmont.com/montebello