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Review of Body Tonic Retreat at Lou Casteou
May 20, 2020
Mark Hodson, editor of 101 Holidays, gives his verdict on Lou Casteou's Body Tonic luxury retreat.
I peeled off the boxing gloves, poured some ice-cold water over my head and checked the time. It was 11.30am and we were 90 minutes into our morning exercise session with another two hours to go before lunch. My legs were getting wobbly and I was sweating buckets. “Keep going and drink plenty of water,” barked the trainer, “Big Dave” Higgins. The temperature was 35ºC.
This was not a bootcamp, but an exclusive five-day fitness retreat on the French Riviera. Body Tonic is held in a beautifully-restored chateau, Lou Casteou, set in picturesque grounds between Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël. The aim is to combine hard-core exercise with gourmet food, party nights and Latin American dancing. And it has developed quite a cult following.
The day had started calmly. I threw open the shutters of my room overlooking the infinity pool and padded downstairs for a delicious breakfast buffet, chatting with the ten other guests. One eye on the time, of course, because the fitness regime started at 10am with stretching beside the pool, followed by Boxercise, HIIT training and then a swim before lunch and a well-deserved glass of rose.
The afternoon was a little more sedate. A two-hour coastal hike followed by a salsa class, fancy-dress dinner, then an attempt to dance the Charleston.
Does this sound like your kind of holiday? If so, here’s what to expect.
This was not a bootcamp, but an exclusive five-day fitness retreat on the French Riviera. Body Tonic is held in a beautifully-restored chateau, Lou Casteou, set in picturesque grounds between Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël. The aim is to combine hard-core exercise with gourmet food, party nights and Latin American dancing. And it has developed quite a cult following.
The day had started calmly. I threw open the shutters of my room overlooking the infinity pool and padded downstairs for a delicious breakfast buffet, chatting with the ten other guests. One eye on the time, of course, because the fitness regime started at 10am with stretching beside the pool, followed by Boxercise, HIIT training and then a swim before lunch and a well-deserved glass of rose.
The afternoon was a little more sedate. A two-hour coastal hike followed by a salsa class, fancy-dress dinner, then an attempt to dance the Charleston.
Does this sound like your kind of holiday? If so, here’s what to expect.
The château
Lou Casteou is exquisite, lovingly restored and decorated by its owner, Morag McLaren Baxter, who organises half a dozen retreats each year. This is not like staying at a hotel, but more like being a pampered guest at a well-appointed villa. The house was air-conditioned, giving welcome respite from the heatwave that was tearing through France.
The exercise
Though undeniably tough, the exercise was varied and always injected with a healthy dollop of fun, whether it was body blast, Latino aerobics or TRX and battle ropes. Every session was optional, though most guests stuck to the programme. “Big Dave”, an experienced and charismatic personal trainer, inspired us all to test our own limits. He was assisted by Dan Tegg, an enthusiastic professional tennis and fitness coach.
The activities
It would have been tempting to spend the afternoons lazing beside the pool, but every day there were different activities on offer. There was mountain biking, a tennis workshop held at a local club with the head coach and that scenic coastal trek. Dotted throughout the five days were various dance classes including merengue, Angolan Kizomba, Cuban salsa and Semba de Roda. These are taught by two experienced dance tutors, John Hylton and Christian Jean Francois. On the dance floor, I was well outside my comfort zone, but there was a lot of laughter and my partners were very patient.
It would have been tempting to spend the afternoons lazing beside the pool, but every day there were different activities on offer. There was mountain biking, a tennis workshop held at a local club with the head coach and that scenic coastal trek. Dotted throughout the five days were various dance classes including merengue, Angolan Kizomba, Cuban salsa and Semba de Roda. These are taught by two experienced dance tutors, John Hylton and Christian Jean Francois. On the dance floor, I was well outside my comfort zone, but there was a lot of laughter and my partners were very patient.
The food
Oh yes, the food. When you’re pushing your body to its limits, you don’t just need a lot of food, you want to be rewarded with delicious healthy fare, and that’s what you get here. The menu was both imaginative and comforting, prepared by an expert local chef. A typical lunch buffet might feature sea bass fillets, risotto and several salads, plus a dessert, cheese and biscuits and coffee. Each evening we were served a three-course dinner; a typical menu was aubergine tart with honey and pine nuts followed by sea bass with mango, and lemon meringue tart. It was all superb.
The guests
Body Tonic is aimed at all ages and levels of fitness but, judging by my experience, the typical guest is a high-achieving professional, aged 40 to 60, well-travelled, cultured. The majority are female. Because the group is small and the experience is intense, we quickly bonded and became a tight-knit little community. This was aided by the plentiful supply of alcohol. We had a lot of fun.
Body Tonic is aimed at all ages and levels of fitness but, judging by my experience, the typical guest is a high-achieving professional, aged 40 to 60, well-travelled, cultured. The majority are female. Because the group is small and the experience is intense, we quickly bonded and became a tight-knit little community. This was aided by the plentiful supply of alcohol. We had a lot of fun.
The verdict
Although not cheap, the Body Tonic retreat does represent good value for money. Everything is included from the moment you are collected from the airport, and the quality is first class throughout. And it works: I returned home feeling fit, healthy and energetic, and inspired to work harder at my own fitness regime. I’m not surprised that so many guests return time and again.
The first photograph is by Lou Casteou; the rest are all by the author. ©Mark Hodson
The first photograph is by Lou Casteou; the rest are all by the author. ©Mark Hodson
This article originally featured in 101holidays.co.uk
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ACADEMIC AND ADVENTURE CAMP FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN, EASTER AND SUMMER 2021 DATES: April 6-12th and July 3-17 2021. ‘A CAMP WITH A DIFFERENCE’ APPLICATION LINK BELOW The Lou Casteou Camp provides the opportunity to reside in a lovingly restored chateau on the French Mediterranean, located in an area rich in Roman History, dramatic architecture and stunning countryside and beaches. The program is well balanced and carefully constructed to deliver a unique academic and European cultural experience. Students will develop business skills and enhance their financial knowledge and have the opportunity to understand and prepare for University Applications. Evening discussions will address some of the most difficult questions of the day [Artificial Intelligence, Global Warming, Pandemic Policies] The event will be led by an international team of highly experienced and world class business experts and entrepreneurs with a track record of success in their specific industries. SUMMARY OF PROGRAM CONTENT: ACADEMIC -Group Hackathon Competition: To solve a range of social and business issues in a team format -Top University preparation workshops with a focus on UK and US universities (Oxbridge, Ivy League etc.) -Business and Technology Workshops: venture building, finance, negotiations, technology and blockchain -Evening Discussions on topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change & Pandemic Policies -Networking & mentoring sessions CULTURE AND DANCE -Painting at the chateau and in the surrounding countryside -Visits to museums and beauty spots including the historic Roman Town of Frejus. -Latin and Afro Dance Classes -Chess Tournament SPORTS AND FITNESS -Tennis Coaching for beginners through to advanced players -Coastal and Mountain Trekking -Water Sports -Table Tennis -French Boules All activities are optional and should be pre- selected to ensure adequate equipment and staffing levels.
Lou Casteou's charm and character made it the perfect location for filming France TV's stunning period drama 'Romance'.
Lou Casteou are delighted to announce dates for October's Let's Salsa luxury dance retreat. Join our award-winning team in this fabulous château set in the south of France from the 8th to the 11th October 2020.
Indulge in some fabulous R&R at this stunning property just 35 minutes from Cannes. An exquisite turn-of-the-century château that has been tastefully and luxuriously restored to blend traditional design with contemporary touches. Coming up in 2017 you could be ne-tuning your backhand at the Tennis Academy, getting into the groove at the Let’s Salsa retreats, or just indulging in some pampering Côte d’Azur-style with the Body Tonic break.
Замок Lou Casteou элегантно вписывается в спокойный холмистый ландшафт Валескюра рядом с горами Эстерель. Его архитектонический грандиозный внешний вид отражается в духозахватывающей внутренней декорации: каждый предмет медели — ода ремесленному искусству прошлых лет.
Elegant schmiegt sich das Château Lou Casteou in die ruhige Hügellandschaft von Valescure in den Ausläufern des Estérel-Gebirges. Sein architektonisch grandioses Äußeres spiegelt sich in der atemberaubenden Innendekoration wider; jedes Möbelstück ist eine Ode an die Handwerkskunst vergangener Zeiten.
Château Lou Casteou sits elegantly amidst the quiet hills of Valescure, its architectural grandeur matched only by the stunning interior décor, each piece of furniture an ode to the exquisite craftsmen of a bygone era. By Cassandra Tanti of the Riviera Times.
Lifestyle magazine reports Château Lou Casteou’s ‘Let’s Salsa’ retreat combines all the rhythm and sparkle of Strictly Come Dancing with good exercise, great company and delicious food.
About Time Magazine ranked Château Lou Casteou's Body Tonic Retreat 'best in France' in their top picks for fitness holidays.
If you're thinking about a very different approach to the road to health and fitness – dancing – in particular, joyful dancing (well, all dancing is joyful) then Lou Casteou delivers the perfect Salsa dance retreat.
© Lou Casteou 2020
VISIT
Lou Casteou
850 chemin du plan Guinet 83 600
Frejus , Côte d’Azur, France
850 chemin du plan Guinet 83 600
Frejus , Côte d’Azur, France