Cig'Art Magazine N33 Winter / Spring 2015

AUDEMARSPIGUET.COM TO BREAK THE RULES,
YOU MUST FIRST MASTER
THEM.

POUR BRISER LES RÈGLES, IL FAUT D’ABORD LES MAÎTRISER.
EN 1993, AUDEMARS PIGUET RÉVOLUTIONNAIT À JAMAIS
L’UNIVERS DE LA MONTRE SPORTIVE. L’ARCHITECTURE
PUISSANTE DE LA ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE S’IMPOSAIT ALORS
COMME L’EXPRESSION ULTIME DE LA HAUTE HORLOGERIE
BÂTIE POUR LA PERFORMANCE.
EN 2014, LA COLLECTION ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE POSE UN
NOUVEAU JALON. SA MASSE OSCILLANTE EN OR 22 CARATS
SE DÉVOILE DÉSORMAIS PAR LE FOND SAPHIR, TELLE UNE
VITRINE SUR 139 ANNÉES DE MAÎTRISE HORLOGÈRE.

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE

EN OR ROSE.
CHRONOGRAPHE.

CIG’ART magazine N°33
WINTER - SPRING 2015

Editing/ Administration
Informations/ Subscriptions
Cigart Sàrl
CP 112
CH - 1255 Veyrier Geneva
Tel: +41 (0)22 820 27 27
Fax: +41 (0)22 820 29 29
Mobile: +41 (0)79 626 27 27
[email protected]
www.cigart.ch

Publisher
Claude Marpaud

Publication Director
Claude Marpaud
Technical Director
Thierry Talagrand
Layout design
Dany Oppliger, Geneva

Contributions Claude Marpaud
Aurélien-Loup François Olivier Broto
Ariane Piazzalunga Natacha Borri
Jean Emmanuel Hay Cecilia FrancMarie
Pamela Redaelli Philippe Lamballe
Robert Sirdey Guy Michel
Chantal-Anne Jacot Aurelien Montaviel
Maxence Dunkel Catherine Claude
Philippe Lamballeo
Hélène Duparc-Leprisé

Promotional Director
Ariane Piazzalunga

Advertising
CIG’ART magazine
Mobile: +41 (0)79 626 27 27
E-mail: [email protected]

Photography Claude Marpaud
Yohann Sauty Fotorissima.net
Jean Emmanuel Hay Olivier Currat
Elsa Ochoa Yann Feron and DR
Derby Hotels Collection Robert Sirdey
Bagués & Masriera Michel Delessert
Elisabeth Fransdonk Marco Casiraghi
Christophe Bielsa

Printer
Musumeci S.P.A.

Cover Page
Audrey Raffy
Bovet 1822

Subscriptions
Price per issue 10.– SFR
Subscriptions 20.– SFR - for 1 year in Switzerland
Contact the Editing department for subscription
rates to other countries.
(2 issues) Shipping costs and TVA included

Distribued
Suisse Romande and worldwide

Publication
Spring - summer
Autumn - winter

Copyright © any reproduction of text and
photographs published in this issue
is prohibited without prior authorization.

Visit our site

www.cigart.ch

1

MR PASCAL RAFFY ,
BOVET OWNER,
WITH HIS SON
AND INSPIRATION ,
AMADEO RAFFY.
ALL AMADEO MODELS
ARE CONVERTIBLE
INTO A WRISTWATCH ,
A POCKET WATCH
AND A TABLE CLOCK .
( PATENTED)

B OV E T. CO M
FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE QUALIT Y FLEURIER CERTIFICATION
PARTNER OF THE FONDATION DE L A HAUTE HORLOGERIE

ONE TIMEPIECE, FOUR EMOTIONS

FLEURIER AMADEO® VIRTUOSO III

5-DAY TOURBILLON WITH
RETROGRADE PERPETUAL CALENDAR
AND REVERSED HAND-FITTING

G E N E VA - L U G A N O - S T- M O R I T Z - Z Ü R I C H LES AMBASSADEURS
GENEVA AIRPORT AIR WATCH CENTER
GSTAAD ADLER
INTERLAKEN KIRCHHOFER
LUCERNE EMBASSY



Number 33 – Winter - Spring 2015 6

GUEST
Bovet 1822

13 29

CIGARS TRAVEL
Hôtel d’Angleterre The Royal Palm
In Mauritius
Cigar lounge The Sultanate of Oman
Trekking on horseback
Davidoff Constance Lemuria Resort Hotel
The Dominican Eldorado Paradise in the Seychelles
Constance Ephélia Resort Hotel
Cardhu Whisky In the Seychelles
Bernard Magrez’s Grande Maison
Porsche Macan Jet Event aviation in Geneva

51 69

HOTELS GASTRONOMY
L’Apogée Courchevel Restaurant Le Patara
A new palace at the summit Thai cuisine in Geneva
Benoît Violier
Royal Savoy Hotel, Lausanne An alchemist in the kitchen
Edgard Bovier
Le Crans Hôtel & Spa Celebrates 10 years at
the Lausannne Palace & Spa
The Fer à Cheval in Megève
95
Palais Namaskar
In Marrakech LIFSTYLE
Vert’iges in Vésenaz
Les Dromonts in Avoriaz An elegant organic grocery
Claris & Bagués Hotel in Barcelona
Marc Pierrain, Hotel Manali Courchevel 1650
President of the Clefs d’or Bellevue Hotel in Cogne
Five Seas Hotel in Cannes
83 Hotel de la Cigogne in Geneva

PASSIONS

Lexus Nx hybrid SUV

Bagués-Masriera
Art Nouveau in Barcelona

The “3Hpro” Formula
High-level expertise

in temporary employment

Lexus GS 350 AWD

Véronique Lemore
Animal portrait painter

S U M M A RY

BOVET 1822

Flashback on an exceptional year

Can you summarise a year in the story of refine and per-
BOVET in just a few lines? That would indeed
be quite a challenge as there are no fewer than fect movements,
three major launches. 2014 saw the arrival of
the Amadeo® Fleurier Tourbillon Virtuoso III, dials and casings,
the Récital 12 and the BOVET by Pininfarina
”Sergio ”. The 2014 collections were also from the most
awarded with prizes plus it was a year that
saw the seal set on an exclusive partnership sober to the most
with Asprey, thereby opening new horizons.
sophisticated.
There are not many people who are able to keep
assessing their achievements and constantly The owner of
reappraising the marvellous time-keeping
instrument that we know as the timepiece. BOVET since
Pascal Raffy is one of these extraordinary visio-
naries. He has a great passion for watch com- 2001, he is a man
plications and it is this passion that pushes
him tirelessly to develop new models and to who has a clear

and long-term

Tourbillon Récital 9, vision regarding
collection Dimier. the future he

plans for the House: a deeper development of

watchmaking expertise, the verticalisation of

the brand’s business and the return of BOVET’s

”in-house” manufactured movements. Moving

forward, these are the principle targets he has

to set for BOVET 1822.

Tourbillon Amadeo ® Fleurier Virtuoso III

6

Pascal Raffy, owner of Maisons BOVET 1822 and DIMIER 1738

7

Movement of the Tourbillon Virtuoso III this new grand complication is a tourbillon
movement associated with a perpetual calen-
The three faces of time dar, and one of the main conditions to not
BOVET’s desire for excellence is easy to see obstruct the view and transparency of the
in the model Amadeo ® Fleurier Tourbillon tourbillon cage. The result is breathtaking.
Virtuoso III. Among the specifications of Hours and minutes are displayed on a cen-
tral dial leaving the outer edge around the
dial free to show the days of the week and
months of the year. The calendar display
has been positioned concentrically around
the exterior of the hours and minutes dial.
This face covers a 240° arc which leaves
visible the tourbillon cage. The reverse hand-
fitting allows the hours and the minutes to
be displayed on the back of the casing. The
watch can be converted instantly into a
reversible wristwatch, a pocket watch or a
table clock without the need for any tools.
Pure magic.

Tourbillon Amadeo® Fleurier Virtuoso III

8

Récital 12, Monsieur Dimier

Transparency and authenticity
Another important new development of the
year is the Récital 12 « Monsieur Dimier ».
It is the first non-tourbillon timepiece to be
powered by a movement developed and
manufactured entirely by the Dimier
Manufacture. This movement took five years
to develop. It was designed for the charac-
teristics of the different BOVET 1822 collec-
tions. For its first appearance, Pascal Raffy
and his team chose to present it in all its
splendour. Through the use of a reverse
hand-fitting, the movement reveals its gear-
train, the oscillations of its balance, and a
transparent coaxial choreography suppor-
ting the triple seconds-hand characteristic of
the collection. Available in 18-carat red or
white gold, it is full of
innovations.

Caliber Spécialité Horlogère, Virtuoso II

9

Bovet by Pininfarina Sergio Split - Second Chronograph Year. And it’s worth noting that BOVET was
among the last three nominees in six of the
Aesthetics and functionality ten categories of this renowned competition.
The passion and the mastery of luxury
watchmaking come together in the timepiece Partnership with Asprey in New Bond Street
BOVET by Pininfarina ”Sergio” Split-Second The recently-agreed partnership with the
Chronograph. A mechanical chronograph, emblematic House Asprey of New Bond Street
it is worthy of the man responsible for crea- underlines the importance that Maison BOVET
ting the most beautiful cars in the world. Its attaches to the common values and standards
accurate timekeeping allows it to display a of excellence shared with its partners.
small-second, a 30 - minute counter and a
power- reserve indicator. It is available in a Boutique Asprey on New Bond Street
limited edition of 250 timepieces and offers
all the advantages that a car enthusiast could After becoming an Asprey shareholder,
wish for. Pascal Raffy will take a seat on the Asprey
board of Directors. In addition to BOVET’s
A prized excellence presence in London, Asprey will represent
Today, two centuries of valuable heritage ins- the watchmaker through its two boutique in
pire the innovative collections which are crea- the United States; Beverly Hills and Miami.
ted by Maison BOVET’s craftsmen, experts In 2016 Asprey will launch its own collection
who can boast an incomparable skill. This of timepieces, wholly conceived and manu-
excellence, which has not gone unnoticed by factured by BOVET.
eminent watchmaking specialists, is epito-
mised by the artistic character of the 2014 Guy Michel
collection. The tourbillon Récital 9 Miss
Alexandra was voted Ladies’ Watch of the
Year by 00/24, and just a few weeks later, the
prestigious MPP Watch of the Year award
ceremony in Dubai named the Récital 12
Monsieur Dimier as Best Classic Watch of the

BOVET FLEURIER SA
www.bovet.com

Pascal Raffy receiving the "Women's Watch of the Year" award

10

Louis Roederer Champagne

Jéroboam 2002 by Cristal

The small names of large champagne bottles And the champagne? 2002 was an extraordi-
are all great biblical names. A Salmanazar nary year, uniting all the criteria for a great
holds the equivalent of 12 bottles, a vintage in Champagne. " It is both a powerful
Methuselah, 8 bottles. More modestly, and refined wine with a growing sensation
a Jeroboam is limited to 4. Modesty is rela- that ultimately reaches a genuine harmony of
tive ! A Louis Roederer Jeroboam is vested perfectly integrated flavours.” says the cellar
in robes of crystal and gold. master Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. Four hundred
Jeroboam 2002 only, for the whole world !
For each flask, twelve trades’ guilds combine Recommended price 22'500.– CHF
their arts. Two master goldsmiths wrap the
crystal in rings and arabesques of fine metal. Claude Marpaud
Four days of work. One hundred and fifty-eight
silver soldering points. Seven meters of brass Maison Marques et Domaines SA
strip plated with 24 carat gold. Laué-Gut - CH-5103 Wildegg (AG)
Tél: +41 (0)62 289 70 70

www.mmdsuisse.com

11

ABSOLUMENT INIMITABLE

Nous roulons plus que de simples cigares! Nous créons des cigares aux saveurs intenses que
seule l’original peut vous procurer. 40 ans passés à perfectionner la feuille du Corojo original, après
avoir libéré sa graine de Cuba. Le résultat est là : un cigare fort et plein de punch du début à la
fin. De quoi garantir un plein de sensations fortes. Votre seul défi: vous accrocher jusqu’au bout !

camachocigars.com

14 18
24

CIGARS

13

CIGARS

Hôtel d’Angleterre

The fabulous cigar lounge

Hôtel d’Angleterre, a legendary establish-
ment on the Quai du Mont-Blanc, was built
in 1872 to offer visitors a “private villa” of
irreproachable luxury and cozy dimensions
in a spectacular location. Twenty years ago
it closed for lengthy renovations. Only the
historical façade, the interior staircase and
the floors were preserved. The Hôtel
d’Angleterre was thus able to reposition itself

When it’s time to savor a cigar, you no
doubt appreciate the elegance and
ambiance of a British club. No need to leave
Geneva – the Hôtel d’Angleterre has ope-
ned the most elegant Cigar Lounge you
could ever imagine.

14

as one of the city’s most prestigious 5-star in the evening, and more. In short, everything
hotels. Though still small, it is now a mem- you always wanted.
ber of The Leading Hotels of the World and is
probably one of Europe’s best boutique Last but not least, there’s the Cigar Lounge,
hotels. Only 46 rooms and suites but great a new annex to the bar. Wood-paneled walls,
luxury, an acclaimed restaurant – the large mirrors, chandeliers, artwork, leather
Windows - with bays offering a view of the armchairs, classic charm (and a very discreet
harbor and Mont Blanc, a warm Leopard Bar ventilation system)… so you can enjoy your
with a fireplace, sumptuous décor, live music cigar in a most relaxed environment.
Naturally the Lounge’s menu includes some
of the world’s richest cigars.

Philippe Lamballe

Hôtel d’Angleterre
17, Quai du Mont-Blanc
CH - 1201 Geneva / Switzerland
Tel : +41 (0)22 906 55 55

www.hoteldangleterre.ch

15





CIGARS

Davidoff,

the Dominican Eldorado

The golden triangle of Dominican tobacco, A family passion
Tamboril-Villa Gonzalez La Canela, lies in Built in the 1990s, Davidoff's Villa Gonzalès
the Cibao Valley, next to Santiago de Los plant is still like new and closely watched! To
Caballeros. Nestled between and sheltered enter the inner sanctum of Dominican cigars,
by the Cordillera Septentrional, culmina- you have to show your credentials to the
ting in the Pico Diego de Ocampo (1,249 m), guard. Fortunately we're expected by Hendrik
and the Cordillera Central on the other side Kelner, CEO of the Tabacos Dominicanos
of the Yaque del Norte River, the soil made (Tabadom) holding company, which owns
rich by thousand-year-old alluvial deposits Davidoff, Avo and Griffin’s and produces 25
produces the annual miracle of the large million units per year. Sitting at his desk, a
leaves. Named Nicotiana tabacum by the Davidoff Special R cigar in hand, the man is a
Swedish scientist Carl von Linné in honor living legend, a kind of cigar genie who, since
of Jean Nicot, these are the leaves that after arriving in Santiago de los Cabelleros in 1984,
more than 600 manipulations of the soil and has given pure Dominicans a pedigree. A
in the manufacturing process, become member of a large family of Dutch tobacco-
cigars. Naturally, this is where Davidoff merchants, this great inventor of cigars speaks
chose to reopen for business in 1991! with relish about his passion. Like a master

18

vintner talking about his vineyards, varieties, In the “trenches”
and assemblages, he distills a few bits of his After this brief, intense exchange and an opi-
encyclopedic knowledge, which range from nion on market trends, democratization, and
the importance of the pH of the soil and irri- the wave of cigars being manufactured (as
gation water (ideally around 7) in keeping well as the opening up of Cuba, which Kelner
phytosanitary treatments to a minimum, to a supports), his son Kelner Junior takes us on
genuine lesson on the olfactory stimulations a tour of the property and explains the ins
of the various types of tobacco in the mouth! and outs of the house and its greatest suc-
With his keen curiosity and gustative memory cesses. He is especially proud of its support
on the alert, he doesn't limit himself to merely for small producers, which despite 2014's
accurately reproducing the brand's great clas- being a particularly dry year, made it pos-
sics, but regularly creates new cigars. While
they are products of his fertile imagination,
their realization is made possible by the new
hybrid seeds developed in his research labo-
ratory and the cultivation, on the Yamasa expe-
rimental farm at the foot of the mountains, of
a Dominican wrapper leaf. After the first
Dominican Thousand series, Henke Kelner
launched the Grand Cru series, the Millenium
Collection, limited anniversary series, and
more.

19

sible to limit Tabadom's lost earnings to 4%, seated next to him deals only with the wrap-
versus 20% more generally. From seeds to fre- per leaf, cutting it with a chaveta and wrap-
quent plant checks, the holding company's ping the bunch in an evenly spaced spiral that
agronomists keep a close watch on the entire covers even the head of the cigar. A pair of
process. workers can produce between 300 and 500
cigars per day! There is an atmosphere of
intense concentration: the repetitive tasks
won't tolerate the slightest approximation
and movements must always be precise. The
workers hardly look up as we snap pictures.
The cigar rollers have the privilege of smo-
king as many cigars as they wish. Many don't
hesitate to do so, and the air smells of it!

A total of 1,450 people work directly in the
workshops, while 70 farmers, working under
contract and helped by farm laborers, occupy
250 hectares of plantations. The company
manages the entire production chain, from
sowing seeds to packaging the precious
cigars. Six agronomists make the rounds of
the fields every day to ensure consistent qua-
lity, and in the giant hall where the cigar rol-
lers work in pairs, a pyramidal operation
ensures rigorous monitoring. Along rows of
wooden molds, one cigar roller takes care of
the bunch, first accordion-pleating the filler
leaves then compressing them under the bin-
der leaf with a manual roller. The colleague

Quality control is of the utmost importance
and very strict. Each cigar is precisely cali-
brated. The ring gauge (1/64”), a unit of mea-
sure borrowed from the American jewelry
trade, is used for the diameter. For example,
the diameter of an RG 50 Churchill is 1.98
cm. Other tests include verifying the cigar's
density with respect to both construction and
draw, the chromatic choice for classification
by color and tone, and the quality grading
(with our without spots or defects, two-colo-
red or marbled veins, etc.). At last the pretty,
approved specimen can be ringed and pla-

20

ced in a box marked with a seal indicating exercises complete control. The second step
provenance and quality: the famous war- is to sweat the leaves. The farmer forms little
ranty seal. piles of leaves called pilóns and wets them
to remove the ammonium and chloride
Next we take a 4x4 to the Cibao Valley, not before the leaves are stripped (the main vein
far off at the end of a small dirt road, to dis- is removed) and sorted according to size,
cover a few fields that will soon be harves- color and texture. A second, sixty-day fer-
ted. The season is pretty far along and the mentation period will follow, then the
drying racks are full of leaves bundled into tobacco will be set out on wooden screens in
garlands and hung in pairs on long poles pla- closed mulling rooms to bring its relative
ced at different levels. Slowly but surely, whe- humidity down to 18%. The leaves will then
ther they are Olor dominicano, Piloto
Cubano, or SanVicente, the leaves will dry at last be packed into big square bales to age
out and lose their green color. Almost all the for a year. Like good wine, tobacco improves
chlorophyll is eliminated in this phase. The with age : it fills out and gains in complexity,
oily, sticky leaves turn from green to yellow contrast and smoothness. And its sales price
with green traces, then to yellow and yello- increases !
wish brown before finally turning a dry,
rough brown. Kelner Junior explains the sub- Hélène Duparc-Leprisé
sequent transformation process up through www.davidoff.com
manufacturing, over which the Davidoff team

21



TO BREAK THE RULES,
YOU MUST FIRST MASTER
THEM.

POUR BRISER LES RÈGLES, IL FAUT D’ABORD LES
MAÎTRISER.
EN 1892, AUDEMARS PIGUET PRÉSENTAIT LA
PREMIÈRE MONTRE-BRACELET À RÉPÉTITION
MINUTES DE L’HISTOIRE. EN 2014, LA MILLENARY
RÉPÉTITION MINUTES INCARNE L’ULTIME EXPRESSION
DE CET ESPRIT PIONNIER.
LES CALIBRES DE LA COLLECTION MILLENARY
S’OFFRENT AU REGARD POUR RÉVÉLER DE
SOMPTUEUSES DÉCORATIONS RÉALISÉES À LA
MAIN. L’ARCHITECTURE ASYMÉTRIQUE DESSINE
D’ÉLÉGANTS CONSTRASTES AVEC LE STYLE
TRADITIONNEL DU CADRAN EN ÉMAIL GRAND FEU,
AUQUEL FONT ÉCHO LES TIMBRES ET AIGUILLES
EN ACIER BLEUI, DANS UN SAVANT MÉLANGE ENTRE
DESIGN D’AVANT-GARDE ET HÉRITAGE ARTISANAL.

GENEVE MILLENARY
BOUTIQUE AUDEMARS PIGUET RÉPÉTITION
PLACE DE LA FUSTERIE 12, TEL: +41 22 319 06 80 MINUTES

MONTRES PRESTIGE EN OR ROSE, BRACELET
GRAND HOTEL KEMPINSKI, TEL: +41 22 732 83 00
EN ALLIGATOR.

CIGARS

CARDHU whisky

Helen Cumming, « Woman of Whisky »

Cardhu – “black rock” in Gaelic – is a dis- In her honor, Cardhu has launched two new
tillery in the Speyside region of Scotland expressions : Cardhu Gold Reserve and
founded in 1824 by the smuggler John Cardhu Amber Rock. Aging in toasted oak
Cumming. The house's story pays homage casks gives the Gold Reserve notes of honey,
to his wife, Helen, who managed the busi- cedar and cocoa, while Cardhu's typical fla-
ness with a firm hand. vors of citrus and honey are doubly intense
in Amber Rock, a “double-aged” single malt.
Legend has it that Helen Cumming, known
for her wiles to hide her illegal whisky pro- Diageo, the global leader in outstanding
duction, welcomed the tax inspectors with beverage alcohol – which also distributes
hospitality when they were tracking down other famous spirits – encourages reasonable
small farmers engaged in distilling. The ins- alcohol consumption through its marketing
pectors didn't suspect that she had warned code and international and regional pro-
the entire countryside by raising a red flag grams.
over the barn! But despite Helen's numerous
efforts, her husband was found guilty of ille- Chantal-Anne Jacot
gal distilling three times before he acquired
a license in 1824. Very proud of its history, www.DRINKIQ.com
the distillery shows Helen, the first “woman
of whisky,” raising the flag on every bottle.

24

20-SECOND TEMPOGRAPH

PRIVATE ENQUIRIES - Tel. +41 (0)32 753 68 14
www.louismoinet.com - [email protected]





ASIEC O L L E C T I O N F E R T A S I E

La découverte cousue main.

Fert Asie – Rue Le Corbusier 22a – CP 2364 – CH 1211 Genève 2 – Tél. +41 22 839 43 92 –[email protected]

30 36
39 44
46

T R AV E L S

29

TRAVELS

The Royal Palm, Mauritius

A pearl of hospitality and gourmet jewel

According to Mark Twain, “Mauritius was this means offe-
made first, and then heaven, and that heaven
was copied after Mauritius.” Much later – ring less – or
thirty years ago – the Royal Palm was crea-
ted because paradise needed a jewel. rather, fewer:

A member of the Beachcomber chain, the Royal “Our guests
Palm is the most select of Mauritian master-
piece hotels. For its thirtieth anniversary, can wanted more
you believe it wants to offer more ? Yes ! But
paradoxically, after four months of renovations suites,” says CEO

Jacques Silvant.

“By going from

84 to 69 keys, we

are giving prio-

rity to the envi-

ronment, as well

as to bright,

Jacques Silvant, warm interiors.
General manager of the Royal Palm It's an enhance-

ment that pre-

serves the hotel's identity.” Yes, and what an

identity! Once through the gate, guests seem

to want to forget everything. The world is redu-

ced to the oasis of beauty, luxury and calm offe-

red by this luxury 5-star hotel. A member of the

30

31

through incomparable service. It's impossible
to be more cheerful and refined or to take
greater care.

prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, the
Royal Palm has become an institution where
perfection-seeking clientele take refuge. You'll
cross paths with well-known faces, but dis-
cretion is the watchword. The only external
sign of ostentation is the Rolls that comes to
get you at the airport.
From your terrace you can see the beach
nearby, just beyond the palm fronds and gar-
dens. Each room, each decor, every detail
adds to the taste and care that seem to ins-
pire the entire estate. In this unique environ-
ment, Mauritian kindness is expressed

32

Excellent and delicious
The restaurant aims to be as enchanting as
the surroundings. Michel de Matteis, the
“Bocuse of Mauritius” is no stranger: wasn't
he the chef at the Château de Divonne? A Best
Worker in France, he's worked the kitchens

of several prestigious restaurants: the Royal met restaurant on the sparkling turquoise
Monceau, the Taillevent, the Tour d’Argent, lagoon. What can I say about the food? The
and the Coupole du Mirabeau in Monaco. best fish and produce, inventively delicious
Now he presides over the Goélette, the gour- yet healthy, often inspired by the cuisine of
Crete with occasional exotic accents. While
the meat comes from France and Australia,
the foie gras comes from nearby Souillac.

33

Not the sister city of the same name in the blacktip grouper...so many surprises, so
Dordogne, but the Souillac on the southern many noble renderings, so many delights.
end of the island. And this foie gras is inter- At the Royal Palm, two other kitchens will
preted deliciously, swirled with albacore also tempt you : the beach-bar, and the the-
tuna. Every item is subject to variation med restaurant Natureaty, the estate's
by the chef : babonne fish, dolphinfish, second gourmet table.

34

Compliments are also due to Air Mauritius

and its wonderful business class with private Le Royal Palm
Grand Bay île Maurice
compartments. Your escapade will begin and Tél: +230 209 83 00

end in comfort—as a harbinger of good things www.royalpalm-hotel.com
www.beachcomber-hotels.com
to come, and to comfort you on the way

home. Claude Marpaud

35

In the Sultanate of Oman

Superb trek through the desert on horseback

The Royal Cavalry of Oman is a horse lover's numerous equestrian safaris, especially in
legend. The royal parades are merely for Jordan, before repeating the experience in
show, while promoting equestrian sports Oman. And now you'll discover the Sultanate's
adds a touch of nobility. Its greatest vocation desert with her.
is to perpetuate the noble line of Arabian
purebreds. You will ride one of this cavalry's From the capital city of Muscat, a 4x4 will take
magnificent horses on an unforgettable trek you over the Jebel Shams mountain, which
through the Wahiba Sands. A week beyond
your wildest dreams.

From Geneva and Lausanne, the “Au Tigre
Vanillé” travel agency conducts custom-made
tours throughout the world. For your Oman
trek, it has joined forces with Emmanuelle
Lançon, an accomplished horsewoman, guide,
and even pioneer: she was the first to cross the
Wahiba Sands on horseback. And it wasn't her
first such exploit. She had already organized

36

rises to nearly 3,000 meters. Destination: a vil- the dunes, wadis, and oases. You will visit
lage in the middle of nowhere, where you'll pleasant Berber villages with ancestral tradi-
wait for the horses being loaned by the Sultan's tions and be enchanted every evening by the
nephew, Prince Loay Al Said. Real purebreds, out-of-this-world desert twilight. And of
trained for endurance. It goes without saying course there will be campfires, singing, and
that you are an experienced rider. And off you friendship. At the end of the trip, you'll reach
go, ready to be dazzled! Your six-day trek in the Gulf of Oman, the final recompense for an
a small group will combine a host of expe- expedition of 250-300 kilometers and a place
riences and adventure amid magnificent arid to experience another change of scene, ano-
landscapes. But don't worry about your com- ther kind of timelessness. In the evening, local
fort – logistical teams will precede you, setting
up bivouacs in the middle of nowhere. There
you'll find a comfortable tent, camp shower,
and an excellent Omani dinner giving pride
of place to fish and rice. Yes, even in the middle
of the desert! Your days of riding will be punc-
tuated by discoveries and enchantments across

37

fishermen head out on their dhows from a
bygone era to cast their nests in the bay. In two
or three days, when you're back in Europe,
you'll wonder if you dreamt it all.

Clauder Marpaud
Au Tigre Vanillé
Rue de Rive 8, 1204 Genève
Tél : +41 (0)22 817 37 37
www.autigrevanille.ch

38

VOYAGES

Constance Lémuria Hotel

Paradise in the Seychelles

Welcome to paradise on Earth! When refer- white sand, blue sky, rounded granite boul-
ring to the Seychelles, this description ders, lush vegetation, coconut palms swaying
sounds redundant, so let me be more precise. in the breeze… the ideal scenery for your
Welcome to the island of Praslin, to the enchanted-island dream. And nothing, not
Constance Lémuria hotel ! the environment, the welcome, the incredi-
bly refined service, will lessen your wonder.
Can even the most admirable postcards accu-
rately represent paradise ? Turquoise water, Praslin, one of the Seychelles's 115 islands, is
seven times smaller than the canton of
Geneva, with seven times fewer people. And
the hotel ? The epitome of Seychelles-style
hospitality, the Constance Lémuria (5 stars)
is located on the island's western tip. Three
beaches surround the 100-hectare property,
magnificent garden studded with big blocks
of granite, and championship 18-hole golf
course. Reserved primarily for hotel guests,

39

you'll be comfortable on this superb, acclai-
med green. The hotel consists of scattered
structures made from native wood, each
more Asian, more tropical, more romantic
than the others. One hundred suites and vil-
las are nestled among the vegetation, above
the beaches, facing west. Everywhere the har-
monious blend of nature, exotic buildings
and luxury accommodations reinforces the
feeling of enchantment : wooden decks, stac-
ked swimming pools with cascading over-
flows, and a panoramic bar and restaurant
overlooking the gardens.

40

What is there to do in a 5-star paradise ?
There is no end to the activities offered : golf,
snorkeling, diving, parties, Praslin discovery
tours, cruises to the minuscule “Robinson”
islands, sea turtle watching, walks, and more.
For example, the Anse Lazio, one of the worl-
d's most beautiful beaches according to expe-
rienced “beach-trotters,” is very close by.

And then there's the spa, of course, acclai-
med by everyone. Yes, I couldn't be more
sincere : welcome to paradise !

Robert Sirdey

Constance Lémuria Seychelles
Anse Kerlan
Praslin, Seychelles
Tel: (248) 4281 281

www.constancehotels.com

41

VOYAGES

Hôtel Constance Ephélia Resort

In Seychelles, Eden among the trees

Here we are on the enchanted swimming pools, and the list goes on and on.
island of Mahé, the main Amidst this beauty, luxury and abundance,
island of the Seychelles. To the spa forms its own little village. At the
the northwest, on the lush heart of a vast tropical garden, it has all the
isthmus of a quaintly undu- amenities imaginable : yoga pavilion, heated
lating, wooded peninsula, the pool, jacuzzi, sauna, hairstyling salons, 11 pri-
Constance Ephélia Resort vate bodywork rooms, and more. To top it
occupies 120 hectares of
Eden. Nearby, two large
beaches, numerous sandy
creeks, and chains of giant, rounded boul-
ders. Overlooking the national marine park
of Port Launay, the resort’s small buildings
are planted harmoniously among the abun-
dant vegetation.

The 5-star Constance Ephélia Resort offers a
litany of surprises, such as 57 senior suites,
184 junior suites, and deluxe villas : 18 family
villas with private swimming pools, 12 villas
on the beach and eight on the hillside, and a
sublime presidential residence. There are also
five restaurants, five bars, five shops, four

42

all, ten “spa” villas devoted to your well- For your comfort after being rocked by the
being. But you’ll also find well-being in waves or enjoying a gentle spa treatment, the
movement and get-aways. What kind of restaurants serve culinary specialties from
movement ? Squash, exercise classes, tennis, the five continents, from curries fit for a raja
a climbing wall (the only one in the to French cuisine worthy of Curnonsky.
Seychelles), diving, kayaking, ocean fishing,
etc. Get-aways ? Magnificent walks and Pierre Talmay
numerous secluded spots among the trees,
boulders and coves. Beyond the resort lies the Constance Ephélia Seychelles
beauty of Mahé. Further away, a string of Port Launay, Mahé - Seychelles
islands enchanting enough for a lifetime. Tel : (+248) 439 5000

www.epheliaresort.com

43

La Grande Maison, Bernard Magrez

Bordeaux’s temple to living well

An outstanding address ? Maybe. Superb ? Jean-Paul Unzueta, who came here from
Certainly. An early 20th-century stone man- Robuchon’s Michelin-starred restaurants in
sion with carvings and moldings – splen- Monaco. Did you say stars ? Chef Danzaki’s
dor typical of Bordeaux’s architectural mission is to add to the constellation.
heritage. Six luxurious rooms and a gour- The highly demanding, very meticulous
met restaurant signed – you’ll never guess Robuchon has set a goal for him: three new
in a million years – Joel Robuchon, the chef stars, of course ! Bernard Magrez, a longtime
with the most stars in the world. This friend and issuer of this new challenge is an
temple to living well is a new endeavor for
Bernard Magrez, a composer of rare wines,
owner of four Bordeaux Grands Crus
Classés. Who can top that ?

You might already know the location: rue
Labottière, across from the Institut Culturel
de Bernard Magrez devoted to modern and
contemporary art. But you’ll never comple-
tely recognize Joel Robuchon’s cooking. It is
interpreted here by a great Japanese chef and
disciple, Tomonori Danzaki. “This is the best
of my teams,” says Robuchon. “Three stars
in Las Vegas, three stars in Tokyo.”
Meanwhile the dining room is overseen by

44

inspired visionary, art lover, music lover,
patron, and above all, an artist of a vintner.
You’re familiar with the old vines of his
Château Pape Clément, Grand Cru Classé de
Graves – this wine is on the menus of
Robuchon restaurants throughout the world.

Philippe Lamballe
La Grande Maison
10, rue Labottière
F - 33000 Bordeaux / France
Tel : +33 (0)5 35 38 16 16
www.lagrandemaison-bordeaux.com

45

VOYAGES

River cruises and bicycling

On board the River Cloud II

Barely embarked aboard the River Cloud II, onboard comfort, there is a magnificent piano
you already feel elsewhere, faraway and very bar, a refined restaurant that can welcome every
far from the usual standardized river cruise: guest on board in one sitting without designa-
the beams in the living room, the marble and ted seating, a library, a well-stocked boutique,
the gold … Everything is the reflection of ano-
ther age when stress was unknown… Fine cui-
sine, luxury and nostalgia blend in
harmoniously from the stern to the bow. No
doubt, you are aboard one of the most beau-
tiful jewels of river cruises.

The M/S River Cloud II has 44 cabins all luxu-
riously furnished with brass finishings, teak and
mahogany woodwork and large portholes. For

46

a hair salon, a beautiful fitness room, a sauna famous attractions and sites in Belgium and the
and a large sun deck. However when you tra- Netherlands but also more unusual ones.
vel through the colorful Dutch landscape and
see the tulip fields, windmills and typical small The FERT Voyages cruise specialists will ans-
tranquil villages, one has a simple desire : to
mount a bike and discover the paths through wer any enquiries regarding the May 2013 cruise
the picturesque countryside at one’s own pace
in a completely relaxed fashion. or similar programs such as the “luxury cruise

This is why the River Cloud II spring cruise and cycling” aboard the River Cloud II explo-
takes in two countries, Belgium and the
Netherlands and also combines two different ring the Danube.
ways to relax - aboard a luxurious boat or on a
bicycle ride. If and when you wish, you will Claude Marpaud
have at your disposal a comfortable bicycle and
of course a permanent backup team on call. By Reservation & enquiries:
combining cruising and cycling, you will have
the opportunity to visit not only the most Fert Yachting & Cruises
Espace Fert - Rue Barton 7
CH - 1201 Geneva / Switzerland
Contact: Yann Petremand
Tel : +41 (0)22 730 47 81 / [email protected]

www.fert.com
www.seacloud.com

47

VOYAGES

Jet Event aviation in Geneva

Surpass the unsurpassable

Jet Event! The name says a lot, but it flies happy few. The advantages of convenience,
over the quality of aircrafts and service. In speed, comfort and safety induced them to
the company Jet Event, a permanent perso- the broad base of influential people. The
nalized attention reinvents the concept of result: It reached the level of industry. An
service, attention in respect of every pas-
senger, on every trip, every stay and every
event. Jet Event takes care of its clients with
an outstanding assistance searching
Excellency. It precedes, it accompanies and
it follows the journey. In truth, it occurs eve-
rywhere and at all times.

Without denying its elitist vocation, business
aviation has left his rank reserved for the

48