COURTLY LOVE
Courtly Love - Luxury Travel Magazine
 | |||||
Courtly Love | |||||
| By: Alice Coomans, Issue 28 – Spring 2006 | |||||
| (Bishop’s Court Estate – Bathurst – New South Wales, Australia) | |||||
| AN HISTORIC HERITAGE HOTEL. | |||||
| It seems impossible to talk about (or read about) Bathurst without mention of motor racing. So, it is suprising to hear myself say, ‘I am leaving for a weekend of relaxed wining and dining… and absolutely no V8s’. Yet over the Blue Mountains there are some surprising attractions. One of these is Bishop’s Court Estate, a boutique hotel. Bishop’s Court Estate was built in 1870, and it retains all the stately features of its heritage. The first detail you notice are the 16ft ceilings, and then the flood of natural light illuminating the handsome heritage furniture inside. Throughout the building, unlike many older homes, are huge windows with views out to the surrounding gardens. The house has been skilfully refurbished and decorated under the expert hand of its owner Christine Le Fevre – who was heavily involved in the design of the ultra-luxury Longitude 131, in central Australia. While the location is vastly different from the red centre, the sense of relaxed style is shared. In each of the six guest rooms there are thoughtful finishing touches; a bowl of chocolates, a decanter of port, along with the most comfortable super-size king bed I have ever slept on. There is a guest lounge with open fire and welcoming armchairs, and a sitting room drenched with light in the mornings. The formal dining room gives guests a chance to mingle, enjoy delicious dinners, and partake of the local wines. For an outstanding private dinner the Bishop’s Chapel has been converted into an intimate space; 100 candles flickering around the room. While there is a fledgling collection of first-class wineries and restaurants in and around Bathurst, along with a substantial Farmers Market, coming to Bishop’s Court feels like finally breathing out after a hectic week, and the temptation to stayed tucked up inside, and let Christine take care of everything is one that is very, very appealing. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| Bishop’s Court Estate: www.bishopscourtestate.com.au | |||||
|
